1. Scottish Origin: This is the most common origin. It comes from the Gaelic "Mac Codrain," which means "son of Codran," a personal name of uncertain meaning.
2. English Origin: It can also be a variant spelling of "Cockeran," which itself is a variant of "Cockburn," meaning "dweller by the burn (stream)."
3. Irish Origin: A less common origin suggests it could be an anglicized form of the Irish "Ó Catháin," meaning "descendant of Cathán."
Therefore, the meaning of Cochran depends on its origin:
* Scottish: "Son of Codran"
* English: "Dweller by the stream"
* Irish: "Descendant of Cathán"
Without further context, it's impossible to determine the specific origin and meaning of a particular instance of the name Cochran.