Cohen (surname)

Cohen (Hebrew: כֹּהֵן‎‎ kōhēn, "priest") is a Jewish surname of biblical origins (see: Kohen). It is a very common Jewish surname, comparable to 'Smith' in an English-language context.

Bearing the surname indicates that one's patrilineal ancestors were priests in the Temple of Jerusalem. A single such priest was known as a Kohen, and the hereditary caste descending from these priests is collectively known as the Kohanim. As multiple languages were acquired through the Jewish diaspora, the surname acquired dozens of variants.

Being a Kohen imposes some limitations: by Jewish religious law a Kohen may not marry a divorced woman, and may not marry a proselyte (someone who converted to Judaism). Nor should an observant Kohen come into contact with the dead.

An effort to trace whether or not people named 'Cohen' actually have a common genetic origin has been undertaken in the specific DNA signature associated with the name known as the Cohen Modal Haplotype.

Cohen may refer to:

People

Cohen, the surname (or in a few cases, part of a double-barrelled surname) of many people:

Scientists

• Albert K. Cohen (1918), an American sociologist
• Bernard Cohen, Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Pittsburgh
• Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, a French physicist working at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, Nobel Prize Laureate in physics.
• David B. Cohen (1941–2004), an American psychology professor
• E.G.D. Cohen (1923), a Dutch/American Physicist
• Emil Cohen (1842–1905), a German mineralogist (see also cohenite)
• Ernst Julius Cohen (1869–1944), a Dutch chemist
• Henri Cohen (1932), a French mathematician who specializes in number theory.
• Irvin S. Cohen, a mathematician
• Jack Cohen, British biologist and special effects consultant
• Julius Berend Cohen (1859–1935), an English chemist
• Leon Cohen, mathematician and developer of Cohen's class distribution function‎
• Marvin L. Cohen, a Canadian-born American condensed-matter physicist at the University of California, Berkeley
• Paul Joseph Cohen, (1934–2007), an American mathematician who proved the independence of the continuum hypothesis
• Samuel T. Cohen (1921–2010), a physicist who is known for inventing the W70 warhead, the "enhanced neutron weapon" or neutron bomb
• Simon Baron-Cohen, a renowned British psychologist and director of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge
• Stanley Cohen (born 1922), American Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology and Medicine
• Stanley Norman Cohen (born 1935), an American geneticist
• Yoseph Bar-Cohen, a physicist at the JPL who specializes in electroactive materials and ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation (NDE)
• Henry Cohen, Baron Cohen of Birkenhead British physician and lecturer, former president of the GMC and the Royal Society of Medicine. The Lord Cohen Medal for Gerontology is named after him.

Educators

• Andrew Cohen, (born 1955) an American guru, spiritual teacher, founder of the magazine What Is Enlightenment?, author, and musician
• Benjamin Cohen, an American Professor
• I. Bernard Cohen, former professor of the history of science at Harvard University
• Brad Cohen, a motivational speaker and an award-winning teacher and author
• Eliot A. Cohen, a Professor of Strategic Studies at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, and currently serving as Counselor to the U.S. State Department
• Gerald Cohen, the Chichele Professor of Social and Political Theory, All Souls College, Oxford
• Glenn Cohen, Department Chair, Biological and Environmental Science, Troy University
• Joanna Waley-Cohen, Professor of History at New York University, where she has taught since 1992
• Morris Cohen, (1911–2005) an emeritus Institute Professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Henry Cohen, rabbi of the Congregation B'nai Israel in Galveston, Texas
• Reuben Cohen, Canadian businessman, lawyer, and the third Chancellor of Dalhousie University
• Richard A. Cohen, lecturer on conversion therapy
• Richard I. Cohen, professor of Jewish History at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Stanley Cohen (born c. 1940s), Martin White Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics
• Stephen F. Cohen, scholar of Russian studies in the USA
• William W. Cohen, professor at the Machine Learning Department of Carnegie Mellon University

