NameCensus.

UK surname

Coad

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a marshy area.

In the 1881 census there were 641 people recorded with the Coad surname, ranking it #5,556 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 748, ranked #7,310, down from #5,556 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Redruth, London parishes and Perran Arworthal. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coad is 810 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.7%.

1881 census count

641

Ranked #5,556

Modern count

748

2016, ranked #7,310

Peak year

1911

810 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coad had 641 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,556 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 748 in 2016, ranked #7,310.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 810 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Coad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coad surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coad 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 572 #4,447
1861 historical 464 #5,600
1881 historical 641 #5,556
1891 historical 687 #5,701
1901 historical 764 #5,853
1911 historical 810 #5,426
1997 modern 741 #6,944
1998 modern 790 #6,824
1999 modern 759 #7,078
2000 modern 753 #7,078
2001 modern 747 #7,006
2002 modern 757 #7,062
2003 modern 748 #7,036
2004 modern 723 #7,205
2005 modern 724 #7,139
2006 modern 733 #7,113
2007 modern 731 #7,207
2008 modern 724 #7,295
2009 modern 758 #7,189
2010 modern 760 #7,315
2011 modern 757 #7,255
2012 modern 728 #7,393
2013 modern 749 #7,353
2014 modern 753 #7,352
2015 modern 750 #7,303
2016 modern 748 #7,310

Geography

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Where Coads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Redruth, London parishes, Perran Arworthal and Lanhydrock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Redruth Cornwall
2 London parishes London 1
3 Perran Arworthal Cornwall
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lanhydrock Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 027 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 015 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 038 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coad

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coad, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Coad surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coad household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Coad is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coad 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

Coad falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coad

The surname COAD has its origins in the West Country regions of England, particularly in the counties of Cornwall and Devon. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'cot', which referred to a small cottage or dwelling.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest known record of surnames in England, there are several references to places with names derived from 'cot', such as Coteford and Cotherstoc. This suggests that the surname COAD may have originated from a location name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname COAD dates back to the late 12th century. In the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire for the year 1195, a person named William Cote is mentioned. This spelling variation was likely an early form of the surname COAD.

During the 13th century, the surname COAD began to appear more frequently in various records. In the Feet of Fines for Devon in 1234, a person named Richard Cote is listed. This spelling variation further supports the connection between the surname COAD and the Old English word 'cot'.

Notable individuals with the surname COAD throughout history include Sir John Coad (1563-1647), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1638. Another prominent figure was Sir Giles Coad (1588-1671), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I.

In the 17th century, the surname COAD was also present in Cornwall. One example is William Coad (1642-1707), a Cornish clergyman and author who wrote a book titled "A View of Some Provincial Riots and Popular Insurrections in Cornwall".

Moving into the 18th century, there was John Coad (1722-1789), an English artist and engraver known for his landscape paintings and etchings of Cornish scenery. Another notable individual was Samuel Coad (1767-1845), a Cornish engineer and mining entrepreneur who played a significant role in the development of the Cornish mining industry.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname COAD continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the West Country regions. One example is Edward Coad (1825-1888), a Cornish architect who designed several notable buildings in the county, including the Penzance Public Library.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coad 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. Cornwall leads with 339 Coads recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.04x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 339 48.04x
Middlesex 85 1.36x
Surrey 42 1.38x
Devon 41 3.16x
Yorkshire 38 0.62x
Lancashire 21 0.28x
Kent 10 0.47x
Northumberland 10 1.08x
Cheshire 9 0.65x
Hampshire 8 0.63x
Somerset 8 0.80x
Sussex 8 0.76x
Essex 4 0.33x
Glamorgan 4 0.37x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.51x
Staffordshire 3 0.14x
Wiltshire 2 0.36x
Durham 1 0.05x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Illogan in Cornwall leads with 26 Coads recorded in 1881 and an index of 139.19x.

Place Total Index
Illogan 26 139.19x
Kenwyn 23 124.66x
Lanhydrock 23 5750.00x
Lanlivery 21 709.46x
St Pancras London 17 3.39x
Gwennap 16 120.21x
Battersea 15 6.54x
St Keverne 15 385.60x
Linkinhorne 12 243.90x
Perranarworthal 12 508.47x
Lambeth 11 2.02x
Phillack 10 109.77x
Ruan Lanihorne 10 1428.57x
St Ive 10 220.75x
Bodmin 9 77.05x
North Hill 9 398.23x
Tranmere 9 17.80x
Bow London 8 10.08x
Calstock 8 57.80x
East Looe 8 279.72x
Kimberworth 8 23.34x
St Germans 8 162.60x
St Mewan 8 368.66x
Stoke Damerel 8 8.81x
Worsthorne Cum 8 340.43x
Chiswick 7 20.55x
Clapham 7 8.98x
Cuby 7 2187.50x
Luxulyan 7 297.87x
Newchurch 7 11.57x
Portsea 7 2.80x
St Endellion 7 285.71x
St Luke London 7 7.00x
Alnmouth 6 526.32x
Budock 6 112.99x
Hornsey 6 7.61x
Huddersfield 6 6.67x
Liskeard 6 50.80x
Middlesbrough 6 7.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 6.00x
Redruth 6 30.06x
St Enoder 6 250.00x
St Michael Penkievel 6 1818.18x
Stoke Newington London 6 12.36x
Westminster St John 6 7.90x
Bedminster 5 5.30x
Hackney London 5 1.43x
Ilfracombe 5 37.43x
Otley 5 33.33x
Plymouth Charles The 5 8.75x
St Austell 5 20.73x
St Dennis 5 189.39x
St Ewe 5 233.64x
Whitechapel London 5 8.14x
Antony 4 58.65x
Camberwell 4 1.00x
Cramlington 4 32.63x
East Stonehouse 4 15.65x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 17.84x
Southill 4 370.37x
Altarnun 3 122.45x
Barking 3 8.33x
Charlton 3 21.23x
Chatham 3 5.13x
Croydon 3 1.78x
Duloe 3 144.93x
Edmonton 3 5.97x
Feock 3 67.87x
Grade 3 483.87x
Heptonstall 3 34.60x
Hillingdon 3 15.10x
Horbury 3 27.75x
Landewednack 3 240.00x
Leeds 3 0.86x
Llantwit Lower 3 31.45x
Mile End Old Town London 3 2.26x
Plumstead 3 4.23x
St Clement 3 40.71x
St Gluvias 3 75.95x
Tipton 3 4.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 42
Jane 14
Sarah 13
Eliza 9
Ann 8
Annie 8
Ellen 8
Agnes 7
Edith 7
Grace 7
Harriet 7
Amelia 6
Caroline 6
Alice 5
Catherine 5
Fanny 5
Amy 4
Emma 4
Louisa 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Bessie 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Joanna 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Ettie 2
Leonora 2
Lily 2
Marion 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Nanny 2
Rachel 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Elizebath 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 37
Thomas 27
Richard 25
James 18
Samuel 16
George 14
Joseph 11
Robert 9
Frederick 8
Alfred 6
Edwin 6
Henry 5
Nicholas 5
Walter 5
Charles 4
Francis 4
Arthur 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Jonathan 2
Peter 2
Ben 1
Charley 1
Chas.Wm. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Hamilton 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jams 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Marwood 1
Michael 1
Otho 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Rundle 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Theophilus 1
Tom 1
Wm.Rd. 1

FAQ

Coad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 641 people were recorded with the Coad surname. That placed it at #5,556 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 748 in 2016. That gives Coad a modern rank of #7,310.

What does the Coad surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a marshy area.

What does the Coad map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coad 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.