Of territorial origin from the five-merk lands of Cochrane (old, Coueran), near Paisley, Renfrewshire. The first of the name in record is Waldeve de Coueran, who witnessed a charter granted in 1262 by Dugal, son of Syfyn (or MacSwein), to Walter Stewart, fifth earl of Menteith, of the lands of Skipnish, Kedeslat, and others in Kintyre (Red Book of Monteith). William de Coughran of the county of Lanark rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 213). John de Coweran witnessed a notarial copy, made in 1346, of a bull of Honorius III in 1219, dealing with the creation of the Abbey of Paisley (RMP., p. 10), and Glosmus de Cowran' in 1369 witnessed a charter by Robert Steward of Scotland (ibid., p. 31). Robertus de Cochrane witnessed a charter by Robert the Steward to Thomas Simple of the land of Cragrossy in Stratherne c. 1360 (REG., p. 275), and John de Cogherane had protection for two years for going on the king of England's service beyond seas in 1370 (Bain, IV, 170). In 1415 William of Cochran witnessed a charter of the barony of Cowie to William de Haya de Erole by Robert, duke of Albany (SCM., II, p. 321). Peter de Cochrane appears as a charter witness in 1452 and 1455 (Milne, p. 22; Scon, 217), and in 1487 a later Petir Couchran witnessed an obligation in favor of the burgh of Prestwick (Prestwick, p. 117). Edward of Cochran was declared innocent of part in detention of King James III in Edinburgh Castle in 1482 (Lennox, II, p. 123), Analphus Coheren and John Coheren were witnesses in Linlithgow in 1538 (Johnsoun), and Dem Coireeren was a resident in Edinburgh in 1529 (MCM., II, p. 88). Cochrane of that Ilk ended in an heiress, Elizabeth, whose husband, Alexander Blair, assumed the surname and arms of Cochrane. Their son was the first peer of the name (Stodart, II, p. 59). Adam (p. 142) says that some MacEacherens who removed to the Lowlands adopted the surname of Cochrane to conceal their origin. This has misled some persons into imagining that there is a connection between the names or that Cochrane may be derived from an old spelling of Maceachern (MacKauchern). Cawchrin 1670, Coachrin 1768, Cocheran 1682, Cocherane 1524, Cochrein 1596, Cochren 1503, Cochroume 1622, Cochroune 1623, Coichraine 1549, Coichran 1586, Coichtran 1552, Coichtrane 1555, Colquheran, Colquhran, and Colquhrane 1507 (the 'I' silent in pronunciation), Coucherane 1574, Couchrain 1649. Among the Scots Guards in France the name appeared as Colqueran.

(Celtic) belonging to Cochrane (Renfrew) =? the Red Allotment (of land) [? Welsh coch, red + rhan, a share, division, &c.] This family [Cochrane-Dundonald], which derived its surname from the Barony of Cochrane, Co, Renfrew, is of great antiquity in North Britain. . . . William de Cochrane performed homage to Edward I.—Burke's Peerage, &c.

There has been confusion with Corcoran, q.v.

(Irish) Grandson of little Cogar (confident).

The family were resident in co. Renfrew for many centuries. See Peerage, Earl of Dundonald. The name is probably local, from a place in the district of Paisley.

Local: From the barony of Cochran in Renfrewshire. The family are descended from Walden de Cochran, temp. Alexander III.

Local. Cocrinn, Gaelic, a point or promontory in open sight; from Coc, manifest, plain, and rinn, a cape or promontory.

(Scotch), Cock-nose, Turned-up nose.