NameCensus.

UK surname

Coles

Derived from the Old English byname "Cola," referring to someone with a dark complexion or black hair.

In the 1881 census there were 10,386 people recorded with the Coles surname, ranking it #414 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14,461, ranked #436, down from #414 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Kettering and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coles is 15,256 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

10,386

Ranked #414

Modern count

14,461

2016, ranked #436

Peak year

1999

15,256 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coles had 10,386 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #414 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 14,461 in 2016, ranked #436.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 14,591 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Coles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coles 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 6,344 #436
1861 historical 6,622 #423
1881 historical 10,386 #414
1891 historical 11,516 #388
1901 historical 13,064 #403
1911 historical 14,591 #338
1997 modern 14,635 #414
1998 modern 15,190 #416
1999 modern 15,256 #416
2000 modern 15,240 #414
2001 modern 14,869 #415
2002 modern 15,149 #416
2003 modern 14,742 #415
2004 modern 14,653 #417
2005 modern 14,471 #420
2006 modern 14,301 #423
2007 modern 14,334 #427
2008 modern 14,361 #429
2009 modern 14,622 #431
2010 modern 14,944 #431
2011 modern 14,666 #431
2012 modern 14,231 #438
2013 modern 14,621 #436
2014 modern 14,710 #436
2015 modern 14,568 #435
2016 modern 14,461 #436

Geography

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Where Coles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Kettering, Mendip, Taunton Deane and South Gloucestershire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Kettering 011 Kettering
3 Mendip 007 Mendip
4 Taunton Deane 008 Taunton Deane
5 South Gloucestershire 032 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coles

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Coles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coles 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Coles 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

Coles is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coles 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 Coles 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coles

The surname Coles has its roots in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "cole," which means coal, referring to a person who worked as a coal burner or seller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coles can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coles" and "Colles." This comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England following the Norman Conquest provides valuable insight into the origins and early distribution of the name.

During the 13th century, the name Coles appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England, including Oxfordshire, Surrey, and Warwickshire. It was often associated with specific locations, such as Cole Harbour in Devon and Cole Street in London.

One notable figure bearing the surname Coles was William Coles (1675-1662), an English botanist and author of the influential work "The Art of Simpling," published in 1656. This book was a comprehensive guide to the identification and medicinal uses of plants.

Another prominent individual with the surname Coles was Elisha Coles (1608-1688), an English lexicographer and author of the "Dictionary English-Latin and English-Greek" (1677), which was widely used in schools at the time.

In the 18th century, the surname Coles gained further prominence with the birth of Cowper Phipps Coles (1743-1806), a British naval officer and inventor. He is credited with developing the sliding keel, a groundbreaking design that improved the stability and maneuverability of ships.

Moving into the 19th century, we encounter Abraham Coles (1813-1891), an American naval officer and inventor who designed the revolutionary revolving turret for ironclad warships during the American Civil War.

Another notable figure was Sir Jenkin Coles (1860-1946), a Welsh businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the coal industry in South Wales.

Throughout its history, the surname Coles has undergone various spelling variations, such as Cole, Coale, and Colle, reflecting the fluidity of name spellings in earlier periods. However, the core meaning and association with the coal industry have persisted over time, making it a distinctive and historically significant surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Coles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,386 people were recorded with the Coles surname. That placed it at #414 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 14,461 in 2016. That gives Coles a modern rank of #436.

What does the Coles surname mean?

Derived from the Old English byname "Cola," referring to someone with a dark complexion or black hair.

What does the Coles map show?

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