UK surname
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "cave" or "cove" in Old English.
In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Coble surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #20,349 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter, Gateshead and Narburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coble is 147 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.0%.
1881 census count
95
Ranked #20,349
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1861
147 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coble surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coble surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 147 | #15,539 |
| 1881 | historical | 95 | #20,349 |
| 1891 | historical | 139 | #19,311 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 99 | #22,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 66 | #31,387 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 80 | #30,139 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 71 | #31,351 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 67 | #32,196 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 62 | #33,565 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 76 | #33,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter, Gateshead, Narburgh, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morley St Botolph, Morley St Peter | Norfolk |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Narburgh | Norfolk |
| 4 | Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coble surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coble, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Coble surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coble household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Coble is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coble is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coble, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COBLE has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "coble," which referred to a small, flat-bottomed boat used for fishing or transportation on rivers and along coastlines.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dated 1275, where a William Coble is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use as a hereditary surname by this time period.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various tax records and court rolls across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, indicating its prevalence in these regions. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 list a John Coble, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 for Lincolnshire mention a Robert Coble.
The surname COBLE is also found in the Hearth Tax Rolls of the late 17th century, which recorded households based on their number of hearths or fireplaces. In 1672, the rolls for Yorkshire list several COBLE families, including those of William Coble in Wakefield and John Coble in Leeds.
One notable individual bearing the COBLE surname was Thomas Coble (1677-1754), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Appleby in Leicestershire. His works include a translation of the Apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus and a treatise on the Book of Job.
Another historically significant figure was John Coble (1807-1887), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall.
In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the COBLE surname can be found in the 1790 Census, where a John Coble is listed as residing in North Carolina. This suggests that the name had already been established in America by the late 18th century.
William Coble (1816-1895), a farmer and businessman from Alamance County, North Carolina, was a prominent figure in the American Civil War. He served as a captain in the Confederate Army and later became a major landowner and industrialist in the postwar era.
John Coble (1865-1944), a lawyer and politician from North Carolina, served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1919 to 1923, representing the 6th congressional district of his state.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coble surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 29 Cobles recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.14x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 29 | 20.14x |
| Middlesex | 15 | 1.60x |
| Nottinghamshire | 8 | 6.34x |
| Kent | 7 | 2.19x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.75x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.15x |
| Essex | 4 | 2.16x |
| Cambridgeshire | 3 | 5.06x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.54x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 3.41x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1.75x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.44x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.64x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.09x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.72x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Morley St Botolph in Norfolk leads with 8 Cobles recorded in 1881 and an index of 8888.89x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Morley St Botolph | 8 | 8888.89x |
| Newark Upon Trent | 8 | 176.21x |
| Burnham Sutton Cum Burnham | 7 | 7000.00x |
| Hammersmith London | 7 | 30.36x |
| Narborough | 7 | 5000.00x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 5 | 94.52x |
| Bethnal Green London | 4 | 9.84x |
| West Ham | 4 | 9.80x |
| March | 3 | 150.75x |
| Norwich St James | 3 | 265.49x |
| Wellingborough | 3 | 67.72x |
| Whitworth | 3 | 147.06x |
| Wyke In Bradford | 3 | 180.72x |
| Beccles | 2 | 108.70x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 7.18x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 8.36x |
| Eastchurch | 2 | 625.00x |
| Great Malvern | 2 | 78.43x |
| Halifax | 2 | 14.68x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 3.84x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 2 | 23.28x |
| Ruswarp | 2 | 194.17x |
| Chilton | 1 | 114.94x |
| Great Neston | 1 | 147.06x |
| Heigham | 1 | 12.94x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 5.35x |
| Leominster | 1 | 196.08x |
| North Shields | 1 | 35.97x |
| North Walsham | 1 | 96.15x |
| Norwich St Michael At | 1 | 119.05x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.90x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 6.66x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.00x |
| Stratton | 1 | 454.55x |
| West Winch | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coble surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coble surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Coble households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Ag Lab | 4 |
| Ag Laborer | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Gen Serv | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Chemist | 1 |
| Chemists Wife | 1 |
| Clerk To Harbour Trustee | 1 |
| Clicker | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Collier | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Cook (Domestic) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Engine Cleaner | 1 |
| Engine Fitter At Wks | 1 |
| Fish Hawker | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocers Wife | 1 |
| Harness Maker | 1 |
| Horse Or Housekeeper | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Lab In Iron | 1 |
| Laborer General | 1 |
| Labourer (Gen) | 1 |
| Ladys Maid (Domestic Serv) | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Malster Working | 1 |
| Malster Working Wife | 1 |
| Marine Insrce Broker | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Road Laborer | 1 |
| Roadman (Lab) | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant Dom | 1 |
| Student Of Music (Art) | 1 |
| Washwoman | 1 |
| Wife Of Marine Insrc Broker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Coble surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Coble a modern rank of #33,304.
An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "cave" or "cove" in Old English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coble bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.