NameCensus.

UK surname

Coole

An English surname derived from the Old English word "col" meaning cool or cold.

In the 1881 census there were 319 people recorded with the Coole surname, ranking it #9,326 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 386, ranked #12,202, down from #9,326 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Swindon, Lyddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coole is 700 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.0%.

1881 census count

319

Ranked #9,326

Modern count

386

2016, ranked #12,202

Peak year

1891

700 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coole had 319 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,326 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016, ranked #12,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 700 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Coole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coole 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 330 #7,062
1861 historical 566 #4,646
1881 historical 319 #9,326
1891 historical 700 #5,600
1901 historical 488 #8,194
1911 historical 599 #6,848
1997 modern 436 #10,327
1998 modern 450 #10,409
1999 modern 444 #10,555
2000 modern 444 #10,559
2001 modern 429 #10,634
2002 modern 426 #10,918
2003 modern 407 #11,136
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 394 #11,308
2006 modern 384 #11,579
2007 modern 383 #11,751
2008 modern 377 #12,014
2009 modern 379 #12,224
2010 modern 388 #12,271
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 370 #12,417
2013 modern 395 #12,035
2014 modern 398 #12,048
2015 modern 396 #11,994
2016 modern 386 #12,202

Geography

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Where Cooles are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bromley and Winchester. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
4 Cerney, South Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 003 Stroud
2 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire
3 Wiltshire 001 Wiltshire
4 Bromley 037 Bromley
5 Winchester 004 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coole

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Coole surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coole household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Coole is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coole 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

Coole falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coole is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coole

The surname Coole is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English word "col" meaning "cool" or "cold." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a cold stream or in a cool area. It first appeared in the historical records of England during the 11th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Colae." This suggests that the Coole family was present in England during the Norman Conquest and may have even been of Norman descent.

During the 13th century, the name was found in various forms such as "Colles," "Colle," and "Coules" in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. These variations were likely due to different regional pronunciations and spellings at the time.

In the 14th century, a prominent member of the Coole family was Sir John Coole (c. 1300-1378), a wealthy landowner and knight from Essex. His name is recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1345.

Another notable individual was Richard Coole (c. 1460-1521), a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as Sheriff of London in 1505.

During the 16th century, the name was also found in the village of Coole in County Westmeath, Ireland, which may have derived its name from the Coole family or vice versa. One member of the Irish Coole family was Sir John Coole (c. 1540-1612), a landowner and military commander who fought against the Irish rebels in the Nine Years' War.

In the 17th century, the Coole name was associated with the village of Coole in County Sligo, Ireland, where the Coole Park estate was located. Sir Robert Coole (c. 1620-1685) was the owner of Coole Park and a Member of Parliament for County Sligo in the Irish Parliament.

Another notable figure was William Coole (c. 1670-1739), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stoke St. Gregory in Somerset. He published several religious works, including "The Principles of the Christian Religion Explained" in 1718.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coole 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. Isle of Man leads with 109 Cooles recorded in 1881 and an index of 139.62x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 109 139.62x
Gloucestershire 91 11.04x
Middlesex 40 0.95x
Wiltshire 30 8.07x
Lancashire 24 0.48x
Glamorgan 18 2.46x
Surrey 17 0.83x
Hampshire 14 1.62x
Somerset 9 1.33x
Warwickshire 9 0.85x
Sussex 8 1.13x
Cumberland 7 1.93x
Lanarkshire 7 0.51x
Oxfordshire 7 2.70x
Berkshire 6 1.90x
Aberdeenshire 5 1.28x
Angus 5 1.28x
Essex 5 0.60x
Yorkshire 5 0.12x
Kent 4 0.28x
Staffordshire 4 0.28x
Royal Navy 2 3.99x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.56x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.11x
Ross-shire 1 0.87x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rushen in Isle of Man leads with 28 Cooles recorded in 1881 and an index of 530.30x.

Place Total Index
Rushen 28 530.30x
Onchan 23 102.27x
Braddan 18 422.54x
South Cerney 17 1250.00x
Swindon 15 52.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 14 18.03x
Malew 12 175.95x
Ystradyfodwg 10 15.57x
Aston 9 3.08x
Cheltenham 8 12.58x
Daglingworth 8 1666.67x
Devizes St Mary 8 212.77x
Portsea 8 4.74x
Chelsea London 7 5.53x
Kempsford 7 583.33x
Binfield 6 247.93x
Bristol St George 6 15.74x
Croydon 6 5.28x
Frampton On Severn 6 431.65x
Liverpool 6 1.98x
Marown 6 422.54x
Maughold 6 99.67x
Newton Valence 6 1153.85x
Preston Quarter 6 59.17x
West Derby 6 4.11x
Arbroath 5 38.73x
Bristol St James In 5 41.22x
Camberwell 5 1.86x
Cambusnethan 5 16.56x
Horsham 5 36.31x
Llandaff 5 20.53x
Newland 5 72.15x
Patrick 5 131.58x
Peterhead 5 24.28x
Poplar London 5 6.30x
Swalcliffe 5 555.56x
Cirencester 4 35.84x
German 4 93.90x
German Peel 4 88.89x
Manchester 4 1.78x
St Luke London 4 5.93x
Street 4 109.29x
West Bromwich 4 4.92x
Wimbish 4 327.87x
Acton 3 12.17x
Clase 3 11.02x
Islington London 3 0.74x
Minety 3 291.26x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.05x
Aughton 2 40.49x
Bath St James 2 28.33x
Cowley 2 24.69x
Govan 2 0.59x
Hackney London 2 0.85x
Horfield 2 24.10x
Lambeth 2 0.55x
Lezayre 2 57.14x
Paddington London 2 1.29x
Pembury 2 98.52x
Richmond 2 6.97x
Royal Navy 2 4.67x
St Sepulchre London 2 32.47x
Tottenham 2 2.99x
Wotton Ville 2 256.41x
Brighton 1 0.70x
Dalton In Furness 1 5.19x
Leeds 1 0.43x
Leigh 1 204.08x
Levenshulme 1 19.49x
Llanelly 1 2.51x
Lonan 1 21.14x
Mickleham 1 86.96x
Rye 1 14.84x
Sandal Magna 1 16.23x
Sheffield 1 0.75x
St Pancras London 1 0.30x
Stapleton 1 6.39x
Tetbury 1 21.41x
Toxteth Park 1 0.59x
Withington 1 6.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 21
Mary 14
Sarah 11
Margaret 9
Annie 8
Catherine 7
Jane 7
Louisa 7
Alice 6
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Julia 6
Ellen 5
Anna 4
Eleanor 4
Kate 4
Clara 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
A. 2
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
M. 2
Margt. 2
Rhoda 2
Sophia 2
Caraline 1
Catharine 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Elina 1
Ellenor 1
Em. 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Infant 1
Jessica 1
Lilly 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 25
William 24
Thomas 17
James 16
Henry 15
Frederick 10
George 8
Arthur 6
Edwin 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Fredrick 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Jesse 2
Robt. 2
Samuel 2
Victor 2
Archibald 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
F. 1
Francis 1
G. 1
G.E. 1
Gilbert 1
Gillay 1
Granville 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Jonas 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Raymond 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Coole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 319 people were recorded with the Coole surname. That placed it at #9,326 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 386 in 2016. That gives Coole a modern rank of #12,202.

What does the Coole surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "col" meaning cool or cold.

What does the Coole map show?

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