NameCensus.

UK surname

Cookson

An occupational surname referring to a cook or seller of cooked meats and other foods.

In the 1881 census there were 3,517 people recorded with the Cookson surname, ranking it #1,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,543, ranked #1,495, down from #1,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tarleton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, South Ribble and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cookson is 4,986 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.2%.

1881 census count

3,517

Ranked #1,294

Modern count

4,543

2016, ranked #1,495

Peak year

1999

4,986 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cookson had 3,517 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,543 in 2016, ranked #1,495.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,889 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cookson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cookson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cookson 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 2,130 #1,367
1861 historical 2,132 #1,366
1881 historical 3,517 #1,294
1891 historical 3,896 #1,231
1901 historical 4,400 #1,292
1911 historical 4,889 #1,065
1997 modern 4,700 #1,390
1998 modern 4,933 #1,384
1999 modern 4,986 #1,378
2000 modern 4,943 #1,382
2001 modern 4,826 #1,384
2002 modern 4,897 #1,388
2003 modern 4,759 #1,393
2004 modern 4,724 #1,400
2005 modern 4,624 #1,414
2006 modern 4,611 #1,414
2007 modern 4,615 #1,427
2008 modern 4,581 #1,450
2009 modern 4,694 #1,451
2010 modern 4,796 #1,456
2011 modern 4,723 #1,453
2012 modern 4,604 #1,457
2013 modern 4,673 #1,469
2014 modern 4,680 #1,475
2015 modern 4,629 #1,479
2016 modern 4,543 #1,495

Geography

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Where Cooksons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, South Ribble, Wyre, Ribble Valley and Preston. 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 Tarleton Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Lytham Lancashire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 001 West Lancashire
2 South Ribble 012 South Ribble
3 Wyre 004 Wyre
4 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
5 Preston 013 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cookson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cookson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cookson, 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 Cookson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cookson 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, Cookson 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

Cookson is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cookson

The surname Cookson is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Northumberland, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the occupational surname "Cook," which was given to someone who worked as a cook or prepared food for a household or establishment.

The suffix "-son" is a common English patronymic suffix, meaning "son of." Therefore, the name Cookson likely referred to the son of someone who was a cook. This naming convention was common in the Middle Ages, where surnames were often derived from a person's occupation or their father's name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cookson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from 1273, where a person named Adam Cokesone is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, the surname Cookson appeared in the records of the parish of Ryton, County Durham, where a family of that name resided. This suggests that the name had spread from its Northumbrian origins to other parts of northern England.

Notable individuals with the surname Cookson include John Cookson (1572-1638), an English merchant and benefactor who founded a school in Newcastle upon Tyne. Another prominent figure was James Cookson (1773-1835), an English industrialist and inventor who played a significant role in the development of the local coal industry.

In the 19th century, a prominent member of the Cookson family was Isaac Cookson (1810-1891), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Cookson Pottery in Newcastle upon Tyne. His son, Christopher Cookson (1842-1924), continued the family's business ventures and was also involved in local politics.

Another notable individual with the surname Cookson was Norman Cookson (1922-2013), a British actor and writer who had a successful career in television and theater. He is best known for his roles in the BBC series "The Two Ronnies" and the popular sitcom "Keeping Up Appearances."

While the surname Cookson has its roots in northern England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through the British diaspora. The name continues to be associated with its occupational origins, reflecting the rich history and traditions of English surname formation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cookson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cookson 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 1,692 Cooksons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,692 4.14x
Yorkshire 456 1.34x
Cheshire 412 5.42x
Shropshire 135 4.54x
Middlesex 104 0.30x
Staffordshire 100 0.86x
Worcestershire 89 1.98x
Surrey 73 0.44x
Westmorland 55 7.27x
Warwickshire 45 0.52x
Durham 44 0.43x
Cumberland 40 1.35x
Northumberland 33 0.64x
Bedfordshire 26 1.46x
Nottinghamshire 21 0.45x
Somerset 20 0.36x
Gloucestershire 16 0.24x
Sussex 16 0.28x
Midlothian 15 0.33x
Essex 14 0.21x
Derbyshire 13 0.24x
Kent 13 0.11x
Leicestershire 11 0.29x
Lincolnshire 10 0.18x
Norfolk 10 0.19x
Channel Islands 8 0.78x
Lanarkshire 8 0.07x
Suffolk 7 0.17x
Angus 6 0.19x
Isle of Man 6 0.94x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.76x
Northamptonshire 5 0.15x
Devon 4 0.06x
Berkshire 2 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.09x
Denbighshire 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.13x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Hampshire 1 0.01x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.24x
Rutland 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 224 Cooksons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.48x.

