NameCensus.

UK surname

Cooksey

An occupational surname for a cook or someone who sold cooked food or baked goods.

In the 1881 census there were 683 people recorded with the Cooksey surname, ranking it #5,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,293, ranked #4,631, up from #5,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cooksey is 1,511 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.3%.

1881 census count

683

Ranked #5,281

Modern count

1,293

2016, ranked #4,631

Peak year

1999

1,511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cooksey had 683 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,293 in 2016, ranked #4,631.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,271 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Cooksey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cooksey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cooksey 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 410 #6,264
1881 historical 683 #5,281
1891 historical 952 #4,349
1901 historical 1,170 #4,174
1911 historical 1,271 #3,737
1997 modern 1,442 #4,047
1998 modern 1,501 #4,044
1999 modern 1,511 #4,049
2000 modern 1,497 #4,071
2001 modern 1,437 #4,124
2002 modern 1,454 #4,173
2003 modern 1,416 #4,180
2004 modern 1,419 #4,178
2005 modern 1,383 #4,229
2006 modern 1,370 #4,273
2007 modern 1,360 #4,334
2008 modern 1,325 #4,438
2009 modern 1,357 #4,438
2010 modern 1,376 #4,470
2011 modern 1,342 #4,515
2012 modern 1,303 #4,565
2013 modern 1,319 #4,597
2014 modern 1,324 #4,602
2015 modern 1,308 #4,604
2016 modern 1,293 #4,631

Geography

Back to top

Where Cookseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley, London parishes and Wednesbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Wednesbury Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 018 Dudley
2 Dudley 020 Dudley
3 Sandwell 001 Sandwell
4 Sandwell 010 Sandwell
5 Walsall 036 Walsall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cooksey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cooksey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cooksey, 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 Cooksey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Cooksey 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cooksey 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

Cooksey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cooksey 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 Cooksey 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 Cooksey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cooksey

The surname Cooksey is of English origin, and it first emerged in the 12th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "coc," which meant a cook or someone who prepared food. The name was likely an occupational surname given to individuals who worked as cooks or chefs.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Cooksey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, where it appears as "Cokesye." This spelling suggests that the name was initially derived from the combination of the Old English word "coc" and the Old English suffix "-ey," which denoted a person's occupation or place of residence.

During the Middle Ages, the name Cooksey was primarily concentrated in the counties of Worcestershire and Warwickshire in the West Midlands region of England. It is possible that the name originated from a specific place name, such as Cooksey Green, a small hamlet in Worcestershire.

One of the earliest documented references to the Cooksey name can be found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain William Cooksey is mentioned. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Cooksey surname appeared in the parish records of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the renowned playwright William Shakespeare. One notable individual from this period was John Cooksey, who was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1567 and served as a prominent citizen and alderman in the town.

The 17th century saw the Cooksey name spreading beyond the West Midlands region. In 1642, during the English Civil War, a certain Captain Richard Cooksey fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was mentioned in historical accounts of the conflict.

Another notable figure from this time period was Thomas Cooksey, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in Warwickshire in the late 17th century. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches and public buildings in the region.

In the 18th century, the Cooksey surname continued to be associated with various professions and trades. One example is William Cooksey, a renowned clockmaker from Stratford-upon-Avon, who crafted intricate timepieces that were highly sought after during his lifetime (1715-1790).

The 19th century saw several individuals with the Cooksey name making their mark in various fields. One such person was John Cooksey, a renowned architect from Birmingham, who designed several notable buildings in the city, including the Birmingham Town Hall (1834-1892).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cooksey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cooksey 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. Staffordshire leads with 208 Cookseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.22x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 208 9.22x
Surrey 78 2.40x
Worcestershire 69 7.91x
Lancashire 61 0.77x
Warwickshire 47 2.79x
Middlesex 43 0.64x
Gloucestershire 35 2.67x
Wiltshire 22 3.72x
Kent 16 0.70x
Yorkshire 16 0.24x
Monmouthshire 15 3.11x
Hampshire 13 0.95x
Essex 12 0.91x
Glamorgan 9 0.77x
Northamptonshire 8 1.27x
Shropshire 7 1.21x
Durham 5 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.56x
Somerset 4 0.37x
Sussex 4 0.36x
Berkshire 3 0.60x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.24x
Channel Islands 1 0.51x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tipton in Staffordshire leads with 39 Cookseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.46x.

