The Cousins Family and Its Name Family

The name of "Cousins" is claimed by some authorities to have been derived from the ancient Norman French name of "Cuzon", but it is more probable that it was taken either from the nickname "the cousins", having reference to a kinsman or near relative "cousins of the King", or from the ancient baptismal name of "Custance", through its nickname "Cus" combined with a diminutive ending. It is found on the early records in the various forms of Cussen, Cussin, Cusson, Cossen, Cosyn, Cusyn, Coossyn, Coossyne, Cussyn, Cousin, Cosins, Cosin, Cuzin, Cousin, Cousen, Cuzen, Cuzun, Cosen, Cossins, Cussans, Couzens, Cozzens, Cozins, Cozens, Couxens, Cousins and numerous other, of which the last form mentioned is that most generally accepted in America today, and the forms of Cousens and Cozzens are also still frequently used.

[This English surname has been found in old Docuements spelled Curzon, Cozzen, Cousin, Cosen, cousens and cousins; the two latter forms have been generally adopted by the New England families. They are supposed to have been descended from Geraldine de Curson or Curzen, who was a follower of the Conqueror and of Breton origin. He was Lord of the Manor of Locking, in Berkshire, and held, by grant of the King, many other manors and lands in the county and in Oxfordshire. He was a great benefactor to the Abbey of Abington. His three sons were Stephen, Richard, and Geraliei. The family has held a prominent rank in England from a very early period, and has risen from one degree to another until 1758, when the hed, Sir Nathaniel Curzon, was raided to the perrage with title of Baron Scarsdale. The seat of this family in Kedleston hall, and is one of the most magnificent in Great Britian. Saco Valley Families an Settlement pages 590-591.]

Among the earliest of the name in England were those of Richard and William LeCusyn and Thomas LeCuzun of about that same time, the year 1273 in Bedfordshire, those of Richarus and Johannes Cusson of Yorkshire in 1379, those of Johannes, Richardus, and Alicia Cosyn of the same period, and those of William Cosyn of Oxfordshire as early as the year 1443.

One Maderne Cossen is said to have resided in County Cornwall in the early 16th century and to have been the father of John, Richard, and William. John married Margaret Gillard. Their children: John Jr., William, Elizabeth, and Nicolas.

John Jr. married Anne Travanion, Their children: John, Grace, and Nicholas.

John Jr.'s son Nicholas married Anne Langherne in the early 17th century. Their children: Martyn, Grace, and Phillip.

Martyn was the father of William and Harris.
Richard (son of Maderne) was father of a son Henry.
William (son of Maderne) married Jane Polkinhorne. Their children: William Jr., John, Mary, Richard and Clarence.
William Jr. married Margaret ______. Their children: Ann, Ursula, Grace, William, Alice, Margaret, and Richard.

Of the Oxfordshire line William Cozens and wife Ann Dormer were parents of a son Thomas (beginning in the 17th century) Thomas married Elizabeth _______ . Their son Thomas whose wife was Mary ______ had children: Thomas, Mary, Elizabeth, Ann, and Hester (early 18th century).

It has not been definitely determined from which of the numerous lines of the family in Great Britain the first emigrants of the name came to America. But it is believed that all the Cousins, Cozzens, and Cousens were of ancient English ancestry and in many cases of common origin at a remote point.

Probably the emigrants of the family to America were George Cozzens or Coussens, who came from Southampton, England, to Boston, MA in 1635; and Francis Cousin or Cosin of Connecticut in 1640. However, neither of these men left any definite records to their immediate families or descendants.

One John Cousins, Cousens, or Cozzens is said to have come from England to America before 1645 and to have settled at North Yarmouth, ME. Among his sons are believed to have been Isaac of Wells, ME before 1675, and Thomas of Wells before 1670, of whom the latter was the father of Hannah & Ichabod, of whom the son Ichabod is said to have married in 1714 Ruth Cole. Their children: Catherine, Thomas, Ichabod, John, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph, Ruth, and Nathaniel.--From old family papers.

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