NameCensus.

UK surname

Cosier

An English surname derived from the word "cosy", potentially referring to someone with a warm, comfortable lifestyle.

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Cosier surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 184, ranked #20,731, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and Tring. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dover, Test Valley and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cosier is 236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

1911

236 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cosier had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Cosier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cosier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cosier 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 110 #16,093
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 171 #20,072
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 158 #21,052
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 172 #21,248
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Cosiers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, Tring, St Marylebone and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dover, Test Valley, East Hampshire, Canterbury and Ashford. 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 1
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Tring Hertfordshire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dover 006 Dover
2 Test Valley 012 Test Valley
3 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
4 Canterbury 017 Canterbury
5 Ashford 001 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cosier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cosier

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Cosier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Cosier household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cosier 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

Cosier is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cosier

The surname Cosier has its origins in France, tracing back to the Middle Ages, around the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cosier," meaning a maker or seller of coarse woolen cloth.

This occupational surname was first found in the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas of Normandy and Brittany, where the textile industry was thriving. The earliest recorded instances of the name appear in various medieval records, such as parish registers and tax rolls from those regions.

One of the earliest documented references to the Cosier surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed there as "Cosier," suggesting that individuals with this surname may have been among the Norman settlers who accompanied William during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Cosier surname was Jean Cosier, a renowned weaver from the town of Rouen in Normandy. His skill and craftsmanship contributed to the reputation of Rouen as a center for high-quality textile production.

During the 16th century, the Cosier surname spread to other parts of Europe, including the Low Countries (present-day Belgium and the Netherlands). One notable individual from this period was Pieter Cosier (1516-1592), a Flemish merchant and trader who established a successful textile business in Antwerp.

In the 17th century, the Cosier surname found its way to England, likely through French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. One prominent figure from this time was William Cosier (1633-1705), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to charitable causes in London.

As the centuries progressed, individuals with the Cosier surname could be found in various professions and fields, from artisans and merchants to scholars and clergymen. Notable examples include Robert Cosier (1785-1863), a British clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Leeds, and Marie-Antoinette Cosier (1822-1898), a French painter and portraitist known for her works depicting the rural landscapes of Normandy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cosier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cosier 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 30 Cosiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 2.06x
Oxfordshire 24 26.74x
Warwickshire 18 4.91x
Hampshire 14 4.70x
Bedfordshire 13 17.27x
Gloucestershire 12 4.21x
Hertfordshire 8 7.99x
Kent 8 1.61x
Surrey 6 0.85x
Lancashire 4 0.23x
Worcestershire 4 2.11x
Berkshire 3 2.75x
Cornwall 2 1.22x
Cheshire 1 0.31x
Somerset 1 0.43x
Staffordshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 17 Cosiers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.92x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 17 13.92x
Caddington 9 818.18x
Churchill 9 3600.00x
Kensington London 8 9.90x
Michelmersh 7 1206.90x
Thame 7 429.45x
Cheltenham 6 27.29x
Paddington London 6 11.23x
St Marylebone London 6 7.73x
Tewkesbury 5 196.85x
Tring 5 187.27x
Battersea 4 7.48x
Lee 4 55.56x
Luton 4 30.70x
St Maurice Winchester 4 322.58x
Upton On Severn 4 322.58x
Widnes 4 32.15x
Chipping Norton 3 144.23x
Hardwick 3 3333.33x
Islington London 3 2.13x
Reading St Lawrence 3 128.76x
Camberwell 2 2.15x
Flamstead 2 217.39x
Hornsey 2 10.88x
Mile End Old Town London 2 6.47x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 151.52x
Aston 1 0.99x
Botley 1 185.19x
Canterbury Old Castle 1 3333.33x
Charlton Kings 1 50.76x
Ealing 1 7.70x
Hammersmith London 1 2.79x
Hampstead London 1 4.42x
Handsworth 1 8.27x
Henley On Thames 1 54.35x
Lewisham 1 3.78x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 16.31x
Milton In Gravesend 1 13.44x
Neithrop 1 33.11x
Portsmouth 1 14.58x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 27.10x
Southampton All Sts 1 19.57x
St Albans 1 48.78x
Woolwich 1 5.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Edith 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Eliza 2
Margaret 2
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Clarrie 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kezia 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Merill 1
Minnie 1
Nelly 1
Phillis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 11
William 9
Thomas 8
John 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Chas.Ernest 1
E.H. 1
Edmund 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Joshua 1
Percy 1
Reubin 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Cosier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cosier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Cosier surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cosier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Cosier a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Cosier surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "cosy", potentially referring to someone with a warm, comfortable lifestyle.

What does the Cosier map show?

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