UK surname
A surname derived from an occupational name for a cooler or maker of cooling devices.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Cooler surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cooler is 112 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.1%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1861
112 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cooler surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cooler surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 112 | #19,279 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 62 | #28,991 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 4 | #38,013 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, London parishes, Manchester, Bideford and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walthamstow, Low Leyton | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bideford | Devon |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cooler surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cooler, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cooler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cooler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cooler is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cooler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cooler, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Cooler" is an occupational name that originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "colere," which means "charcoal maker" or "burner of charcoal." The name likely referred to individuals who worked in the production of charcoal, an essential fuel source for blacksmiths and other metalworkers.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in counties like Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire, where charcoal production was prevalent. The name was sometimes spelled as "Coler," "Colyer," or "Collier" in historical records.
One notable historical reference to the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, which mentions a "John le Colere" who was involved in a legal dispute. Another early record is from the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1428, where a "William Coler" is mentioned in relation to a land transaction.
Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Cooler" is Thomas Cooler, who was born in Nottinghamshire, England, around the late 15th century. Another prominent figure was Sir William Cooler (1542-1616), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted by King James I.
In the 17th century, the name spread to various parts of England and beyond, with records showing families bearing the name in counties like Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. One notable individual from this period was John Cooler (1632-1684), a prominent Puritan minister and author from Gloucestershire.
As the name spread, it also underwent variations in spelling, including "Cooler," "Coller," and "Collier." In the 18th century, the name appeared in various places, such as the town of Coolersville, Pennsylvania, which was likely named after an early settler with the surname.
Throughout history, the surname "Cooler" has been associated with a diverse range of individuals, including scholars, artists, and public figures. For instance, Richard Cooler (1826-1891) was a renowned British painter and illustrator, while Charles Cooler (1837-1923) was an influential architect who designed several notable buildings in London.
The Cooler surname has a rich history rooted in the occupational trades of medieval England and has since spread across various regions, contributing to the cultural and intellectual fabric of numerous societies.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cooler surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Coolers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 2.88x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 2.26x |
| Surrey | 6 | 3.95x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 18.60x |
| Essex | 2 | 3.25x |
| Devon | 1 | 1.54x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.84x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.63x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 3.71x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Enfield in Middlesex leads with 8 Coolers recorded in 1881 and an index of 390.24x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Enfield | 8 | 390.24x |
| Castleford | 7 | 619.47x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 30.11x |
| Standon | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Leyton | 2 | 188.68x |
| Bideford | 1 | 142.86x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 17.36x |
| Eglwysilan | 1 | 106.38x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.31x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 1 | 105.26x |
| Ware | 1 | 161.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cooler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cooler surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cooler households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Grocer | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Coalminer | 1 |
| Commercial Clerk (Jute Manfr) | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Retired Shoemaker | 1 |
| Seamans Wife | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Unemployed | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Cooler surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Cooler a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname derived from an occupational name for a cooler or maker of cooling devices.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cooler bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.