NameCensus.

UK surname

Cockerham

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, meaning "homestead by a hill frequented by woodcocks."

In the 1881 census there were 280 people recorded with the Cockerham surname, ranking it #10,202 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 446, ranked #10,871, down from #10,202 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leeds, Swillington and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Derby and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cockerham is 501 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.3%.

1881 census count

280

Ranked #10,202

Modern count

446

2016, ranked #10,871

Peak year

1998

501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cockerham had 280 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,202 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016, ranked #10,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Cockerham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cockerham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cockerham 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 184 #12,856
1881 historical 280 #10,202
1891 historical 381 #9,213
1901 historical 390 #9,650
1911 historical 415 #9,049
1997 modern 487 #9,482
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 495 #9,731
2000 modern 501 #9,619
2001 modern 491 #9,604
2002 modern 472 #10,060
2003 modern 464 #10,003
2004 modern 443 #10,442
2005 modern 439 #10,401
2006 modern 448 #10,269
2007 modern 441 #10,513
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 445 #10,780
2010 modern 479 #10,370
2011 modern 483 #10,215
2012 modern 460 #10,498
2013 modern 468 #10,516
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 450 #10,819
2016 modern 446 #10,871

Geography

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Where Cockerhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leeds, Swillington, Bradford, Rothwell and Kippax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Derby and Leeds. 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 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Swillington Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rothwell Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kippax Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
2 Wakefield 002 Wakefield
3 Derby 027 Derby
4 Leeds 097 Leeds
5 Leeds 089 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cockerham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cockerham

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Cockerham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cockerham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Cockerham is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cockerham is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cockerham falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cockerham 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 Cockerham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cockerham

The surname Cockerham has its origins in Lancashire, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cocc" meaning a small hill or mound, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. The name likely refers to a settlement situated on a small hill or raised ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire from 1176, where it appears as "Cokereham". This spelling variation suggests that the name was initially pronounced with a hard "c" sound, similar to the modern spelling.

In the 13th century, the Cockerham family is mentioned in various records, including the Assize Rolls of Lancashire from 1246. This indicates that the family held a certain degree of prominence and landholdings in the region during this period.

The name is also associated with the village of Cockerham, located in the Wyre district of Lancashire. This village likely took its name from the same linguistic roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the local geography.

One notable figure bearing the Cockerham surname was William Cockerham, a 16th-century English landowner and Member of Parliament for Lancashire. He was born around 1520 and served in the House of Commons during the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I.

Another historical figure was John Cockerham, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in 1628 and served as the Rector of Winwick in Lancashire. Cockerham published several religious works, including "A Practical Commentary on the Whole Book of Psalms" in 1671.

In the 18th century, Thomas Cockerham, born in 1720, was a notable clockmaker and watchmaker from Lancashire. His clocks and watches were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision.

The Cockerham surname also has connections to the United States, with some early immigrants bearing the name. One such individual was Samuel Cockerham, who was born in England in 1765 and later settled in Virginia in the late 18th century.

Another notable American with the Cockerham surname was John Cockerham, a 19th-century lawyer and politician from Missouri. He was born in 1825 and served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and as a judge in the state's circuit court.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cockerham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cockerham 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. Yorkshire leads with 204 Cockerhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 204 7.56x
Derbyshire 16 3.76x
Devon 14 2.47x
Lancashire 13 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 9 2.45x
Hertfordshire 7 3.73x
Leicestershire 7 2.32x
Hampshire 4 0.72x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.22x
Dorset 1 0.56x
Durham 1 0.12x
Middlesex 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oulton Cum Woodlesford in Yorkshire leads with 30 Cockerhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1369.86x.

Place Total Index
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 30 1369.86x
Leeds 20 13.13x
Hunslet 17 40.43x
Kippax 15 632.91x
Swillington 12 1558.44x
Manchester 11 7.57x
South Milford 11 1122.45x
Kingsteignton 10 632.91x
Basford 9 53.22x
Derby St Alkmund 9 70.48x
Preston 9 604.03x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 81.72x
Bingley 7 40.77x
Carlton 7 2692.31x
Hatfield 7 184.21x
Rothwell 7 128.44x
Whitwood 7 182.77x
Horsley 6 234.38x
Manningham 6 18.06x
Allerton Bywater 5 342.47x
Bradford 5 7.66x
Ecclesfield 4 20.23x
Garforth 4 194.17x
Sherburn 4 180.18x
Thorp Arch 4 1081.08x
Wortley In Bramley 4 18.73x
Armley 3 25.23x
Basingstoke 3 46.73x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 17.28x
Skircoat 3 28.20x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 16.46x
Horton In Bradford 2 4.75x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 2 60.79x
North Bierley 2 13.74x
Wycombe 2 16.30x
Aismunderby Cum 1 131.58x
Austhorpe 1 344.83x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 10.85x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.90x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 68.97x
East Ardsley 1 42.74x
Elton 1 8.96x
Highweek 1 49.51x
Huddersfield 1 2.55x
Ipplepen 1 129.87x
Litchurch 1 5.83x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 21.05x
Paddington London 1 1.00x
Sculcoates 1 2.34x
St Thomas Winchester 1 25.38x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.56x
Tadcaster West 1 46.73x
Thornton In Craven 1 46.30x
Wolborough 1 13.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 10
Annie 7
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betty 1
Charllotte 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Easter 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Leah 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margreat 1
Marion 1
Maude 1
Nellie 1
Nerissa 1
Sophia 1
Vina 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 11
Charles 9
George 8
Arthur 7
Henry 7
Joseph 7
Thomas 7
Edward 6
James 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
David 4
Amos 3
Fred 3
Tom 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Alvara 1
Charls 1
Charly 1
Ed.C. 1
Edmund 1
Elias 1
Esra 1
Frank 1
Geo. 1
Harrie 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Lucas 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Vincent 1
W.Charles 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Philip 1

FAQ

Cockerham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cockerham surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Cockerham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 446 in 2016. That gives Cockerham a modern rank of #10,871.

What does the Cockerham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, meaning "homestead by a hill frequented by woodcocks."

What does the Cockerham map show?

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