Place Total Index
Preston 224 20.48x
Lytham 71 113.78x
Tarleton 63 280.37x
Stretford 61 27.13x
West Derby 60 5.02x
Kirkham 58 107.33x
Birkenhead 55 9.07x
Manchester 51 2.77x
Salford 46 3.83x
Everton 40 3.07x
Gorton 38 9.89x
Madeley 38 34.83x
Pilling 35 182.48x
Rastrick 34 35.86x
Hesketh Cum Becconsall 33 322.90x
Layton With Warbreck 30 20.00x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 29 18.29x
Wigan 28 4.90x
Elland Cum Greetland 27 17.56x
Liverpool 27 1.09x
Bispham With Norbreck 26 303.03x
Barrow In Furness 25 4.50x
Dudley 25 4.57x
Hulme 23 2.70x
Ingleton 23 119.73x
Morley 23 12.96x
Wollaston 23 80.62x
Aston 22 0.92x
Lambeth 22 0.73x
Widnes 22 7.46x
Darnhall 21 1060.61x
Walton Le Dale 21 19.12x
Kidderminster Borough 20 7.60x
Tranmere 20 7.16x
Dawley 19 17.55x
Great Meolse 19 399.16x
Wolstanton 19 5.38x
Hartford 18 104.65x
Kendal 18 12.99x
Ashton On Mersey 17 43.25x
Blackburn 17 1.56x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 17 62.71x
Holy Trinity 17 2.07x
Oldham 17 1.29x
Woodplumpton 17 116.36x
Huddersfield 16 3.22x
Islington London 16 0.48x
Tarporley 16 100.50x
Blackley 15 20.94x
Carleton 15 337.08x
Hale 15 57.21x
Heckmondwike 15 13.66x
Marton 15 55.19x
Sale 15 16.08x
Walton On Hill 15 6.77x
Wednesfield 15 8.77x
Condover 14 66.83x
Luton 14 4.53x
Preesall With 14 140.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 2.00x
Foulk Stapleford 13 427.63x
North Meols 13 3.25x
Nottingham St Mary 13 1.08x
Bradford 12 1.45x
Clifton Cum Salwick 12 243.41x
Holbeck 12 5.31x
Kingswinford 12 2.84x
Leyland 12 16.88x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 12 36.51x
Stainland Cum Old 12 20.54x
Wakefield 12 4.58x
Weston Super Mare 12 8.57x
Wolverhampton 12 1.34x
Birmingham 11 0.38x
Pendleton In Salford 11 2.26x
St Cuthbert W O 11 7.61x
Withnell 11 43.86x
Clifton 10 2.93x
Longton 10 58.21x
Treales Roseacre 10 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 232
Elizabeth 147
Sarah 95
Ann 93
Alice 85
Margaret 68
Jane 66
Ellen 64
Annie 60
Emma 53
Martha 40
Hannah 37
Eliza 33
Emily 33
Ada 28
Agnes 27
Catherine 24
Isabella 21
Harriet 19
Charlotte 16
Louisa 16
Fanny 15
Clara 13
Edith 13
Grace 13
Eleanor 11
Frances 11
Maria 11
Anne 10
Florence 10
Esther 9
Lucy 9
Rebecca 8
Susan 8
Helen 7
May 7
Betsy 6
Elizth. 6
Ethel 6
Margret 6
Nancy 6
Rachel 6
Rose 6
Beatrice 5
Betty 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Laura 5
Marian 5
Rhoda 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 242
William 211
Thomas 160
James 122
George 101
Joseph 76
Richard 71
Robert 70
Henry 58
Charles 47
Samuel 44
Arthur 35
Edward 32
Alfred 27
Albert 25
Frederick 24
Frank 21
Edwin 14
Hugh 13
Ernest 12
Ralph 12
Walter 11
Fred 10
Herbert 10
Harry 9
Peter 8
Benjamin 7
Christopher 7
David 7
Francis 7
Tom 7
Wm. 7
Isaac 6
Daniel 5
Geo. 5
Joe 5
Nicholas 5
Anthony 4
Fredk. 4
Giles 4
Jonathan 4
Leonard 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Thos. 4
Abraham 3
Edmund 3
Nathaniel 3
Reginald 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Cookson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cookson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,517 people were recorded with the Cookson surname. That placed it at #1,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cookson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,543 in 2016. That gives Cookson a modern rank of #1,495.

What does the Cookson surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a cook or seller of cooked meats and other foods.

What does the Cookson map show?

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