UK surname
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a coastal cliff or headland.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Coff surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Windsor, Old, East Retford and Llanwonno. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coff is 118 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
118 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coff surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coff surname density by area, 1861 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 25 | #31,259 |
| 1911 | historical | 53 | #27,508 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 47 | #33,219 |
| 2002 | modern | 51 | #33,193 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 49 | #34,422 |
| 2008 | modern | 48 | #34,629 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 54 | #34,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 52 | #34,780 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Windsor, Old, East Retford, Llanwonno, St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju and Somerton. 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 | Windsor, Old | Berkshire |
| 2 | East Retford | Nottinghamshire |
| 3 | Llanwonno | Glamorganshire |
| 4 | St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju | Norfolk |
| 5 | Somerton | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coff 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 Coff, 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 Coff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coff 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, Coff 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 Coff is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname COFF has its origins in England, emerging in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "coffe," meaning a small container or basket. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to an occupation or trade involving baskets or containers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name COFF can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1201, where a Robert Coff is mentioned. This provides evidence that the name was already in use in northern England by the early 13th century.
Another early reference to the COFF surname appears in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1311, where a John Coff is listed as a landowner. This indicates that the name had spread to other regions of England by the early 14th century.
In the 15th century, the COFF surname is documented in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1476, which mentions a Thomas Coff. This suggests that the name had become well-established in different parts of the country by that time.
One notable individual bearing the COFF surname was Sir John Coff (1460-1523), a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1518 and was knighted for his services to the Crown.
Another prominent figure was William Coff (1598-1672), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge from 1645 until his death.
In the 17th century, the COFF surname appears in various parish records across England, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country. One example is the baptismal record of Margery Coff in the parish of St. Dunstan's, Stepney, in 1632.
In the 18th century, the COFF surname can be found in various legal and administrative records, such as the Land Tax Assessments for Gloucestershire from 1722, which lists a John Coff as a landowner.
One notable individual from this period was Robert Coff (1725-1788), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
As the centuries passed, the COFF surname continued to be represented in various areas of British society, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in fields such as academia, politics, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coff 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. Berkshire leads with 9 Coffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.44x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Berkshire | 9 | 53.44x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 3.57x |
| Dorset | 2 | 13.58x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 3.53x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 3.31x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sunninghill in Berkshire leads with 9 Coffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 3913.04x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sunninghill | 9 | 3913.04x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 5 | 454.55x |
| Aston | 2 | 12.84x |
| Studland | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 8.02x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 12.79x |
| Radstock | 1 | 416.67x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 25.32x |
| St George Martyr London | 1 | 222.22x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coff 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 Coff 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 Coff households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Collier Employed | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Journeyman Painter | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid Dom Servt | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Coff surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Coff a modern rank of #34,889.
A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a coastal cliff or headland.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coff 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.