Meaning

Cohen is a Hebrew surname that means “priest” or “servant of the sanctuary”. In Jewish culture, the Cohens were a priestly class who were responsible for performing the rituals and sacrifices in the Temple. The name Cohen was traditionally given only to those who could prove their ancestry traced back to Aaron, the first High Priest. Today, the name is widely used among Jews, regardless of their lineage. An interesting fact about this name is that it was originally spelled differently, with a “q” instead of a “c”. It was later changed to the modern spelling to make it easier to pronounce for non-Hebrew speakers.