Cockburn Family Tree research resources
Research the background of the Cockburn Genealogy using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 3821 people with the Cockburn surname? In that year Cockburn was ranked number 1113 for popularity in the UK. |
1921 England and Wales Census records are now available!
On 6 January 2022 the 1921 England and Wales Census records were made available online via the FindMyPast website. The records have been indexed and are searchable via the usual methods. These records are only viewable on a pay-per-view basis and are not included in any of FindMyPast's existing subscriptions with the exception of the 12 month premium subscription.
Cockburn records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Cockburn family tree. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Cockburn family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Cockburn family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Cockburn family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Cockburn family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Cockburn family. |
Historical References
"COCKBURN. Of territorial origin from lands so named in the Merse. In the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214) there was a ' 'Cukouebum" (i.e. 'Gowk's Bum') in the territory of Clifton, Roxburghshire, pertaining to the Abbey of Melrose (Melros, 113). Peter de Cokburne witnessed the grant of Floria or Fluria to the House of Soltre between 1190 and 1220 (Soltre, p. 10). John de Kocbrun, a landowner in Fife, for the weal of his soul and the souls of his ancestors and successors granted to the monastery of Lundors certain lands beside his vill of Cullessin c. 1250 (LAC., p. 184-185). The marriage of a daughter of Robert de Cokburne, miles, is mentioned in 1266 (ER., i, p. 22), and at about the same date is entry of a fine paid by Robert de Kokeburn in Roxburghshire. It was perhaps the same Robert de Cokebum who witnessed the resignation of the lands of Langholm in 1281 (RHM., i, 11). Peter de Kokeburne who witnessed the resignation of lands by Hugh de Reuedene in 1285 (Kelso, 219), is probably the Peres de Cokebume who rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears a cock walking, and S' Petri de Cokeburn (Bain, n, p. 187, 554). Thomas de Cokeburne of the county of Roxburghe also rendered homage in 1296 (ibid., p. 200), William de Cokeburgne, warden of Blantyr Priory, was released of ransom in 1304 (ibid., 1469), and Gilbert de Chockeburn had a charter of land in Popil in East Lothian (Laing, 22). Alexander Cokeburne or Cocbum de Langtoun was keeper of the Great Seal in 1390 and 1391 (RMS., I, 824; Irvine, i, p. 17). Renatus Cocquebome was appointed procurator of the Scottish 'Nation in the University of Orleans in 1504 (SHSM., n, p. 95). Some Cockburns who settled in Danzig (now Gdansk) had their name changed, according to the dialect of the district, into Kabrun (Fischer i, p. 60), and Samuel Cockburn, born 1574, settled in Finland and was known as Cobron. There have been many individuals of distinction of this name in the fields of law, theology, politics, and medicine, of whom may be mentioned John Cockbum of Ormiston (1685-1770), an improver of Scottish agriculture; Alison Cockburn (? 1712-1794), author of one of the two versions of "The Flowers of the Forest;' Henry Cockbum, Lord Cockburn (1779 91854), judge, politician, and author; and Sir George Cockburn (1772-1853), admiral, who conveyed Napoleon to St. Helena, etc. Defoe in his Tour (1725) noted that the pronunciation of the name was, "as commonly express'd, Coburn." The three cocks in the family arms are mere canting heraldry. Caikbumi 1589, Cobron 1688, Cocbvrn 14 c., Cogbume 1532, Cokborn 1388, Cokborne 1449, Cokbovrne 1519, Cokbrine 1596, Cokbrown 1548, Cokbrowne 1567, Cokbvm 1415, Cokbvme 1637, Cokbwm 1531, Cowbom 1591, Crebume 1503, Cukburn 1467, Kokbum 1500, Kokburne 1364, Togburn 1502. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered Cockburn ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Cockburn Tree?
Visit our Cockburn DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Cockburn Family Tree
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Cockburn Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Cockburn family tree.
Explore Cockburn Parish Records at Find My Past.
Search the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Cockburn family name using the FreeBMD database.
Investigate Genealogy Bank for Cockburn family records.
Look at MyHeritage for Cockburn family data.
Study the LDS Database for records of the Cockburn family.
Research the Cockburn surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Cockburn Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 3949 people with the Cockburn surname in the UK? Cockburn is now ranked number 1456 for popularity in the UK. |
Cockburn Genealogy Databases
Search WikiTree for user contributed Cockburn family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Cockburn data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Search MyTrees for information on the Cockburn family and people looking to contact living Cockburn relations.
Search GENi for Cockburn family records.
Find your Irish Cockburn relatives on findmypast.ie
Cockburn Forums
Research the Cockburn surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 3038 people with the Cockburn surname in the USA? Cockburn is ranked number 156 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Cockburn Databases
Study the Ellis Island Database for information on the Cockburn family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Cockburn surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
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