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Could anyone tell me the meaning of the following american surnames:
Pratt
Cochran
Thank you
Pratt
Cochran
Thank you
1
Replies
American surnames?
Pratt is English and comes from an old word meaning "cunning". The word pretty is the same, but the meaning has changed. Pretty is also an English surname.
Cochran is Lowland Scots, from a place-name. The first component is said to be the Ancient British (P-Celtic) for "red", equivalent to the Modern Welsh GOCH. It is alleged that some Cochrans adopted this surname as a substitute for the Highland Gaelic surname MacEacharn, but that's another story.
Pratt is English and comes from an old word meaning "cunning". The word pretty is the same, but the meaning has changed. Pretty is also an English surname.
Cochran is Lowland Scots, from a place-name. The first component is said to be the Ancient British (P-Celtic) for "red", equivalent to the Modern Welsh GOCH. It is alleged that some Cochrans adopted this surname as a substitute for the Highland Gaelic surname MacEacharn, but that's another story.
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I know Jim ...other than native American names, I'm amazed at how many times I've seen European names listed as "American" by posters ...
BTW ...no offense to Chris ...I just think it's an odd approach if anyone has interest in name etymologies which usually stems from an interest in family histories which in turn requires a bit of knowledge in history.
BTW ...no offense to Chris ...I just think it's an odd approach if anyone has interest in name etymologies which usually stems from an interest in family histories which in turn requires a bit of knowledge in history.
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