NameCensus.

UK surname

Coffee

An occupational surname referring to a coffee seller, coffeehouse keeper, or coffee grower.

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Coffee surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Bath and North East Somerset and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coffee is 355 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.1%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1881

355 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Coffee had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Coffee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coffee surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Coffee 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 315 #7,347
1861 historical 292 #8,626
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 339 #10,682
1911 historical 250 #12,918
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 113 #25,843
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 87 #29,966
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 92 #29,929
2008 modern 95 #29,822
2009 modern 87 #31,489
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 100 #30,258
2013 modern 95 #31,523
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

Back to top

Where Coffees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Bath and North East Somerset, Hastings, Croydon and Leicester. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 006 Taunton Deane
2 Bath and North East Somerset 021 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Hastings 002 Hastings
4 Croydon 018 Croydon
5 Leicester 030 Leicester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Coffee

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Coffee

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Coffee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Coffee 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Coffee 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

Coffee 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

Coffee falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coffee is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coffee

The surname Coffee is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "cofre," which means a chest or a coffer. The name likely referred to a person who made or sold coffers or chests, suggesting an occupational origin.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coffee can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Robert le Coffrer." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the surname Coffee appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire (1379) and the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire (1379), indicating its presence in different regions of England during that period.

Notably, the surname Coffee is mentioned in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, a historical record commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name has a long and established history in England.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Coffee was John Coffee, who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol.

Another notable figure was Sir Nicholas Coffee, born in 1524. He was a English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Westbury during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Coffee family established themselves in the county of Somerset. Thomas Coffee (1609-1675) was a respected landowner and farmer in the village of Pilton.

During the 18th century, the surname Coffee gained prominence in the field of literature. Samuel Coffee (1730-1798) was an acclaimed English poet and writer known for his satirical works.

The 19th century saw the rise of James Coffee (1818-1892), a prominent businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Manchester through his charitable endeavors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Coffee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coffee 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 96 Coffees recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 96 2.22x
Middlesex 61 1.68x
Berkshire 31 11.35x
Surrey 21 1.18x
Kent 20 1.61x
Hampshire 18 2.41x
Glamorgan 15 2.37x
Cheshire 12 1.49x
Yorkshire 11 0.31x
Channel Islands 10 9.27x
Lanarkshire 9 0.76x
Staffordshire 7 0.57x
Wiltshire 7 2.18x
Warwickshire 6 0.65x
Angus 5 1.48x
Durham 5 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.02x
Derbyshire 4 0.70x
Devon 4 0.53x
Essex 4 0.56x
Royal Navy 4 9.23x
Westmorland 4 5.00x
Isle of Man 3 4.44x
Oxfordshire 2 0.89x
Renfrewshire 2 0.71x
Sussex 2 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.45x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Monmouthshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 23 Coffees recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.52x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 23 6.52x
Manchester 21 10.82x
Warrington 19 37.12x
Reading St Mary 16 73.13x
Reading St Giles 13 48.51x
Merthyr Tydfil 11 18.07x
Portsea 11 7.53x
St Peter 10 321.54x
Widnes 10 32.11x
Deptford St Paul 9 9.40x
Hamilton 7 21.33x
Highworth 7 170.32x
Liverpool 7 2.67x
Blackburn 6 5.22x
Lambeth 6 1.89x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 6 64.94x
Birmingham 5 1.63x
Carisbrooke 5 48.31x
Northfleet 5 45.70x
Shoreditch London 5 3.17x
St Luke London 5 8.57x
Wolstanton 5 13.40x
Ambleside 4 161.29x
Bradford 4 4.58x
Camberwell 4 1.72x
East Stonehouse 4 26.81x
Everton 4 2.91x
Glossop Dale 4 14.99x
Royal Navy 4 10.79x
Salford 4 3.15x
St Pancras London 4 1.37x
Wandsworth 4 11.42x
Wapping London 4 143.88x
Chelsea London 3 2.74x
Dundee 3 2.38x
Great Bolton 3 5.25x
Hackney London 3 1.47x
Kensington London 3 1.48x
Kirkdale 3 4.13x
Liscard 3 20.73x
Standard Hill 3 256.41x
Toxteth Park 3 2.05x
Aldershot 2 8.01x
Bermondsey 2 1.85x
Birkenhead 2 3.12x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 5.83x
Cardiff St John 2 9.67x
Caversham 2 44.44x
Croydon 2 2.03x
Ford 2 61.73x
Glasgow 2 0.96x
Hampstead London 2 3.53x
Heap 2 8.73x
Leyton 2 16.17x
Liff Benvie 2 3.91x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.58x
Paisley Middle Church 2 12.18x
Preston 2 1.73x
Rotherhithe 2 4.45x
St Marylebone London 2 1.03x
Stockton On Tees 2 3.83x
West Ham 2 1.26x
Wigan 2 3.31x
Woolwich 2 4.36x
Aston 1 0.40x
Atherton 1 6.36x
Ballaugh 1 82.64x
Bishop Stortford 1 11.93x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.08x
Dewsbury 1 2.70x
Glanford Brigg 1 48.08x
Hammersmith London 1 1.12x
Little Bolton 1 1.80x
Nether Hallam 1 2.05x
North Bierley 1 5.14x
Rotherfield 1 18.52x
St Giles In Fields London 1 5.60x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 32.47x
Swansea Town 1 1.93x
West Derby 1 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Margaret 13
Sarah 11
Ellen 10
Annie 8
Catherine 8
Elizabeth 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Hannah 6
Jane 6
Agnes 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Minnie 4
Ada 2
Bridget 2
Emily 2
Evelyn 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Augustater 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cathine 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.A. 1
Elizth. 1
Emila 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rosetta 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
James 18
William 14
Joseph 10
Patrick 10
Michael 9
Thomas 8
Charles 7
Alfred 5
Frederick 3
George 3
Hugh 3
Richard 3
Andrew 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Henry 2
Michal 2
Stephen 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2
Alexander 1
Bartholemew 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Bryn 1
Chas.M. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
Denniss 1
E. 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Humphrey 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Micheal 1
Nicholas 1
Patsey 1
Peter 1
Richd.Wyatt 1
Robert 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Coffee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coffee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Coffee surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coffee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Coffee a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Coffee surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a coffee seller, coffeehouse keeper, or coffee grower.

What does the Coffee map show?

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