Writers

• Abraham Cohen de Herrera, Spanish born philosopher, kabbalist, and professor. Works written in 17th century Amsterdam.
• Albert Cohen, Greek-born Jewish Swiss novelist who wrote in French.
• Allen Cohen, editor of the San Francisco Oracle.
• Claudia Cohen, American gossip columnist, socialite and television maven.
• David X. Cohen, writer for animated TV shows such as The Simpsons and Futurama.
• Elie Aron Cohen (1909–1993), doctor, Auschwitz survivor, and author.
• Georg Morris Cohen Brandes, Danish critic and scholar who had great influence on Scandinavian literature from the 1870s through the turn of the 20th century.
• Hermann Cohen, German philosopher, one of the founders of the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism.
• Laurence Jonathan Cohen (1923–2006), British philosopher, writer of the book The Probable and the Provable (1977).
• Matt Cohen (1942–1999), known by the pseudonym Teddy Jam, a Canadian writer.
• Nick Cohen, a British journalist, author, and political commentator.
• Randy Cohen, an American writer and humorist best known as the author of The Ethicist column in The New York Times Magazine.
• Octavus Roy Cohen (1891–1959), writer and author.
• Richard Cohen (columnist), syndicated columnist for the Washington Post.
• Richard E. Cohen, congressional correspondent for a political magazine in the United States.
• Robert Cohen, Canadian comedy writer.
• Simcha Bunim Cohen, Orthodox rabbi and author
• Ya'akov Cohen, Israeli writer.

Musicians

• Aviad Cohen, formerly known as "50 shekel" an Israeli/American singer-songwriter, composer and arranger
• Allen Cohen, American composer
• Avishai Cohen, Israeli jazz bassist, composer and arranger
• Douglas J. Cohen, American composer/lyricist
• Ellen Naomi Cohen, American singer known as "Mama" Cass
• Alla Elana Cohen, Russian classical composer, pianist, teacher, music theorist and author
• Harriet Cohen, British pianist
• Jim Cohen, American pedal steel guitarist
• Judy Kay Cohen (born 1952), American singer known as Juice Newton
• Leonard Cohen, Canadian singer-songwriter, also best-selling author of Beautiful Losers and other novels
• Lynne A Cohen, Oboe and English Horn player
• Marc Cohn, American singer-songwriter
• Mathilda Cohn, Swedish singer, hovsångare
• Patrick Cohen, French pianist
• Paul Cohen, American saxophonist
• Raymond Cohen, British violinist
• Samuel Cohen (composer), composer of Hatikvah
• Sander Cohen, a fictional musician in the video game BioShock
• Shavit Cohen, popular Israeli musician
• Stuart David Cohen (1941–1982), American singer-songwriter known as David Blue
• Tim Cohen, American musician
• Treyc Cohen, X Factor finalist
• Yaron Cohen (now Sharon Cohen), Israeli singer known as Dana International

Artists

• Ryosuke Cohen, internationally known mail artist (whose surname is a stylistic spelling of Japanese Kōen and does not derive from the Hebrew name)
• Lynne Cohen, professional fine art photographer
• Dan Colen, artist based in New York (whose surname was changed from "Cohen" by his paternal grandfather)

Technologists

• Bram Cohen, American computer programmer, best known as the author of the peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing program and protocol BitTorrent

Entertainment industry people

• Alexis Cohen, American Idol contestant
• Albert Cohen, Israeli actor and singer
• Assi Cohen, Israeli comedian and actor
• Bruce Cohen, film producer
• David X. Cohen, writer and producer for television
• Emil Cohen (1911–2000), Jewish comedian and singer, in the tradition of Myron Cohen
• Emma Cohen, Spanish actress whose real name is Emmanuela Beltran Rahola
• Erin Cohen, American actress whose stage name is Erin Daniels. Became known through her role as Dana Fairbanks in The L Word
• Herman Cohen, producer of B-movies during the 1950s, who helped to popularize the teen horror movie genre
• Ira Cohen, filmmaker, poet and photographer
• Jem Cohen, a filmmaker known for his blending of media formats and collaborations with music artists
• Jeff Cohen, his claim to fame is appearing as Chunk in the 1985 classic Steven Spielberg production The Goonies
• Jeff Cohen, (b. 1960), American, multiple Emmy winning sport, video and music sound & recording engineer.
• Joel H. Cohen, a writer for The Simpsons
• Larry Cohen (born 1941), film director and brother of Ronni Chasen
• Liskula Cohen, Canadian born, New York based model, involved in an Internet privacy lawsuit.
• Matt Cohen, an American film and television actor
• Myron Cohen (1902–1986), an American comedian and raconteur
• Rob Cohen, an American film director, producer and writer
• Ronni Chasen (1946–2010), American publicist born Ronni Cohen, sister of director Larry Cohen
• Sacha Baron Cohen, English comedian
• Sidney M. Cohen, a Canadian television director and program creator
• Rodney Dangerfield was born Jacob Cohen
• Sid James, actor, was born Joel Solomon Cohen
• Tanner Cohen, a american actor and singer

