NameCensus.

UK surname

Coker

An English occupational surname for a charcoal burner, derived from the Middle English "cokere" or "kokere."

In the 1881 census there were 1,412 people recorded with the Coker surname, ranking it #2,941 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,735, ranked #2,457, up from #2,941 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fareham, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Southwark and Shepway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coker is 2,927 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.7%.

1881 census count

1,412

Ranked #2,941

Modern count

2,735

2016, ranked #2,457

Peak year

2010

2,927 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coker had 1,412 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,941 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,735 in 2016, ranked #2,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,046 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Coker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coker 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 958 #2,896
1861 historical 906 #3,056
1881 historical 1,412 #2,941
1891 historical 1,612 #2,769
1901 historical 1,871 #2,814
1911 historical 2,046 #2,438
1997 modern 2,457 #2,556
1998 modern 2,594 #2,522
1999 modern 2,610 #2,526
2000 modern 2,550 #2,573
2001 modern 2,509 #2,555
2002 modern 2,618 #2,518
2003 modern 2,616 #2,473
2004 modern 2,662 #2,437
2005 modern 2,626 #2,442
2006 modern 2,694 #2,398
2007 modern 2,743 #2,388
2008 modern 2,756 #2,397
2009 modern 2,838 #2,384
2010 modern 2,927 #2,356
2011 modern 2,857 #2,382
2012 modern 2,697 #2,459
2013 modern 2,790 #2,433
2014 modern 2,799 #2,440
2015 modern 2,768 #2,441
2016 modern 2,735 #2,457

Geography

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Where Cokers are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Greenwich, Southwark, Shepway, Newham and Croydon. 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 Fareham Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
2 Southwark 019 Southwark
3 Shepway 011 Shepway
4 Newham 034 Newham
5 Croydon 006 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coker

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Coker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Coker 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Coker is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coker 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

Coker falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coker

The surname Coker is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval times. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cocor," which referred to a maker or seller of coarse woolen cloth known as "cokers." This occupation played a significant role in the textile industry during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Coker can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation conducted by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The name appeared in various spellings, including Cocor and Cocors, in several counties across England.

In the 12th century, records show the presence of a Coker family in the county of Wiltshire. A notable member of this family was John Coker, who lived in the village of Bishopstone during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272). John Coker was a prosperous landowner and played a role in the local governance of his community.

The surname Coker also has connections to place names in England. For example, the village of Coker in Somerset was once known as "Cokers Aluritone" in the 13th century, suggesting a link between the surname and the local area. Additionally, the village of Coker's Hill in Hampshire may have derived its name from the Coker family who resided there in the Middle Ages.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Coker. One such figure was John Coker (c. 1475 - c. 1525), a prominent English scholar and clergyman who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in the early 16th century. Another notable Coker was Sir Robert Coker (1588-1659), a wealthy merchant and member of the Virginia Company, who played a significant role in the early colonization efforts of the British in North America.

In the literary world, Francis William Coker (1857-1933) was an English poet and author who wrote several works, including "The Wanderings of a Windmill" and "The Shepherdess and Other Poems." Additionally, Sir William Coker (1842-1920), a British civil servant and colonial administrator, served as the Governor of Western Australia from 1902 to 1909.

The Coker surname has also been associated with various professions and fields over the centuries. For instance, John Coker (1670-1718) was an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, while Thomas Coker (1756-1834) was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist known for his contributions to plant taxonomy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coker 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. Middlesex leads with 328 Cokers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 328 2.38x
Surrey 174 2.59x
Buckinghamshire 156 18.75x
Essex 120 4.42x
Hampshire 100 3.54x
Hertfordshire 79 8.33x
Norfolk 76 3.59x
Devon 40 1.40x
Kent 36 0.77x
Lancashire 35 0.21x
Durham 27 0.66x
Sussex 25 1.08x
Oxfordshire 23 2.71x
Northamptonshire 21 1.62x
Cheshire 19 0.63x
Glamorgan 19 0.79x
Gloucestershire 19 0.70x
Cambridgeshire 18 2.06x
Yorkshire 14 0.10x
Suffolk 13 0.78x
Bedfordshire 10 1.40x
Berkshire 9 0.87x
Somerset 9 0.41x
Warwickshire 9 0.26x
Wiltshire 8 0.66x
Lincolnshire 7 0.32x
Staffordshire 6 0.13x
Dorset 5 0.55x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.73x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fareham in Hampshire leads with 45 Cokers recorded in 1881 and an index of 132.74x.

