Cosgrove

Background:  This is a County Cork name variant of "Cosgrave", which is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Coscraigh", meaning the male descendant of Coscrach, a Gaelic nickname meaning "victorious, triumphant" (from "coscur", victory, triumph). The sept originally were settled in Clones, County Monaghan Ireland. Another sept of the same name, often Anglicized as Cosker, is found in south-east Leinster particularly around north Wicklow, near Bray. The name is also found as Cosgrove in Ulster and Connacht. The original Gaelic version of the surname first appeared in records in the late 10th Century. Benedictus O'Cascry, of the Connacht sept was Bishop of Killaloe until he died in 1325.

Cosgrove and Cosgrave, are derived from the Gaelic word “corcrac,” which means “victorious.” They are both variants of the Irish name O’Coscraigh (which means descendant of Coscraigh). Most genealogical and surname references suggest that the name Cosgrove was most prevalent in Northern Leinster, Connacht, and Ulster Provinces, while Cosgrave was preferred in Munster Province and the remainder of Leinster Province. However, it is widely known that Cosgrove and Cosgrave (along with other spelling variants) were interchanged for one another quite frequently.

The name is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "O'Coscraigh", meaning the male descendant (O) of Coscrach, a Gaelic nickname meaning "victorious, triumphant" (from "coscur", victory, triumph). The name Cosgrove is commonly found in Ireland and is believed to have Gaelic origins. It is derived from the Gaelic surname "Mac Osraigh," meaning "son of Osraighe." The name Cosgriff is another variation that is predominantly found in Ireland and may have similar Gaelic roots.

The sept originally were settled in Clones, County Monaghan. Another sept of the same name, often Anglicized as Cosker, is found in south-east Leinster particularly around north Wicklow, near Bray. The name is also found as Cosgrove in Ulster and Connacht. The original Gaelic version of the surname first appeared in records in the late 10th Century. Benedictus O'Cascry, of the Connacht sept was Bishop of Killaloe until he died in 1325. The name was probably introduced into Britain by Irish famine immigrants, during the famine, 1845 - 1847. The Irish Church Registers record one Robert, son of Robert and Catron Cosgriff, who was christened at Inch by Gorey, Co. Wexford on September 5th 1779, and the christening of Thomas, son of James and Elizabeth Cosgriffe on August 14th 1784, at Monkstown, Dublin. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Coningus O'Coscraigh, which was dated died in 997, and was bishop of Clonmacnois, during the reign of Brian Boru, known as "The High King of Ireland", 940 - 1014.

Name Variations:  Cosgrove, Cosgrave, Coscraigh, O'Coscraigh, Coscrach, Cosker, O'Cascry, MacCoscraigh, O'Coscraigh, Cosgriff, Cosgroff, McCusker, McCosgrove.

References:
One or more of the following publications has been referenced for this article.
The General Armory; Sir Bernard Burke - 1842.
A Handbook of Mottoes; C.N. Elvin - 1860.
Irish Families, Their Names, Arms & Origins; Edward MacLysaght - 1957.
The Surnames of Ireland; Edward MacLynsaght - 1957.
The Book of Irish Families Great and Small.
SurnameDB: https://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Cosgrove
CrestAndArms: https://crestsandarms.com/pages/cosgrave-family-crest-coat-of-arms

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