NameCensus.

UK surname

Coffey

An Anglicized form of an Irish surname, originally meaning "descendant of Cobhthach," derived from an Irish personal name meaning "victorious."

In the 1881 census there were 885 people recorded with the Coffey surname, ranking it #4,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,229, ranked #2,106, up from #4,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Rochdale and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coffey is 3,359 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 264.9%.

1881 census count

885

Ranked #4,292

Modern count

3,229

2016, ranked #2,106

Peak year

2010

3,359 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coffey had 885 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,229 in 2016, ranked #2,106.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,334 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Coffey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coffey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coffey 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 493 #5,294
1881 historical 885 #4,292
1891 historical 951 #4,353
1901 historical 1,249 #3,963
1911 historical 1,334 #3,584
1997 modern 3,102 #2,065
1998 modern 3,224 #2,076
1999 modern 3,173 #2,129
2000 modern 3,150 #2,133
2001 modern 3,098 #2,120
2002 modern 3,177 #2,116
2003 modern 3,075 #2,132
2004 modern 3,042 #2,154
2005 modern 3,022 #2,141
2006 modern 3,084 #2,095
2007 modern 3,071 #2,133
2008 modern 3,145 #2,098
2009 modern 3,250 #2,088
2010 modern 3,359 #2,075
2011 modern 3,282 #2,087
2012 modern 3,145 #2,135
2013 modern 3,226 #2,126
2014 modern 3,261 #2,119
2015 modern 3,233 #2,116
2016 modern 3,229 #2,106

Geography

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Where Coffeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Rochdale, Thurrock, Salford and Trafford. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
2 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
3 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
4 Salford 019 Salford
5 Trafford 024 Trafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coffey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coffey

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Coffey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Coffey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Coffey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Coffey 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

Coffey falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Coffey

The surname COFFEY has its origins in Ireland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "ó Cobhthaigh," which means "descendant of Cobhthach." Cobhthach was a personal name that roughly translates to "victorious" or "triumphant."

The name was initially concentrated in County Cork and the surrounding regions of southern Ireland. It is believed to have emerged as a distinct surname in the 11th or 12th century, as the practice of inheriting fixed surnames became more widespread among the Gaelic Irish population.

One of the earliest documented references to the surname COFFEY can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a "Cobhthach Ua Cobthaigh" (Coffey) who was a prominent figure in the year 1178.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the COFFEY surname appeared frequently in various legal documents and land records in County Cork and neighboring counties. Notable individuals bearing the name during this period include Dermot COFFEY, a landowner in County Waterford in the late 16th century, and John COFFEY, a member of the Irish Parliament in the 1630s.

In the 18th century, Michael COFFEY (1679-1757) was a renowned Irish Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of Cloyne and Ross. Another prominent figure was Denny COFFEY (1730-1810), a member of the Irish House of Commons and a supporter of the United Irishmen movement.

As the COFFEY surname spread beyond Ireland, it gained recognition in other parts of the world. Charles Coffey (1676-1745) was an English playwright and poet, best known for his work "The Devil to Pay." In the United States, Levi Coffin (1798-1877) was a prominent Quaker and abolitionist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, earning him the nickname "President of the Underground Railroad."