Sports and athletics

• Alan N. Cohen, American former co-owner of the Boston Celtics and the New Jersey Nets
• Almog Cohen, Israeli professional association footballer.
• Andrew Cohen, Maltese international footballer
• Andy Cohen (baseball), former New York Giant player
• Audra Cohen, American 2007 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Champion
• Avi Cohen, former Israeli footballer who was the first to play in England
• Ben Cohen, world cup winning rugby union footballer who plays wing for CA Brive and England
• Chris Cohen, English footballer currently playing for Nottingham Forest
• Colby Cohen (born 1989), American ice hockey player
• Eli Cohen, Israeli football manager
• Gary Cohen, American sportscaster, best known as a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets
• Gary Cohen (footballer), English professional football player who joined Grimsby Town on a season-long loan deal from Scottish Second Division side Gretna
• George Cohen (born 1939), the soccer right back for England in the side which won the 1966 World Cup
• Glen Cohen, British athlete.
• Harlan Cohen, American volleyball coach
• Haskell Cohen, American sports writer and former National Basketball Association (NBA) public relations director
• Henri Cohen (water polo), Belgian Olympic silver medalist, water polo
• Howard Cosell, American sportscaster born Howard Cohen
• Jacob Cohen (footballer), Israeli former professional association footballer
• Jeff Cohen, All-American college basketball player at William & Mary in 1960-61
• Larry Cohen (soccer), South African footballer and son of Martin Cohen
• Liran Cohen, Israeli footballer
• Martin Cohen (soccer), South African footballer
• Matt Cohen (ice hockey), American ice hockey player
• Mickey Cohen (soccer), American footballer (soccer)
• Norman Cohn (Norman Armitage), US sabre fencer, 17-time US champion, Olympic bronze
• Ohad Cohen, Israeli footballer
• Robert Cohen (boxer), French & Algerian world champion bantamweight boxer
• Sasha Cohen, American US Figure Skating Champion & Olympic silver
• Shimon Cohen, Israeli footballer
• Stéphanie Cohen-Aloro, French tennis player
• Steven Cohen (footballer), French-Israeli professional association footballer
• Tamir Cohen, Israeli footballer (Bolton Wanderers & national team)
• Tanhum Cohen-Mintz (born 1939), Latvian-born Israeli basketball player
• Tiffany Cohen, American double gold champion in swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics, Hall of Fame
• Zion Cohen, Israeli footballer

Spies

• Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy
• Lona Cohen, an American member of the Communist Party USA who was recruited into Soviet espionage in 1939 by her husband
• Morris Cohen (Soviet spy) (1910-1995, also known as Peter Kroger), was a Soviet spy who helped pass Manhattan Project secrets to the USSR

Politicians

• Aharon Cohen, senior member of Mapam, born 1910.
• Andrew Cohen (statesman), former Governor of Uganda
• Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a European politician who was a leader of the student protesters during the May 1968 riots in France
• David Cohen (politician), an American politician, noted for his service in the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt
• David B. Cohen (mayor), an American politician, mayor of Newton, Massachusetts
• Erminie Cohen, retired Canadian senator
• Geula Cohen (born 1925), Israeli politician and journalist
• Harry Cohen, Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom
• Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology, USA
• Jim Cohen, human rights and environmental activist.
• Job Cohen, Dutch politician of the Dutch Labour Party
• Lita Indzel Cohen, American politician
• Pierre Cohen, French politician, Mayor of Toulouse
• Ran Cohen, Israeli politician and Knesset member of the Meretz-Yachad party
• Shaughnessy Cohen, Canadian politician, who represented the riding of Windsor—St. Clair for the Liberal Party from 1993 to 1998
• Stanley Cohen (1927–2004), a British Labour politician
• Steve Cohen, a member of the United States House of Representatives for Tennessee's Ninth District
• William Cohen, a politician and former US Secretary of Defense
• Ya'akov Cohen, Israeli rabbi and politician

