NameCensus.

UK surname

Cobbett

An occupational surname derived from Middle English referring to a maker of cobbets or small loaves of bread.

In the 1881 census there were 579 people recorded with the Cobbett surname, ranking it #6,018 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 528, ranked #9,603, down from #6,018 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stoke-next-Guildford, Wandsworth and Woking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Elmbridge and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cobbett is 808 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.8%.

1881 census count

579

Ranked #6,018

Modern count

528

2016, ranked #9,603

Peak year

1911

808 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cobbett had 579 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,018 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016, ranked #9,603.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 808 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cobbett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cobbett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cobbett 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 349 #7,318
1881 historical 579 #6,018
1891 historical 666 #5,844
1901 historical 743 #5,985
1911 historical 808 #5,438
1997 modern 597 #8,177
1998 modern 596 #8,434
1999 modern 601 #8,430
2000 modern 593 #8,486
2001 modern 579 #8,495
2002 modern 579 #8,649
2003 modern 564 #8,679
2004 modern 574 #8,601
2005 modern 566 #8,621
2006 modern 561 #8,698
2007 modern 552 #8,883
2008 modern 549 #8,978
2009 modern 562 #9,013
2010 modern 591 #8,884
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 531 #9,431
2013 modern 546 #9,392
2014 modern 537 #9,565
2015 modern 530 #9,605
2016 modern 528 #9,603

Geography

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Where Cobbetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stoke-next-Guildford, Wandsworth, Woking, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Elmbridge, Cornwall, Kingston upon Hull and Selby. 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 Stoke-next-Guildford Surrey
2 Wandsworth London (South Districts)
3 Woking Surrey
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Elmbridge 004 Elmbridge
3 Cornwall 070 Cornwall
4 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Selby 010 Selby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cobbett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cobbett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cobbett, 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 Cobbett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cobbett 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cobbett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cobbett 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

Cobbett 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 Cobbett 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 Cobbett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cobbett

The surname Cobbett originated from England and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cobbe," which means a rounded or humped mass, referring to a hill or mound. The name was likely given to someone who lived near such a geographical feature.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest known record of the name appears as "Cobet" in Norfolk and Suffolk counties. This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Walter Cobbett, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 list a William Cobbett from Oxfordshire.

The Cobbett name has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous was William Cobbett (1763-1835), an English pamphleteer, farmer, and journalist who was known for his polemical writings and championing of traditional English rural life.

Another prominent individual was John Cobbett (1554-1593), an English Jesuit priest who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. He is remembered as one of the Martyrs of England and Wales.

In the 17th century, Richard Cobbett (1597-1637) was an English clergyman and author who published several religious works, including "A Fruitful and Profitable Treatise."

The name Cobbett has also been linked to various place names in England, such as Cobbett's Hill in Surrey and Cobbett's Lane in Hampshire, further reinforcing its geographical origins.

Thomas Cobbett (1808-1877) was an English clergyman and author who wrote on religious subjects, including a biography of his famous relative, William Cobbett.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cobbett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cobbett 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. Surrey leads with 258 Cobbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.33x.

County Total Index
Surrey 258 9.33x
Middlesex 88 1.55x
Hampshire 55 4.73x
Kent 39 2.01x
Sussex 21 2.19x
Cheshire 18 1.44x
Devon 15 1.27x
Gloucestershire 11 0.99x
Lancashire 11 0.16x
Norfolk 10 1.15x
Somerset 10 1.09x
Yorkshire 10 0.18x
Hertfordshire 9 2.30x
Monmouthshire 5 1.22x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.11x
Oxfordshire 4 1.14x
Staffordshire 4 0.21x
Berkshire 3 0.70x
Channel Islands 2 1.19x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Midlothian 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wandsworth in Surrey leads with 32 Cobbetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.55x.

Place Total Index
Wandsworth 32 58.55x
Horsell 26 1485.71x
Streatham 19 45.11x
Woking 16 95.98x
Aldershot 14 35.92x
Brighton 14 7.25x
Newington 14 6.68x
Alverstoke 11 26.12x
Chertsey 11 61.56x
Farnham 10 46.49x
Guildford St Nicholas 10 204.50x
Islington London 10 1.82x
Long Ashton 10 220.75x
St Marylebone London 10 3.30x
Titchfield 10 114.03x
Walton On Thames 10 78.74x
Beerferris 9 391.30x
Bristol St George 9 17.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 7.88x
St Pancras London 9 1.97x
Bollin Fee 8 143.88x
Compton 8 869.57x
Kensington London 8 2.53x
Lewisham 8 7.75x
Barnes 7 59.83x
Dover St Mary Virgin 7 37.33x
Guildford St Mary 7 205.88x
Horbury 7 71.14x
Richmond 7 18.06x
Canterbury St Mary N 6 458.02x
Chelsea London 6 3.51x
Ewell 6 102.74x
Frimley 6 76.14x
Great Amwell 6 153.06x
Paddington London 6 2.87x
Portsea 6 2.63x
St George Hanover Square 6 6.00x
Stoke 6 45.98x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 64.86x
West Moulsey 6 468.75x
Weybridge 6 101.18x
Aberystruth 5 13.82x
Guildford Holy Trinity 5 94.88x
Lambeth 5 1.01x
Woolwich 5 6.99x
Chiswick 4 12.89x
Croydon 4 2.61x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 25.51x
Fulshaw 4 173.16x
Kingswinford 4 5.75x
Mitcham 4 22.88x
Oldham 4 1.84x
South Stoneham 4 15.85x
Yateley 4 181.82x
Bow London 3 4.15x
Camberwell 3 0.83x
Cheshunt 3 21.93x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.24x
Cobham 3 66.08x
Hackney London 3 0.94x
Hampstead London 3 3.39x
Hendon 3 14.68x
Hyde 3 8.11x
Leeds 3 0.94x
Norwich St Giles 3 107.53x
Petworth 3 52.45x
Rotherfield Greys 3 80.86x
Salford 3 1.51x
Southwark St John 3 17.28x
Tonbridge 3 4.29x
Battersea 2 0.96x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.81x
Birkenhead 2 2.00x
Bromley London 2 1.60x
Folkestone 2 5.32x
Greenwich 2 2.21x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.01x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.01x
St Giles In Fields London 2 7.18x
Thames Ditton 2 34.78x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 26
William 26
George 24
John 23
Henry 20
Charles 13
Arthur 10
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Harry 8
Richard 8
Thomas 8
Walter 8
Albert 7
Frank 7
Edward 6
Stephen 4
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Luke 2
Pitt 2
Reginald 2
Robert 2
Willm. 2
Caleb 1
Carmi 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Edwd 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.James 1
Geo. 1
Geo.G. 1
Guy 1
H.W. 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Pelham 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Cobbett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cobbett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 579 people were recorded with the Cobbett surname. That placed it at #6,018 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cobbett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 528 in 2016. That gives Cobbett a modern rank of #9,603.

What does the Cobbett surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from Middle English referring to a maker of cobbets or small loaves of bread.

What does the Cobbett map show?

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