NameCensus.

UK surname

Cobham

A habitation name referring to someone from Cobham, England.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Cobham surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 341, ranked #13,425, down from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Croston and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chorley, Calderdale and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cobham is 395 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.8%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

341

2016, ranked #13,425

Peak year

1999

395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cobham had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016, ranked #13,425.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 381 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cobham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cobham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cobham 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 200 #10,403
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 381 #9,799
1911 historical 369 #9,867
1997 modern 365 #11,804
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 395 #11,555
2000 modern 389 #11,645
2001 modern 387 #11,484
2002 modern 383 #11,820
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 382 #11,672
2005 modern 370 #11,875
2006 modern 361 #12,178
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 353 #12,616
2009 modern 353 #12,894
2010 modern 365 #12,825
2011 modern 362 #12,773
2012 modern 339 #13,271
2013 modern 350 #13,186
2014 modern 352 #13,206
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 341 #13,425

Geography

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Where Cobhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Croston, London parishes, North Meols and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chorley, Calderdale and Lambeth. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Croston Lancashire
3 London parishes London 3
4 North Meols Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chorley 011 Chorley
2 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
3 Chorley 005 Chorley
4 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
5 Chorley 009 Chorley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cobham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cobham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Cobham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cobham is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cobham 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 Cobham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cobham

The surname Cobham has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. It is a locational name, derived from the village of Cobham in Kent or the village of the same name in Surrey. The word "Cobham" is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cobbe" meaning "headland" or "ridge" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village."

The name Cobham appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This indicates that the name was well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Sir John de Cobham, who was a prominent knight during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307). Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Cobham, who was a member of the English Parliament in the 14th century.

During the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487), a prominent figure was Sir Thomas Cobham, who supported the Yorkist cause. He was born around 1408 and fought at the Battle of Towton in 1461, which was a decisive victory for the Yorkists.

In the 16th century, Sir Henry Cobham was a distinguished naval commander who served under King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the defeat of the French fleet at the Battle of the Solent in 1545.

Another notable individual with the Cobham surname was Sir John Oldcastle, also known as Lord Cobham (c. 1378-1417). He was a leading Lollard and a close friend of King Henry V. However, he was later convicted of heresy and executed.

Throughout history, the Cobham name has also been associated with various places in England, such as Cobham Park in Kent and Cobham Hall in Surrey. These locations likely originated from the same root as the surname, reflecting the influence of the families who bore the name in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cobham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cobham 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. Lancashire leads with 130 Cobhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.78x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 130 3.78x
Middlesex 42 1.45x
Surrey 30 2.13x
Kent 19 1.92x
Berkshire 12 5.52x
Worcestershire 12 3.17x
Cheshire 11 1.72x
Yorkshire 10 0.35x
Hertfordshire 9 4.51x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.05x
Sussex 5 1.02x
Devon 4 0.66x
Hampshire 2 0.34x
Essex 1 0.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x
Suffolk 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mawdesley in Lancashire leads with 83 Cobhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9021.74x.

Place Total Index
Mawdesley 83 9021.74x
Hackney London 20 12.31x
North Meols 15 44.58x
Camberwell 13 7.02x
Great Crosby 11 117.40x
Upton On Severn 11 443.55x
Reading St Giles 9 42.17x
Keighley 6 19.61x
Macclesfield 6 21.10x
Milton In Gravesend 6 40.49x
Battersea 5 4.69x
Bromley London 5 7.84x
Great Amwell 5 250.00x
Lewisham 5 9.49x
Newington 5 4.67x
Plumstead 5 15.17x
Rainow 5 393.70x
Wrightington 5 333.33x
Averham 4 2500.00x
Brighton 4 4.06x
Farndon 4 579.71x
Fulham London 4 9.52x
Heskin 4 1052.63x
Islington London 4 1.42x
Ware 4 69.93x
West Derby 4 3.98x
Beddington 3 54.95x
Bingley 3 16.41x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.93x
Exeter St David 3 58.25x
Kirkdale 3 5.19x
St George Hanover Square 3 5.88x
Kensington London 2 1.24x
Lambeth 2 0.79x
Little Bolton 2 4.52x
Shinfield 2 156.25x
Toxteth Park 2 1.72x
Clapham 1 2.76x
Cookham 1 14.75x
Gate Fulford 1 14.93x
Great Malvern 1 12.67x
Holdenhurst 1 6.42x
Hove 1 4.67x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.95x
Maldon St Peter 1 34.36x
Paddington London 1 0.94x
Preston 1 1.09x
Southampton St Mary 1 2.68x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 30.12x
St Marylebone London 1 0.65x
Stafford St Mary 1 7.23x
Tottenham 1 2.17x
Whixoe 1 833.33x
Wolborough 1 13.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 14
Thomas 13
Robert 8
George 7
Alexander 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Henry 5
Richard 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
James 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Enoch 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Alexandra 1
Algernon 1
C.J. 1
Christopher 1
Claud 1
Dan.L. 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hen.John 1
Herbert 1
Jane 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Maurice 1
Oliver 1
Roger 1
Thurston 1
W.R. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Cobham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cobham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Cobham surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cobham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 341 in 2016. That gives Cobham a modern rank of #13,425.

What does the Cobham surname mean?

A habitation name referring to someone from Cobham, England.

What does the Cobham map show?

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