Place Total Index
Fareham 45 132.74x
Islington London 40 3.00x
Bethnal Green London 39 6.52x
Lambeth 34 2.83x
Hambleden 26 365.68x
Mile End Old Town London 25 8.53x
Newington 21 4.13x
Portsea 21 3.80x
Bovingdon 20 402.41x
Limehouse London 20 13.24x
West Ham 20 3.33x
Wycombe 18 29.02x
Camberwell 17 1.93x
Chalfont St Giles 17 285.23x
Shoreditch London 17 2.85x
St Pancras London 17 1.53x
Battersea 15 2.96x
Clerkenwell London 15 4.62x
Deptford St Paul 15 4.14x
Pitstone 15 675.68x
Swansea Town 15 7.63x
Chelsea London 14 3.38x
Grays Thurrock 14 55.45x
Putney 14 22.32x
Clifton 13 9.53x
Hackney London 13 1.68x
Hillingdon 13 29.63x
Tranmere 13 11.64x
Bermondsey 12 2.93x
Wigginton 12 358.21x
Burnham 11 103.68x
Streatham 11 10.77x
Wellingborough 11 16.90x
Bigbury 10 471.70x
Brighton 10 2.14x
Goldhanger 10 425.53x
Maldon St Marys 10 153.61x
Paddington London 10 1.98x
Rotherhithe 10 5.88x
Tydd St Giles 10 240.38x
Watlington 10 342.47x
Bushey 9 39.84x
Chester Le Street 9 28.63x
Fawley 9 633.80x
Luton 9 7.29x
Ratcliffe London 9 11.84x
West Walton 9 222.22x
Ashill 8 258.90x
Hillesden 8 769.23x
Holy Trinity 8 2.44x
Plymouth Charles The 8 6.34x
Stanwell 8 78.51x
Stretford 8 8.90x
Sunbury 8 48.40x
Wickham 8 154.14x
Abbots Langley 7 49.68x
Aldershot 7 7.41x
Bromley London 7 2.31x
Chalfont St Peter 7 102.04x
Fulham London 7 3.51x
Great Massingham 7 167.87x
Hornsey 7 4.02x
Kensington London 7 0.91x
Long Melford 7 44.93x
St Andrewthe Less 7 7.03x
St Marylebone London 7 0.95x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 7 180.88x
Ware 7 25.74x
Westminster St James 7 4.95x
Aylesbury 6 16.27x
Banstead 6 33.02x
Bristol St James In 6 15.11x
Earsham 6 208.33x
Keymer 6 36.61x
Marldon 6 250.00x
Necton 6 160.43x
Newport Pagnell 6 34.48x
Oldham 6 1.14x
Stranton 6 4.35x
Tollesbury 6 88.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 81
John 72
George 57
Charles 43
James 43
Henry 34
Thomas 31
Alfred 26
Frederick 26
Arthur 21
Joseph 19
Edward 17
Harry 16
Albert 14
Richard 12
Robert 11
Edwin 10
Walter 10
Ernest 9
Herbert 8
Samuel 7
Daniel 5
Frank 5
Isaac 4
Jonathan 4
Wm. 4
Caleb 3
Frederic 3
Geo. 3
Percy 3
Ralph 3
Stephen 3
Sydney 3
Augustus 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
E. 2
Earnest 2
Francis 2
Fredk. 2
Jesse 2
Josiah 2
Norris 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Vince 2
Zackaraeh 2

FAQ

Coker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,412 people were recorded with the Coker surname. That placed it at #2,941 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,735 in 2016. That gives Coker a modern rank of #2,457.

What does the Coker surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a charcoal burner, derived from the Middle English "cokere" or "kokere."

What does the Coker map show?

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