When and where did the surname “Cohen” originate?

It originated when the Jews took surnames. It means priest. There is a tribe of Israelites who are supposed to be the priests. When they needed surnames, many of them took the name Cohen.

The name Cohen is a boy's name of Hebrew, Jewish origin meaning "priest"

Cohen, also spelled kohen (Hebrew: “priest”), plural cohanim, or cohens, Jewish priest, one who is a descendant of Zadok, founder of the priesthood of Jerusalem when the First Temple was built by Solomon (10th century bc) and through Zadok related to Aaron, the first Jewish priest, who was appointed to that office by ...

The distinguished surname Cohen is a proud sign of an ancient Jewish culture. The surname Cohen is an occupational surname for a priest, and it comes from the Hebrew word kohen. Traditionally, priests were considered to have been members of a hereditary caste, descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses....