Surname Cusker - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cusker: What does the surname Cusker mean?
The surname Cusker is of Irish origin and is derivatives of the Gaelic surname O Ciosog or Ó Cioscog. The origin of the name is most likely derived partly from the root word “ciosog,” which means “skilled” or “ingenious.” The name could also have been anglicised from “cúisceach,” an early Irish byname, which means “brave” or “courageous.”
The earliest records of the Cusker family date back to the mid-18th century in County Cork, where the family traces their origins to the townland of Clonmeen in the Parish of Dysart. The Cusker family were involved in the trade of linen and cloth in the late 1700s, which was the main industry in the area until the famine of 1845.
Cusker families can now be found throughout the world in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The name Cusker suggests a family with a proud past and a strong presence in the current generation. The combination of the words “cúis” and “ceach” used to create the name implies a great sense of courage and an admirable determination in its original bearers and is still an apt description of the Cusker clan to this day.
Order DNA origin analysisCusker: Where does the name Cusker come from?
The last name Cusker is most common in the United States and Canada. It is estimated that there are about 400 Cuskers in the United States and roughly the same amount in Canada.
The Cusker surname first appeared in Ireland, most likely in County Cork, sometime during the 19th century. The surname is thought to be of Irish origin and to derive from an Anglicization of the Gaelic surname Ó Cuascair. The name may also have been derived from the ancient Irish personal names Cuascair or Cascorr.
In the United States, the Cusker surname is found mainly in the states of New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. The largest concentration of Cuskers is in New York City, where there is an estimated population of over 300 people.
In Canada, the most populous area with the Cusker surname is the city of Toronto, where there is an estimated population of about 100 people.
Today, the Cusker surname is still quite common in parts of the United States and Canada. Although the origins of the surname remain somewhat unclear, it appears to derive from old Celtic roots.
Variations of the surname Cusker
The surname Cusker is an anglicized version of a Gaelic form of an ancient Irish surname, Ó Cúisce. It can also be spelled Cousker, Cuskar, Cuskar, Cuskar, Cusker, Cysker, and even Kepler.
The most often seen origin of the name lies in the Anglicized name Cushker, Cusker or Cuskar. This version of the name hails from the Irish Gaelic, Ó Cúisce and it is derived from the Old Irish word, "Cúisce". The word, itself, has been interpreted as originating in the Irish word "cúisce,", which is a colloquial term meaning "hedgehog". As such, it is thought to have been an originally descriptive nickname for someone with this characteristic, one that eventually evolved into a surname.
Something is also known about the spread of the Cusker name. It is believed that the progenitor of the surname migrated from Ireland to Scotland in the middle of the 16thcentury. Historians have found that a family of Cuskers was recorded to be living in Edinburgh in 1617. This records further confirms the theories of a migration of the surname from Irish to Scotland during this era.
Variants of the surname Cusker have branched out from both Scotland and Ireland over the years. For instance, some spellings of the surname have evolved to include Cysker, Cysker and Keeler. Plus, some individuals with the Cusker surname have Anglicized and adopted Coburn as a variant of the surname.
In conclusion, the surname Cusker has appeared in various genealogical manuscripts in both Scotland and Ireland, making tracing its origins difficult. The surname is thought to have evolved from an ancient Irish word from the Gaelic, Ó Cúisce, which was thought to refer to a hedgehog. Variants of the name include Cousker, Cuskar, Cuskar, Cysker, Cysker, and Keeler. Over the years, some individuals who bore the surname adopted Coburn as an Anglicized variant.
Famous people with the name Cusker
- John Cusker: An American film producer and screenwriter most known for his contributions to the films of Steven Spielberg, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Saving Private Ryan.
- Cian Cusker: A professional rugby player from Ireland. He currently plays in the USA Pro Rugby League and has represented both the Irish and American senior national teams.
- Brian Cusker: An American-Canadian comedian and actor. He is best known for his stand-up comedy appearances on late-night TV, and for his roles in films including Slap Shot and Porky's.
- Pete Cusker: An American urban planner and environmental scientist who specializes in urban sustainability and green building. He is the founder and CEO of the environmental consulting firm Cusker Group.
- Ellen Cusker: An American author and professor. She is a professor of English at Harvard University and the author of several books, including Home at Last: A Memoir of Loss and Finding and Running for Your Life: A Memoir of Escape from Domestic Abuse.
- John Cusker Jr.: A former basketball player who played in the NBA for the Milwaukee Bucks during the early 1960s. He was a three-time All American at the Municipal University of Milwaukee, and had a successful professional career before retiring in 1969.
- Rachael Cusker: An American actress and model, most known for her roles on television shows such as Modern Family and Girls. She has also appeared in films such as Get Out, Suburbicon, and Love, Wedding, Marriage.
- gel Cusker: An American architect and designer. He has been involved in many major projects in the United States and Canada, including public libraries, buildings for universities, and community centers.
- Dan Cusker: An American photographer who specializes in landscape photography. He has done extensively work in the Pacific Northwest, capturing the beauty of the forests, rivers, and mountains.
- Therese Cusker: A German environmental activist and founder of the apple orchard preservation project, Biodiversity Protection Germany. She is a leading voice in the global movement to preserve biodiversity and has inspired several other organizations dedicated to ecological conservation.