Businesspeople

• Albert D. Cohen, a Canadian businessman who is the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Gendis Incorporated
• Alex Cohen, founder of successful marketing agency Xander Marketing
• Ben Cohen, a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream
• Benjamin Cohen, a British internet entrepreneur and journalist
• Evan Montvel Cohen, a co-founder and the first chairman of Air America Radio
• Henry Cohen, the director of Föhrenwald, the third largest Displaced Persons camp in the American sector of post-WWII Germany
• Jack Cohen (1898–1979), British businessman
• Jay Cohen, the former CEO of World Sports Exchange (WSEX), an online gambling company
• Joshua Lionel Cowen b. Joshua Lionel Cohen, toy train magnate
• Lyor Cohen, CEO of Warner Music Group
• Stephen M. Cohen, owner of the Internet domain name Sex.com
• Steven A. Cohen, a billionaire hedge fund investor and founder of SAC Capital Partners

Lawyers

• Arthur Cohen, an English barrister and king's counsel
• Felix S. Cohen (1907–1953), a lawyer and legal scholar who developed an expertise in law concerning natural resources, statehood and economic development for American territories, Indian affairs, and immigration and minority problems
• George H. Cohen, American director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
• Roy Cohn (1927–1986), an American lawyer who came to prominence during the investigations by Senator Joseph McCarthy into alleged Communism in the U.S. government
• Jerome A. Cohen, a professor of law at New York University School of Law and an expert in Chinese law
• Lionel Leonard Cohen, Law Lord, one of "the three wise men"
• Bradford Cohen, a contestant on the Apprentice 2 and celebrity Florida criminal defense lawyer

Fictional characters

• Brian Cohen, a fictional character and the main character of Monty Python's Life of Brian.
• Kirsten Cohen, a fictional character on the FOX television series The OC
• Mark Cohen, a fictional character in the rock opera Rent.
• Sandy Cohen, a fictional character on the FOX television series The O.C.
• Seth Cohen, a fictional character on FOX television series The O.C.
• Sander Cohen, a fictional character from the video game BioShock
• Max Cohen, a character in Darren Aronofsky's film "Pi."

Names needing to be sorted

• Gil "Gilligan" Cohen, Israeli radio personality
• Henry Cohen
• J. M. Cohen, a prolific translator (into English) of European literature
• Jeff Cohen (media critic), the founder of Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, a media watchdog group in the US
• John Cohen, a founding member of the New Lost City Ramblers as well as a photographer and filmmaker
• Kalman J. Cohen, an American economist
• Larry Cohen (bridge player), American bridge champion
• Larry Cohen (union leader), American union leader
• Liepmann Cohen (c. 1630-1714, also known as Leffmann Behrends), was the German financial agent of the dukes and princes of Hanover
• Mickey Cohen (1913–1976), a gangster in 1940s and 1950s
• Morris Cohen (adventurer), (1887-1970, also known as "Two-Gun"), a British-born adventurer who became a bodyguard for Sun Yat-sen
• Morris Raphael Cohen, (1880–1947), an American Jewish philosopher who united pragmatism with logical positivism and linguistic analysis
• Yousef Hamadani Cohen - Spiritual leader and chief Rabbi for the Jewish community in Iran
• Former name of Henri Corwin, Dutch philatelist

See also

• Kohen, a direct male descendant of the Biblical Aaron, brother of Moses
• Cohn
• Barney Cohen (disambiguation)
• Baron-Cohen (disambiguation)
• Benjamin Cohen (disambiguation)
• Bernard Cohen (disambiguation)
• Henri Cohen (disambiguation)
• Jack Cohen (disambiguation)
• Jacob Cohen (disambiguation)
• Morris Cohen (disambiguation)
• Paul Cohen (disambiguation)
• Richard Cohen (disambiguation)
• Samuel Cohen (disambiguation)
• Stanley Cohen (disambiguation)
• Cowen (disambiguation)

External links

• “The Tribe: The Cohen-Levi Family Heritage”