NameCensus.

UK surname

Choules

A variant spelling of the English surname Cowles, from an Old English word meaning "churl" or "farmer."

In the 1881 census there were 193 people recorded with the Choules surname, ranking it #13,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 436, ranked #11,062, up from #13,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egham, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reading, Wokingham and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Choules is 460 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 125.9%.

1881 census count

193

Ranked #13,144

Modern count

436

2016, ranked #11,062

Peak year

2010

460 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Choules had 193 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016, ranked #11,062.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 329 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Choules surname distribution map

The map shows where the Choules surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Choules surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Choules over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 157 #12,504
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 193 #13,144
1891 historical 204 #14,702
1901 historical 311 #11,363
1911 historical 329 #10,688
1997 modern 421 #10,589
1998 modern 441 #10,560
1999 modern 437 #10,717
2000 modern 432 #10,771
2001 modern 419 #10,835
2002 modern 425 #10,941
2003 modern 419 #10,875
2004 modern 408 #11,117
2005 modern 402 #11,137
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 410 #11,162
2008 modern 414 #11,160
2009 modern 447 #10,742
2010 modern 460 #10,719
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 425 #11,157
2013 modern 436 #11,106
2014 modern 435 #11,224
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 436 #11,062

Geography

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Where Choules' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egham, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Beddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reading, Wokingham and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Egham Berkshire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
5 Beddington Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reading 017 Reading
2 Reading 018 Reading
3 Wokingham 007 Wokingham
4 County Durham 064 County Durham
5 Reading 014 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Choules

These lists show first names that appear often with the Choules surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Choules

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Choules, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Choules surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Choules household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Choules is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Choules is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Choules falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Choules is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Choules, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Choules

The surname Choules has its origins in the West Country region of England, specifically in Gloucestershire and Somerset. It is an English locational name derived from various place names containing the Old English word 'hol', meaning a hollow or small valley. The earliest recorded spelling appears to be de Holis in 1221 from the Feet of Fines for Somerset.

The name is likely to have originated from one of several small villages or hamlets with names like Hole, Holis, or Holes. These place names are found scattered across the West Country region in records dating back to the 13th century. For example, there is a village called Hole in Somerset, as well as similar place names like Holes Farm in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Richard de Holis, who is mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1243. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1275, listing a Robert de la Hole.

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings such as Holle, Holls, Holes, and eventually Choules. This transition from the original 'Hol' to 'Choul' is likely due to the influence of regional dialects and the natural evolution of language over centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname Choules include:

1. John Choules (c. 1516-1585), an English Catholic martyr who was executed for his faith during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Thomas Choules (1670-1742), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol, England. 3. Samuel Choules (1781-1855), an English Baptist minister and author who served as the pastor of the Baptist Church in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. 4. John Ovington Choules (1801-1856), an English-born Baptist minister and author who served in the United States. 5. William Harry Choules (1842-1915), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Choules Hospital in Camborne, Cornwall.

While the name may have originated from humble beginnings in small West Country villages, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, including martyrs, merchants, ministers, and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Choules families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Choules surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Wiltshire leads with 55 Choules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.04x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 55 33.04x
Hampshire 33 8.55x
Middlesex 20 1.06x
Berkshire 19 13.45x
Surrey 13 1.42x
Northamptonshire 11 6.21x
Glamorgan 6 1.83x
Lancashire 6 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 5 4.39x
Leicestershire 5 2.40x
Hertfordshire 4 3.08x
Warwickshire 4 0.84x
Kent 3 0.47x
Oxfordshire 3 2.58x
Caernarfonshire 2 2.63x
Staffordshire 2 0.31x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Shropshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bedwin in Wiltshire leads with 20 Choules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1694.92x.

Place Total Index
Great Bedwin 20 1694.92x
Chisledon 14 1842.11x
Kensington London 11 10.51x
Beddington 9 253.52x
St Mary Bourne 8 1142.86x
Hammersmith London 7 15.10x
Kings Sutton 7 886.08x
Aberdare 6 26.67x
Odiham 6 355.03x
Ramsbury 6 397.35x
Shalbourn 6 1132.08x
Swindon 6 46.48x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 29.73x
Easton 5 2380.95x
Eton 5 193.80x
Knipton 5 2380.95x
Cookham 4 90.70x
Coventry St Michael 4 26.23x
Holdenhurst 4 39.53x
Hurst 4 216.22x
Penton Mewsey 4 2222.22x
Peterborough 4 31.20x
Tring 4 115.61x
Egham 3 53.29x
Bangor 2 27.25x
Basingstoke 2 45.05x
Burton Upon Trent 2 13.45x
North Hinksey 2 1111.11x
Portsea 2 2.64x
Ruscombe 2 833.33x
South Tidworth 2 1333.33x
Speen 2 86.58x
St Lawrence 2 45.25x
Aldershot 1 7.73x
Castleton 1 4.48x
Chaddleworth 1 370.37x
Chute 1 357.14x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 16.08x
Ham Kingston On Thames 1 250.00x
Lee Brockhurst 1 1666.67x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 1 85.47x
Millbrook 1 10.29x
Newport 1 47.85x
Ogbourne St George 1 322.58x
Oxford St Giles 1 18.02x
Shoreditch London 1 1.23x
Siddington 1 322.58x
St Pancras London 1 0.66x
St Thomas Winchester 1 36.76x
Steep 1 256.41x
Wroughton 1 69.44x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Choules surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 9
Jane 5
Ann 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Lousia 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Clara 1
Elenor 1
Emilie 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Gwenllian 1
Hannah 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Lucy 1
Lussie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marria 1
Maud 1
Nellie 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Choules surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Choules surname: questions and answers

How common was the Choules surname in 1881?

In 1881, 193 people were recorded with the Choules surname. That placed it at #13,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Choules surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 436 in 2016. That gives Choules a modern rank of #11,062.

What does the Choules surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Cowles, from an Old English word meaning "churl" or "farmer."

What does the Choules map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Choules bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.