NameCensus.

UK surname

Cobley

Old English surname denoting a local place meaning "dwelling by a stream valley".

In the 1881 census there were 1,094 people recorded with the Cobley surname, ranking it #3,635 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,282, ranked #4,675, down from #3,635 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Topsham and Wellingborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, North Devon and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cobley is 1,425 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

1,094

Ranked #3,635

Modern count

1,282

2016, ranked #4,675

Peak year

1999

1,425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cobley had 1,094 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,635 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,282 in 2016, ranked #4,675.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,412 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cobley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cobley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cobley 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 635 #4,088
1861 historical 674 #3,983
1881 historical 1,094 #3,635
1891 historical 1,068 #3,933
1901 historical 1,284 #3,876
1911 historical 1,412 #3,415
1997 modern 1,385 #4,176
1998 modern 1,403 #4,271
1999 modern 1,425 #4,236
2000 modern 1,400 #4,282
2001 modern 1,367 #4,288
2002 modern 1,398 #4,300
2003 modern 1,373 #4,288
2004 modern 1,367 #4,318
2005 modern 1,356 #4,300
2006 modern 1,363 #4,286
2007 modern 1,380 #4,276
2008 modern 1,379 #4,309
2009 modern 1,398 #4,333
2010 modern 1,388 #4,433
2011 modern 1,387 #4,393
2012 modern 1,341 #4,450
2013 modern 1,340 #4,524
2014 modern 1,335 #4,566
2015 modern 1,303 #4,620
2016 modern 1,282 #4,675

Geography

Back to top

Where Cobleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Topsham, Wellingborough, London parishes and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, North Devon, East Northamptonshire and Swansea. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Topsham Devon
3 Wellingborough Northamptonshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 007 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 North Devon 007 North Devon
3 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire
4 Swansea 021 Swansea
5 Swansea 022 Swansea

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cobley

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cobley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Cobley 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

Cobley is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cobley

The surname Cobley is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 11th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cob" and "leah," which together mean "a meadow or clearing where ships were built or repaired." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in such a place.

One of the earliest known references to the name Cobley can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Cobley name appears in several entries, indicating that it was already established in various parts of the country by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Cobley, who was a landowner in Worcestershire. Around the same time, a Thomas de Cobley is mentioned in a legal document from Warwickshire, suggesting that the name had spread to different regions of England.

During the 14th century, the name Cobley appeared in various spellings, such as Cobley, Cobbeley, and Cobbley, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling that were common during that era. One notable figure from this period was William Cobley, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from around 1350 to 1420.

In the 16th century, the Cobley surname can be found in historical records from counties like Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Devon. One prominent individual was John Cobley, a member of the Parliament of England who represented Lyme Regis in the 1590s.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cobley throughout history include:

1. Thomas Cobley (1608-1689), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Warden of Winchester College. 2. Richard Cobley (1774-1849), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 3. John Cobley (1836-1894), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. 4. Mary Cobley (1858-1932), a British artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits. 5. John Cobley (1908-1992), a British actor and stage performer who appeared in several films and television shows.

Overall, the surname Cobley has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, with connections to various regions, occupations, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cobley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cobley 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. Leicestershire leads with 225 Cobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.98x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 225 18.98x
Devon 156 7.01x
Northamptonshire 120 11.93x
Middlesex 72 0.67x
Warwickshire 63 2.34x
Lincolnshire 61 3.57x
Lancashire 58 0.46x
Surrey 42 0.81x
Yorkshire 41 0.39x
Kent 35 0.96x
Somerset 31 1.80x
Monmouthshire 29 3.75x
Rutland 28 35.67x
Derbyshire 24 1.43x
Gloucestershire 18 0.86x
Bedfordshire 10 1.81x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.48x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.62x
Essex 8 0.38x
Glamorgan 8 0.43x
Worcestershire 7 0.50x
Hampshire 6 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.77x
Huntingdonshire 5 2.36x
Hertfordshire 4 0.54x
Shropshire 4 0.43x
Lanarkshire 3 0.09x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Suffolk 3 0.23x
Berkshire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Denbighshire 1 0.25x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x
Wiltshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 40 Cobleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.84x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 40 13.84x
Wellingborough 37 73.18x
Birmingham 31 3.45x
Topsham 20 190.48x
South Molton 18 147.18x
Saltby 17 1700.00x
Kimcote Knaptoft 16 981.60x
Raunds 16 156.25x
Aston 14 1.89x
Clerkenwell London 13 5.15x
Fleckney 13 460.99x
Windle 13 18.21x
Bedwas 12 214.29x
Bridgewater 12 25.68x
Deptford St Paul 12 4.27x
Greenwich 12 7.05x
Chulmleigh 11 216.96x
Wembury 11 544.55x
Barwell 10 159.49x
Bedminster 10 6.18x
Dunstable 10 58.79x
Great Grimsby 10 9.22x
Melton Mowbray 10 46.93x
Smeeton 10 704.23x
Uppingham 10 106.84x
Bilton 9 144.93x
Greatford 9 1111.11x
Hackney London 9 1.50x
Holy Trinity 9 3.53x
Kirkby Mallory Earl 9 158.17x
Paddington London 9 2.29x
Rushden 9 66.91x
Tormoham 9 9.56x
Trevethin 9 12.33x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 4.05x
Chudleigh 8 113.15x
Guisbrough 8 34.56x
Lambeth 8 0.86x
Leicester All Sts 8 34.36x
Morley 8 14.52x
St Pancras London 8 0.93x
Stanton Newhall 8 148.98x
Tinwell 8 975.61x
Barholm 7 1060.61x
Clee With Weelsby 7 18.71x
Croxton Keyrial 7 348.26x
Eglwysilan 7 21.67x
Gilmorton 7 296.61x
Habergham Eaves 7 6.04x
Little Bytham 7 625.00x
Lutterworth 7 96.95x
Manchester 7 1.23x
Market Deeping 7 157.66x
Moston 7 55.03x
Newington 7 23.99x
St Marylebone London 7 1.23x
Stapenhill 7 28.09x
Thurlaston 7 358.97x
West Deeping 7 673.08x
West Ham 7 1.50x
Barnstaple 6 17.18x
Belgrave 6 22.43x
Brigstock 6 157.07x
Burbage 6 96.93x
Burton Latimer 6 98.68x
Camberwell 6 0.88x
Crediton 6 28.45x
Esher 6 82.30x
Etton 6 1200.00x
Geddington 6 185.19x
Kettering 6 14.75x
Northampton St Giles 6 15.66x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 11.73x
Pirbright 6 226.42x
Washford Pyne 6 1052.63x
Widnes 6 6.56x
Wigston Magna 6 38.17x
Hinckley 5 17.78x
St Thomas Winchester 5 32.32x
Sysonby 5 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 85
John 62
Thomas 45
George 36
Charles 29
James 25
Henry 19
Samuel 17
Joseph 16
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Edward 12
Albert 10
Richard 9
Ernest 7
Frank 7
Frederick 7
Robert 7
Herbert 6
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Job 5
Walter 5
Isaac 4
Carl 3
Earnest 3
Edwin 3
Tom 3
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Eusebius 2
Geo. 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Sam 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Dennis 1
Ebenezer 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Hy.J. 1
Gilbert 1
Lemuel 1
Monte 1
Neal 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Cobley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cobley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,094 people were recorded with the Cobley surname. That placed it at #3,635 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cobley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,282 in 2016. That gives Cobley a modern rank of #4,675.

What does the Cobley surname mean?

Old English surname denoting a local place meaning "dwelling by a stream valley".

What does the Cobley map show?

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