NameCensus.

UK surname

Cosham

In the 1881 census there were 208 people recorded with the Cosham surname, ranking it #12,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 307, ranked #14,508, down from #12,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Laughton, Ringmer and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wokingham, Brighton and Hove and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cosham is 425 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.6%.

1881 census count

208

Ranked #12,511

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

1911

425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cosham had 208 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cosham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cosham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cosham 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 208 #12,511
1891 historical 284 #11,542
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 334 #12,591
1998 modern 324 #13,189
1999 modern 324 #13,288
2000 modern 320 #13,360
2001 modern 315 #13,291
2002 modern 308 #13,763
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 304 #13,783
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 302 #13,863
2007 modern 294 #14,241
2008 modern 295 #14,303
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 291 #15,050
2011 modern 296 #14,729
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 308 #14,463
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Coshams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Laughton, Ringmer, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wokingham, Brighton and Hove and Lewes. 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 Laughton Sussex
2 Ringmer Sussex
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wokingham 010 Wokingham
2 Brighton and Hove 013 Brighton and Hove
3 Lewes 006 Lewes
4 Brighton and Hove 003 Brighton and Hove
5 Brighton and Hove 021 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cosham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cosham

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Cosham 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

Cosham 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

Cosham falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Cosham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cosham 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. Sussex leads with 162 Coshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.36x.

County Total Index
Sussex 162 47.36x
Kent 16 2.31x
Surrey 12 1.21x
Middlesex 7 0.35x
Brecknockshire 6 14.79x
Gloucestershire 1 0.25x
Roxburghshire 1 2.72x
Somerset 1 0.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.20x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Laughton in Sussex leads with 24 Coshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4800.00x.

Place Total Index
Laughton 24 4800.00x
Mayfield 21 1039.60x
Ringmer 18 1875.00x
Brighton 15 21.74x
Chiddingly 12 1935.48x
Wadhurst 11 488.89x
Lewisham 10 27.09x
Eastbourne 9 57.18x
East Hoathly 8 1333.33x
Llanelly 6 123.71x
Penshurst 6 517.24x
Hove 5 33.31x
Southwark Christchurch 5 52.58x
Cuckfield 4 115.61x
Lamberhurst 4 465.12x
Lewes St Ann 4 344.83x
Lewes St John Southover 4 173.91x
Lewes St John Under 4 851.06x
Battle 3 129.87x
Cliffe 3 258.62x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 7.35x
Westminster St Margaret 3 30.64x
Bermondsey 2 3.31x
Framfield 2 188.68x
Hackney London 2 1.76x
Lambeth 2 1.13x
South Malling 2 392.16x
Southwick 2 110.50x
West Firle 2 500.00x
Arlington 1 243.90x
Clifton 1 4.97x
Cottingham 1 23.09x
Hastings St Andrew 1 81.30x
Hastings St Mary 1 11.75x
Hellingly 1 86.96x
Leamington Priors 1 7.94x
Lewes St Michael 1 147.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 11.70x
Melrose 1 31.45x
Ratcliffe London 1 8.93x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Harriett 5
Emily 4
Esther 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Edith 2
Elizabeth 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Alice 1
Annie 1
Ansley 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Lizzie 1
Loisa 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Rhoda 1
Sabina 1
Susan 1
Sylvia 1
Tamar 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cosham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cosham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 208 people were recorded with the Cosham surname. That placed it at #12,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cosham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Cosham a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Cosham map show?

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