NameCensus.

UK surname

Coates

An English toponymic surname derived from any of various places named Coates, meaning "cottages" or "sheds."

In the 1881 census there were 11,178 people recorded with the Coates surname, ranking it #384 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15,423, ranked #410, down from #384 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Craven and Scarborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coates is 16,236 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.0%.

1881 census count

11,178

Ranked #384

Modern count

15,423

2016, ranked #410

Peak year

1999

16,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coates had 11,178 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #384 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 15,423 in 2016, ranked #410.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,935 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Coates surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coates surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coates 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 6,603 #418
1861 historical 5,987 #456
1881 historical 11,178 #384
1891 historical 12,035 #370
1901 historical 14,725 #360
1911 historical 15,935 #306
1997 modern 15,568 #390
1998 modern 16,178 #390
1999 modern 16,236 #391
2000 modern 16,070 #393
2001 modern 15,705 #391
2002 modern 15,927 #397
2003 modern 15,505 #397
2004 modern 15,482 #398
2005 modern 15,218 #396
2006 modern 15,167 #398
2007 modern 15,273 #400
2008 modern 15,315 #401
2009 modern 15,563 #403
2010 modern 15,883 #403
2011 modern 15,715 #402
2012 modern 15,404 #403
2013 modern 15,722 #404
2014 modern 15,753 #406
2015 modern 15,599 #405
2016 modern 15,423 #410

Geography

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Where Coates' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Leeds and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Craven, Scarborough, Richmondshire and Bradford. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 024 County Durham
2 Craven 001 Craven
3 Scarborough 014 Scarborough
4 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
5 Bradford 059 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coates

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coates

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Coates is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coates is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coates falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coates 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 Coates, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Coates

The surname Coates originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Anglo-Saxon word "cot," meaning a small homestead or cottage. It was a topographic name referring to someone who lived in a small dwelling or near a cluster of cottages.

The name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared in various spellings, such as "Cotes" and "Cottes." These early records suggest that the name was prevalent in several counties, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1195, where a William de Cotes is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, with the entry of a Richard de Cotes.

The name Coates is closely associated with several place names across England, such as Coates in Gloucestershire, Coates in Cambridgeshire, and Coates in Lincolnshire. These localities likely contributed to the spread and adoption of the surname in their respective regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Coates. One such figure is Robert Coates (1772-1848), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval Gold Medal for his bravery. Another prominent bearer of the name was Thomas Coates (1766-1832), an English architect known for his work on the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

In the literary realm, Mary Coates (1784-1857) was a British writer and poet who published several volumes of poetry and religious works. Albert Coates (1882-1953), a British conductor and composer, is also remembered for his contributions to music.

