NameCensus.

UK surname

Coomes

Derived from a place name meaning "the valleys" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived there.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Coomes surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, down from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Broxbourne and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coomes is 254 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.2%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

1911

254 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coomes had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Coomes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coomes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coomes 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 177 #16,330
1901 historical 219 #14,292
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 243 #15,556
1998 modern 247 #15,813
1999 modern 240 #16,226
2000 modern 228 #16,743
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 198 #18,279
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 195 #18,799
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 203 #18,840
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 186 #20,141
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Coomes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Enfield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Broxbourne, Arun, Wealden and Maidstone. 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 Cheshunt St Mary Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 005 South Holland
2 Broxbourne 005 Broxbourne
3 Arun 003 Arun
4 Wealden 010 Wealden
5 Maidstone 006 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coomes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coomes

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Coomes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Coomes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Coomes is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coomes 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

Coomes falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coomes 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 Coomes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Coomes

The surname Coomes is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the southern counties of Dorset and Somerset, during the medieval period. The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "cumb," meaning a small valley or hollow, or from the place name "Combe" which shares the same root.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Combe," referring to someone from a place called Combe. This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, given to people based on their place of origin or residence.

As the name evolved over time, various spellings emerged, including Coomes, Comes, Combes, and Coombes. These variations likely arose due to regional dialect differences and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In the 13th century, records show an individual named William Coomes holding land in Dorset, indicating that the name had become established in the region by that point.

One notable figure bearing the Coomes surname was Sir John Coomes (c. 1483 - 1562), a wealthy merchant and Sheriff of Bristol in the 16th century. He played a significant role in the city's trade and governance during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another prominent individual was Fortunatus Coomes (c. 1619 - 1683), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stretham in Cambridgeshire. He published several works, including a treatise on the Book of Revelation.

In the 18th century, John Coomes (1741 - 1811) was a noted engraver and mezzotint artist who collaborated with renowned painters such as Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough.

Toward the end of the 19th century, George Coomes (1842 - 1915) made his mark as a pioneering photographer and one of the earliest members of the Royal Photographic Society in England.

Lastly, Edith Coomes (1886 - 1967) was a notable British artist and wood engraver, known for her intricate depictions of nature and rural life in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coomes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coomes 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. Middlesex leads with 42 Coomes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 42 3.05x
Hertfordshire 35 36.92x
Devon 12 4.19x
Surrey 12 1.79x
Essex 11 4.05x
Glamorgan 8 3.34x
Kent 6 1.28x
Somerset 6 2.71x
Lancashire 3 0.18x
Cheshire 2 0.66x
Dorset 2 2.22x
Cumberland 1 0.84x
Gloucestershire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheshunt in Hertfordshire leads with 28 Coomes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 845.92x.

Place Total Index
Cheshunt 28 845.92x
Islington London 12 9.00x
Broxbourne 7 372.34x
Camberwell 7 7.97x
Waltham Holy Cross 7 275.59x
Westminster St James 7 49.51x
East Brent 6 1818.18x
Eglwysilan 6 144.23x
Ealing 5 40.68x
Greenwich 5 22.83x
Lambeth 5 4.17x
Marland Peters 5 4166.67x
Shoreditch London 4 6.71x
Hackney London 3 3.89x
Stoke Damerel 3 14.97x
Hampstead London 2 9.34x
Llandaff 2 25.09x
Lostock Gralam 2 540.54x
Pilton 2 212.77x
South Weald 2 85.84x
St Martin In Fields 2 24.30x
Westminster St Margaret 2 30.17x
Wimborne St Giles 2 952.38x
Chelsea London 1 2.41x
Cheltenham 1 4.81x
Droylsden 1 18.80x
Edmonton 1 9.03x
Hampton London 1 44.25x
Harberton 1 153.85x
Heston 1 21.88x
Leyton Low 1 18.12x
Manchester 1 1.36x
Orsett 1 140.85x
Ottery St Mary 1 53.19x
St Cuthbert W O 1 17.33x
Tonbridge 1 5.91x
Tottenham 1 4.56x
Toxteth Park 1 1.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Alice 6
Annie 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Ellen 2
Florence 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Blanche 1
Corrisa 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Ettlene 1
Evelyn 1
Florance 1
Francis 1
Henrietta 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Pheobe 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Tamzine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 8
Charles 7
James 7
John 7
William 7
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Michael 2
Caspar 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Henry.A. 1
Herbert 1
Martin 1
Samuel 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
William.G. 1

FAQ

Coomes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coomes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Coomes surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coomes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Coomes a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Coomes surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "the valleys" in Old English, likely referring to someone who lived there.

What does the Coomes map show?

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