NameCensus.

UK surname

Cobby

In the 1881 census there were 280 people recorded with the Cobby surname, ranking it #10,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #10,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Duncton, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Mid Sussex and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cobby is 399 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.3%.

1881 census count

280

Ranked #10,202

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

1911

399 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cobby had 280 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 399 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cobby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cobby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cobby 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 290 #8,686
1881 historical 280 #10,202
1891 historical 348 #9,873
1901 historical 380 #9,823
1911 historical 399 #9,298
1997 modern 328 #12,758
1998 modern 364 #12,201
1999 modern 375 #12,004
2000 modern 366 #12,167
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 387 #11,713
2003 modern 383 #11,614
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 351 #12,343
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 350 #12,694
2009 modern 358 #12,736
2010 modern 368 #12,750
2011 modern 348 #13,134
2012 modern 349 #12,993
2013 modern 347 #13,260
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Cobbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Duncton, Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Mid Sussex, Blaby and Arun. 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 Duncton Sussex
2 Broadwater (incl. Worthing), Nuthurst Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 012 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Mid Sussex 010 Mid Sussex
3 Blaby 007 Blaby
4 Arun 005 Arun
5 Arun 009 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cobby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cobby

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

Cobby 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

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

1881 census detail

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Cobby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cobby 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. Sussex leads with 143 Cobbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.50x.

County Total Index
Sussex 143 31.50x
Yorkshire 42 1.57x
Surrey 32 2.44x
Middlesex 16 0.59x
Devon 11 1.96x
Dorset 8 4.53x
Kent 8 0.87x
Hampshire 6 1.09x
Hertfordshire 2 1.08x
Royal Navy 2 6.23x
Cornwall 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.87x
Norfolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 23 Cobbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.84x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 23 35.84x
Broadwater 20 192.12x
Lambeth 17 7.24x
Brighton 16 17.47x
Littlehampton 13 359.12x
Petworth 12 442.80x
New Shoreham 11 404.41x
Duncton 10 4000.00x
Hastings All Sts 10 233.64x
Sidmouth 10 311.53x
West Grinstead 8 583.94x
Battersea 7 7.07x
Poole St James 7 105.42x
Bury 6 1250.00x
Chelsea London 6 7.40x
Middlesbrough 6 17.27x
Swine 6 3333.33x
Chichester St Andrew 4 851.06x
Compton 4 1481.48x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 7.37x
Newington 4 4.02x
South Bersted 4 103.63x
Wimbledon 4 27.16x
Woolwich 4 11.79x
Hastings St Clement 3 70.26x
Kirdford 3 189.87x
St Luke London 3 6.95x
Yapton 3 588.24x
East Barnet 2 54.35x
East Blatchington 2 1000.00x
Felpham 2 384.62x
Ford 2 2222.22x
Kensington London 2 1.34x
Northwood 2 25.45x
Ore 2 59.17x
Oving 2 130.72x
Paddington London 2 2.02x
Tonbridge 2 6.04x
Warblington 2 91.32x
Worthing 2 400.00x
Alverstoke 1 5.01x
Beckenham 1 8.33x
Bromley London 1 1.69x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 11.25x
Falmouth 1 9.27x
Falsgrave 1 25.45x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.92x
Hackney London 1 0.66x
Heeley 1 12.33x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 149.25x
Kinson 1 28.99x
Midhurst 1 67.11x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.75x
Ottery St Mary 1 27.17x
Pagham 1 125.00x
Portsea 1 0.92x
Preston 1 12.61x
Royal Navy 1 3.65x
Sculcoates 1 2.36x
South Shoebury 1 46.95x
Swansea Town 1 2.60x
West Itchenor 1 666.67x
Westbury On Trym 1 5.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 20
James 18
William 15
George 11
Richard 5
Henry 4
Matthew 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Luke 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Clement 2
Ebenezer 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Anthony 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Charley 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
J. 1
Samuel 1
W. 1
W.J. 1

FAQ

Cobby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cobby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 280 people were recorded with the Cobby surname. That placed it at #10,202 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cobby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Cobby a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Cobby map show?

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