NameCensus.

UK surname

Coen

A Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Coenraad, meaning "bold counsel" or "brave advisor."

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Coen surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 523, ranked #9,679, up from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Clifton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Amber Valley and North Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coen is 563 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 515.3%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

523

2016, ranked #9,679

Peak year

2010

563 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coen had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 523 in 2016, ranked #9,679.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 142 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Coen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coen 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 503 #9,259
1998 modern 523 #9,276
1999 modern 527 #9,277
2000 modern 541 #9,070
2001 modern 538 #8,950
2002 modern 557 #8,894
2003 modern 518 #9,257
2004 modern 520 #9,244
2005 modern 515 #9,251
2006 modern 523 #9,170
2007 modern 535 #9,087
2008 modern 519 #9,372
2009 modern 527 #9,477
2010 modern 563 #9,193
2011 modern 533 #9,500
2012 modern 522 #9,575
2013 modern 526 #9,664
2014 modern 533 #9,627
2015 modern 523 #9,694
2016 modern 523 #9,679

Geography

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Where Coens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Clifton, London parishes, Coppenhall and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Amber Valley, North Kesteven, Stockport and Doncaster. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Clifton Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Coppenhall Cheshire
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 015 Leeds
2 Amber Valley 003 Amber Valley
3 North Kesteven 006 North Kesteven
4 Stockport 025 Stockport
5 Doncaster 013 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coen

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Coen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Coen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Coen is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coen 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

Coen falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coen 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Coen

The surname COEN has its origins in the Gaelic Irish language. It is derived from the old Irish personal name Caomhán, which translates to "gentle" or "kind". The name likely originated in Ireland during the Middle Ages, though the earliest records of the surname date back to the 16th century.

The COEN surname was prevalent in counties such as Mayo, Galway, and Roscommon in the west of Ireland. It is also found in some coastal areas, suggesting that bearers of the name may have been involved in maritime trades or fishing communities. Variations in spelling include Cone, Coan, Coan, and Cohane.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the COEN surname appears in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history compiled in the early 17th century. The annals mention a Tadhg Coen, who was a noted poet and scholar in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the COEN surname is found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, which were records of royal grants and appointments in Ireland. A Dermot Coen is listed as receiving a grant of land in County Mayo in 1587.

Notable individuals with the COEN surname include:

1. Thomas Coan (1801-1876), an American missionary and author who served in Hawaii. 2. Michael Coen (1854-1925), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament for East Wicklow. 3. Joel Coen (born 1954), an American filmmaker, known for his collaborations with his brother Ethan Coen on films like "Fargo" and "No Country for Old Men". 4. Ethan Coen (born 1957), an American filmmaker and the brother of Joel Coen, with whom he frequently co-writes and co-directs films. 5. Kathleen Coen (born 1962), an Australian actress and writer, best known for her roles in television series like "Prisoner" and "A Country Practice".

The COEN surname has a rich history rooted in Ireland, with early bearers potentially involved in various professions and trades. While the name has spread globally, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic language and the Irish counties where it was first recorded.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coen 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 23 Coens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 23 2.28x
Kent 16 5.53x
Middlesex 10 1.18x
Yorkshire 9 1.07x
Cheshire 6 3.20x
Cornwall 6 6.24x
Surrey 5 1.21x
Suffolk 4 3.87x
Channel Islands 2 7.95x
Devon 2 1.13x
Berkshire 1 1.57x
Hampshire 1 0.57x
Hertfordshire 1 1.71x
Northumberland 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 16 Coens recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.65x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 16 71.65x
Farnworth 12 199.01x
Westminster St James 8 91.74x
Birkenhead 6 40.19x
Over Darwen 6 74.63x
Talland 6 2608.70x
Wakefield 5 77.40x
Lambeth 4 5.41x
Lowestoft 4 81.97x
Saddleworth 4 61.63x
Liverpool 2 3.27x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 54.50x
St Helier 2 24.42x
Stonehouse East 2 222.22x
Great Crosby 1 36.36x
Heap 1 18.73x
Hemel Hempstead 1 37.88x
Putney 1 25.84x
Salford 1 3.38x
Southampton All Sts 1 33.56x
Tynemouth 1 14.79x
Wantage 1 98.04x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Coen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Coen surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 523 in 2016. That gives Coen a modern rank of #9,679.

What does the Coen surname mean?

A Dutch patronymic surname derived from the given name Coenraad, meaning "bold counsel" or "brave advisor."

What does the Coen map show?

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