Place Total Index
Tipton 39 56.46x
Aston 28 6.03x
Barrow In Furness 27 25.04x
Dudley 24 22.62x
Wednesbury 24 42.58x
Oldbury 23 53.58x
Lambeth 21 3.60x
Harborne 19 26.28x
Westbury On Severn East 18 60.75x
Wolverhampton 18 10.38x
Great Barr 16 620.16x
Newington 15 6.08x
West Bromwich 15 11.62x
Islington London 14 2.16x
Kidderminster Borough 11 21.54x
Rotherhithe 11 13.32x
Walsall Foreign 11 9.44x
Rowley Regis 10 15.91x
St Andrew Holborn London 10 34.57x
West Ham 10 3.43x
Handsworth 9 16.19x
Potterne 9 339.62x
Roystone 9 347.49x
Ystradyfodwg 9 8.82x
Aberystruth 8 18.79x
Kingston On Thames 8 10.23x
Bermondsey 7 3.52x
Braunston 7 285.71x
Bushbury 7 172.84x
Ince In Makerfield 7 18.98x
Kingswinford 7 8.55x
Stone 7 24.26x
Widnes 7 12.24x
Aldershot 6 13.08x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 6 91.60x
Cannock 6 15.24x
Kimberworth 6 16.33x
Newton 6 9.82x
Potterne Worton 6 769.23x
Sutton Coldfield 6 33.88x
Wolstanton 6 8.76x
Birmingham 5 0.89x
Heston 5 22.53x
Seaton Carew 5 125.00x
Skegby 5 90.58x
Wednesfield 5 15.06x
Basingstoke 4 25.40x
Battersea 4 1.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.24x
Broadwater 4 15.48x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 4 47.23x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.27x
Egham 4 20.01x
Gorton 4 5.37x
Llanvihangel Pontymoile 4 470.59x
Milverton 4 80.97x
St Pancras London 4 0.74x
Westerleigh 4 136.05x
Weston 4 48.37x
Abergavenny 3 16.58x
Bromham 3 112.78x
Chatham 3 4.78x
Clerkenwell London 3 1.90x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 3 97.72x
Lewisham 3 2.47x
Openshaw 3 8.08x
Stourbridge 3 13.36x
Tooting Graveney 3 33.11x
Ash Normandy 2 45.25x
Bilston 2 4.58x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 11.06x
Devizes St John 2 45.05x
Dukinfield 2 2.93x
Edgbaston 2 3.83x
Feckenham 2 20.02x
Great Malvern 2 10.98x
Herne 2 19.82x
Reading St Giles 2 4.06x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.32x
St Clement Danes London 2 14.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 40
Mary 30
Elizabeth 21
Emma 15
Jane 15
Alice 12
Ann 12
Hannah 11
Eliza 9
Ellen 9
Clara 7
Emily 7
Annie 6
Matilda 6
Catherine 5
Fanny 5
Martha 5
Rose 5
Caroline 4
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Isabella 3
Maria 3
Adelaide 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Miriam 2
Phebe 2
Priscilla 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Bridget 1
Elizbth.Jane 1
Emiley 1
Hezia 1
J. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 37
John 36
William 32
Charles 24
Joseph 20
Henry 17
George 16
James 15
Samuel 11
Edward 10
Alfred 9
Albert 8
Arthur 7
Benjamin 7
David 5
Frederick 5
Isaac 5
Richard 5
Isaiah 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Seth 3
Daniel 2
Frank 2
Harden 2
Hardin 2
Jabez 2
Josiah 2
Mark 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Amos 1
Claude 1
Dennis 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Fenyman 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Geo.Willm. 1
Isiah 1
Job 1
M.F. 1
Wm.Elias 1

FAQ

Cooksey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cooksey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 683 people were recorded with the Cooksey surname. That placed it at #5,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cooksey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,293 in 2016. That gives Cooksey a modern rank of #4,631.

What does the Cooksey surname mean?

An occupational surname for a cook or someone who sold cooked food or baked goods.

What does the Cooksey map show?

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