Throughout history, the COFFEY surname has been associated with various families and individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, literature, and social activism.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coffey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coffey 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 376 Coffeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.55x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 376 3.55x
Middlesex 104 1.17x
Cheshire 64 3.25x
Yorkshire 55 0.62x
Surrey 48 1.10x
Isle of Man 32 19.33x
Lanarkshire 28 0.97x
Northumberland 24 1.81x
Staffordshire 19 0.63x
Durham 16 0.60x
Derbyshire 15 1.07x
Kent 15 0.49x
Hampshire 14 0.77x
Glamorgan 12 0.77x
Essex 10 0.57x
Gloucestershire 10 0.57x
Devon 9 0.48x
Dunbartonshire 9 3.76x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.75x
Cornwall 8 0.79x
Sussex 8 0.53x
Warwickshire 7 0.31x
Pembrokeshire 5 1.76x
Worcestershire 4 0.34x
Royal Navy 2 1.88x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.18x
Channel Islands 1 0.38x
Fife 1 0.19x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.14x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 38 Coffeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.91x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 38 5.91x
Manchester 31 6.52x
Kirkdale 29 16.29x
Salford 20 6.43x
Ashton Under Lyne 17 7.35x
Broughton In Salford 17 17.57x
West Derby 15 4.85x
Everton 14 4.15x
Worsley 13 19.94x
Dukinfield 12 13.20x
Litherland 12 54.25x
Northenden 12 334.26x
Sheffield 12 4.27x
St Marylebone London 12 2.52x
Westgate 12 14.61x
Wigan 12 8.12x
Garston 11 35.23x
Leeds 11 2.20x
Toxteth Park 11 3.07x
Blackburn 10 3.55x
Bradford 10 20.19x
Ludworth 10 152.21x
Maughold 10 78.25x
Parr 10 26.42x
Battersea 9 2.74x
Bothwell 9 11.51x
Brightside Bierlow 9 5.19x
Craster 9 1343.28x
Manningham 9 8.27x
Wolverhampton 9 3.89x
Beverley Parks 8 761.90x
Great Bolton 8 5.71x
New Kilpatrick 8 35.10x
Newington 8 2.43x
Newton In Ashton Under 8 41.19x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.57x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 8 35.34x
Rushen 8 71.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 4.46x
St George Hanover Square 8 5.09x
St Pancras London 8 1.11x
West Ham 8 2.06x
Ballaugh 7 237.29x
Barony 7 0.96x
Bromley 7 15.10x
Camberwell 7 1.23x
Cardiff St Mary 7 8.19x
Carshalton 7 42.12x
Govan 7 0.98x
Hulme 7 3.17x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 4.90x
West Rainton 7 85.26x
Aldershot 6 9.80x
Birkenhead 6 3.82x
Kensington London 6 1.21x
Mile End Old Town London 6 3.16x
Pendleton In Salford 6 4.76x
Prescot 6 31.36x
Rusholme 6 21.26x
St George Martyr London 6 33.22x
Walsall Borough 6 25.68x
Allerton 5 197.63x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 6.28x
Broadwater 5 14.50x
Glossop Dale 5 7.65x
Heaton Norris 5 8.30x
Mile End New Town London 5 28.38x
Plumstead 5 4.93x
Runcorn 5 11.02x
Shoreditch London 5 1.29x
St George In East London 5 5.96x
St Giles In Fields London 5 11.43x
Tottenham 5 3.52x
Wavertree 5 14.77x
Birmingham 4 0.53x
Bristol St James In 4 15.55x
Heaton 4 89.69x
Macclesfield 4 4.57x
Paddington London 4 1.22x
St Stephens By Saltash 4 91.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Margaret 33
Catherine 24
Ellen 23
Ann 21
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 16
Maria 12
Alice 11
Annie 9
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Bridget 6
Esther 6
Jane 6
Hannah 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Margt. 4
Winifred 4
Anna 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Katherine 3
Lucy 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Honor 2
Isabella 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Theresa 2
Wineford 2
Brid. 1
Ellenor 1
Ellin 1
Janet 1
Johana 1
Johanna 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 81
James 50
William 44
Thomas 40
Michael 25
Patrick 20
Joseph 14
George 11
Robert 11
Edward 10
Richard 9
Henry 8
Wm. 7
Christopher 6
Jeremiah 6
Samuel 6
Andrew 4
Daniel 4
Mathew 4
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Bernard 3
Hugh 3
Martin 3
Timothy 3
Charles 2
David 2
Dennis 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Laurence 2
Mark 2
Mary 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Bartholemew 1
Clarence 1
Colin 1
Cornelius 1
Ferdinand 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1

FAQ

Coffey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coffey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 885 people were recorded with the Coffey surname. That placed it at #4,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coffey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,229 in 2016. That gives Coffey a modern rank of #2,106.

What does the Coffey surname mean?

An Anglicized form of an Irish surname, originally meaning "descendant of Cobhthach," derived from an Irish personal name meaning "victorious."

What does the Coffey map show?

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