The surname Coates has also been associated with notable figures in sports. One example is John Coates (born 1950), an Australian sports administrator who served as the President of the Australian Olympic Committee and Vice President of the International Olympic Committee.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the surname Coates, which has its roots firmly planted in the history and geography of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coates families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coates 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. Yorkshire leads with 3,707 Coates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.43x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3,707 3.43x
Durham 1,372 4.23x
Lancashire 1,124 0.87x
Middlesex 702 0.64x
Surrey 425 0.80x
Staffordshire 374 1.02x
Gloucestershire 305 1.43x
Derbyshire 293 1.72x
Warwickshire 238 0.87x
Northumberland 190 1.17x
Lincolnshire 188 1.08x
Cumberland 178 1.90x
Sussex 163 0.89x
Worcestershire 158 1.11x
Norfolk 145 0.87x
Kent 144 0.39x
Suffolk 135 1.02x
Hampshire 126 0.56x
Essex 112 0.52x
Cheshire 96 0.40x
Wiltshire 89 0.92x
Somerset 87 0.50x
Westmorland 86 3.59x
Oxfordshire 80 1.19x
Leicestershire 73 0.60x
Nottinghamshire 62 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 46 0.67x
Devon 42 0.19x
Lanarkshire 42 0.12x
Glamorgan 39 0.21x
Denbighshire 35 0.85x
Berkshire 34 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 31 0.47x
Herefordshire 30 0.67x
Monmouthshire 26 0.33x
Northamptonshire 25 0.24x
Montgomeryshire 17 0.68x
Shropshire 17 0.18x
Dorset 16 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 16 1.01x
Midlothian 14 0.10x
Radnorshire 8 0.91x
Renfrewshire 8 0.09x
Royal Navy 8 0.62x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.16x
Flintshire 7 0.24x
Angus 6 0.06x
Hertfordshire 6 0.08x
Berwickshire 5 0.38x
Cornwall 5 0.04x
Perthshire 5 0.10x
Rutland 4 0.50x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.14x
Bedfordshire 2 0.04x
Brecknockshire 2 0.09x
Caithness 2 0.13x
Wigtownshire 2 0.14x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 222 Coates' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 222 3.64x
Bishopwearmouth 118 4.24x
Scarborough 110 11.22x
Bradford 109 4.17x
Birmingham 101 1.10x
Manningham 98 7.37x
Holy Trinity 93 3.58x
Stockton On Tees 92 5.89x
Pudsey 88 15.25x
Stranton 87 7.98x
Brighton 82 2.21x
Gateshead 77 3.17x
Liverpool 69 0.88x
Middlesbrough 69 4.91x
Camberwell 67 0.96x
Portsea 63 1.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 62 2.82x
Darlington 58 4.64x
Lambeth 56 0.59x
Islington London 54 0.51x
Wolsingham 54 18.29x
Burslem 53 5.03x
Stoke Upon Trent 53 1.36x
Shildon 51 19.59x
Oldham 48 1.15x
Southcoates 46 7.68x
Richmond 45 26.69x
Salford 45 1.18x
Aston 44 0.58x
Elswick 44 3.40x
Kidderminster Borough 44 5.29x
St Pancras London 43 0.49x
Hunslet 42 2.50x
Arkengarthdale 41 109.30x
Idle 41 8.19x
Newington 40 0.99x
Habergham Eaves 39 3.30x
Halifax 38 2.40x
Hulme 38 1.41x
Hackney London 37 0.61x
Horton In Bradford 37 2.20x
Manchester 37 0.64x
Sheffield 37 1.08x
Long Eaton 36 16.00x
Nether Hallam 36 2.47x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 36 3.72x
Cheetham 35 3.63x
Hammersmith London 35 1.30x
Bridlington 34 13.76x
Evenwood Barony 34 30.86x
Kings Norton 34 2.67x
Mile End Old Town London 34 1.47x
Preston 34 0.98x
West Derby 34 0.90x
Batley 33 3.22x
Beverley St Martin 33 18.32x
Clerkenwell London 33 1.28x
Liversedge 33 6.87x
Paddington London 33 0.82x
Wigan 33 1.83x
Battersea 32 0.80x
Calverley Cum Farsley 32 10.44x
Deptford St Paul 32 1.12x
Helmington Row 32 21.20x
St George In East London 32 3.12x
Burnley 31 2.85x
Cheltenham 31 1.88x
Eccleshill 31 11.80x
Bishop Auckland 30 6.90x
Chesterfield 30 4.69x
Hunwick Helmington 30 38.56x
Knaresborough 30 17.70x
Linthorpe 30 4.66x
Burton Upon Trent 29 3.37x
Crook Billy Row 29 6.99x
Hornsey 29 2.11x
Sculcoates 29 1.69x
Uttoxeter 29 15.41x
Whitby 29 7.97x
Lancaster 28 3.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 835
Elizabeth 474
Sarah 401
Jane 272
Ann 233
Annie 177
Margaret 162
Hannah 158
Alice 150
Emma 137
Ellen 128
Eliza 124
Emily 116
Martha 109
Isabella 83
Harriet 70
Edith 69
Maria 68
Ada 67
Fanny 58
Florence 55
Louisa 53
Clara 49
Frances 49
Agnes 44
Caroline 38
Catherine 38
Charlotte 38
Anne 36
Eleanor 36
Susan 31
Kate 30
Lucy 29
Susannah 25
Amelia 24
Harriett 24
Rose 24
Esther 22
Henrietta 22
Ethel 21
Rebecca 20
Amy 19
Betsy 19
Gertrude 19
Matilda 19
Beatrice 18
Jessie 17
Minnie 17
Rachel 17
Sophia 17

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 755
William 697
Thomas 419
George 384
James 296
Joseph 231
Henry 210
Robert 194
Charles 183
Edward 113
Arthur 112
Alfred 102
Frederick 101
Richard 93
Walter 68
Albert 62
Samuel 54
Harry 53
Frank 46
Francis 44
Herbert 44
Fred 36
Christopher 34
Isaac 33
Tom 33
Edwin 30
Benjamin 29
Matthew 29
Wm. 27
David 26
Ernest 26
Thos. 24
Daniel 19
Edmund 18
Stephen 17
Abraham 16
Geo. 16
Mark 16
Leonard 13
Jonathan 12
Fredk. 11
Percy 11
Ralph 11
Earnest 10
Jno. 10
Nathan 10
Robt. 10
Andrew 9
Michael 9
Alexander 8

FAQ

Coates surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coates surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,178 people were recorded with the Coates surname. That placed it at #384 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coates surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 15,423 in 2016. That gives Coates a modern rank of #410.

What does the Coates surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from any of various places named Coates, meaning "cottages" or "sheds."

What does the Coates map show?

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