NameCensus.

UK surname

Cobban

A variant spelling of the Scottish surname Cobban, meaning son of the combed or tufted one.

In the 1881 census there were 270 people recorded with the Cobban surname, ranking it #10,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 321, ranked #14,065, down from #10,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alford, Keig and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Huntly, Central Bedfordshire and Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cobban is 348 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.9%.

1881 census count

270

Ranked #10,484

Modern count

321

2016, ranked #14,065

Peak year

1901

348 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cobban had 270 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016, ranked #14,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 348 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cobban surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cobban surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cobban 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 231 #9,334
1861 historical 236 #10,393
1881 historical 270 #10,484
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 304 #13,409
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 326 #13,188
2001 modern 320 #13,143
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 295 #13,972
2006 modern 307 #13,695
2007 modern 301 #14,022
2008 modern 308 #13,882
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 326 #13,918
2011 modern 312 #14,230
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 321 #14,065

Geography

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Where Cobbans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alford, Keig, Edinburgh, Huntly and Longside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Huntly, Central Bedfordshire, Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells, Sheddocksley and Inverurie North. 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 Alford Aberdeen
2 Keig Aberdeen
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Huntly Aberdeen
5 Longside Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Huntly Aberdeenshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 002 Central Bedfordshire
3 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells Aberdeenshire
4 Sheddocksley Aberdeen City
5 Inverurie North Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cobban

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cobban

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cobban surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cobban household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cobban is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cobban is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cobban falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cobban

The surname COBBAN is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'cob,' meaning a rounded mass or lump, and likely referred to a person of stocky or robust build. The name was initially found in Berkshire and Oxfordshire, where it was possibly a nickname or descriptive surname.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as Cobbe. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time. Another early reference can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a Richard Cobbe is mentioned.

During the 14th century, the surname began to spread to other parts of England. In the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, a John Cobbe is listed as a resident of Doncaster. This suggests that the name had gained a foothold in the northern regions of the country by that time.

Notable individuals with the surname COBBAN throughout history include:

1. Richard Cobban (1586-1645), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Rector of Acton, Middlesex.

2. Thomas Cobban (1785-1844), a Scottish minister and author, best known for his work "A Treatise on the Covenant of Grace."

3. Alfred Cobban (1901-1968), a British historian and professor of French history at University College London, known for his studies on the French Revolution.

4. Robert Cobban (born 1944), a Canadian actor and playwright, known for his roles in various television series and films.

5. Ingrid Cobban (born 1940), a British-American historian and author, specializing in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and Middle Eastern affairs.

While the surname COBBAN may have originated from a descriptive nickname, it has since evolved into a distinct family name with a rich history spanning several centuries. The name has been found in various parts of England, as well as Scotland and beyond, with individuals bearing this surname making notable contributions in fields such as religion, literature, history, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cobban families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cobban 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 130 Cobbans recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.30x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 130 53.30x
Morayshire 30 73.31x
Banffshire 28 51.25x
Midlothian 21 5.95x
Kincardineshire 11 34.30x
Yorkshire 8 0.31x
Staffordshire 7 0.79x
Perthshire 6 5.08x
Nairnshire 5 62.19x
Stirlingshire 5 5.15x
Gloucestershire 4 0.77x
Surrey 4 0.31x
Inverness-shire 3 3.81x
Lanarkshire 2 0.23x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.72x
Fife 1 0.64x
Kent 1 0.11x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Ross-shire 1 1.38x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 37 Cobbans recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.66x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 37 72.66x
Gamrie 17 278.69x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 35.06x
Duffus 15 415.51x
South Leith 13 32.75x
Huntly 10 251.89x
Longside 9 309.28x
Alford 7 526.32x
Foveran 7 378.38x
Harborne 7 24.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 4.23x
Fordoun 6 333.33x
Inverurie 6 217.39x
Lonmay 6 271.49x
Peterculter 6 348.84x
Alves 5 490.20x
Cluny 5 427.35x
Falkirk 5 21.99x
Keith 5 85.91x
Wentworth 5 308.64x
Ardclach 4 396.04x
Banchory Ternan 4 144.40x
Camberwell 4 2.38x
Cromhall Cromhall Lygon 4 1428.57x
Keig 4 571.43x
Old Deer 4 86.58x
Perth East Church 4 35.91x
Strichen 4 188.68x
Rotherham 3 20.39x
Tullynessle Forbes 3 337.08x
Banff 2 42.19x
Dyce 2 190.48x
Elgin 2 25.13x
Forres 2 46.51x
Kirkhill 2 149.25x
Rothes 2 100.00x
Urquhart 2 103.63x
Aberlour 1 57.80x
Aston 1 0.55x
Boyndie 1 55.25x
Callander 1 51.28x
Daviot 1 217.39x
Drainie 1 27.62x
Duddingston 1 14.12x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 14.58x
Fettercairn 1 73.53x
Forgan 1 33.44x
Fyvie 1 25.13x
Glasgow 1 0.66x
Hamilton 1 4.21x
Inverkeithny 1 120.48x
Inverness 1 5.06x
Langholm 1 23.92x
Logie 1 23.58x
Midmar 1 106.38x
Nairn 1 20.49x
New Spynie 1 68.03x
Sittingbourne 1 14.08x
Skene 1 61.73x
St Fergus 1 72.46x
St Pancras London 1 0.47x
Tain 1 36.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 2
Annie 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
M.Ann 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Alexander 3
James 3
David 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Maclain 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cobban households.

FAQ

Cobban surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cobban surname in 1881?

In 1881, 270 people were recorded with the Cobban surname. That placed it at #10,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cobban surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 321 in 2016. That gives Cobban a modern rank of #14,065.

What does the Cobban surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Scottish surname Cobban, meaning son of the combed or tufted one.

What does the Cobban map show?

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