NameCensus.

UK surname

Cossey

Derived from a place name meaning "Cossa's island," referring to an island belonging to a person named Cossa.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Cossey surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 780, ranked #7,067, up from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chedgrave, Seething and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cossey is 852 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.5%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

780

2016, ranked #7,067

Peak year

1999

852 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cossey had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016, ranked #7,067.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 608 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cossey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cossey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cossey 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 248 #8,840
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 481 #7,664
1901 historical 551 #7,524
1911 historical 608 #6,777
1997 modern 813 #6,449
1998 modern 845 #6,469
1999 modern 852 #6,471
2000 modern 828 #6,591
2001 modern 806 #6,615
2002 modern 814 #6,675
2003 modern 811 #6,588
2004 modern 802 #6,658
2005 modern 797 #6,631
2006 modern 792 #6,685
2007 modern 791 #6,755
2008 modern 802 #6,733
2009 modern 798 #6,907
2010 modern 799 #7,035
2011 modern 790 #7,023
2012 modern 776 #7,033
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 810 #6,917
2015 modern 803 #6,917
2016 modern 780 #7,067

Geography

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Where Cosseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chedgrave, Seething, London parishes, Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity and Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Norwich and Broadland. 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 Chedgrave Norfolk
2 Seething Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity Suffolk
5 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
3 Norwich 005 Norwich
4 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
5 Broadland 018 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cossey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cossey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cossey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cossey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cossey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Cossey 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

Cossey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cossey

The surname Cossey has its origins in England and is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old English words "cosse" meaning a sack or bag, and "ey" meaning an island or area of high ground. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived on a raised area or settlement where sacks or bags were produced or stored.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cossey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a William de Cosseye. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records kept by the English Crown during the reign of King Edward I. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 13th century.

The surname Cossey has also been linked to the village of Costessey in Norfolk, England. This place name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cost" meaning a cottage or dwelling, and "ey" meaning an island or area of high ground. It is possible that some early bearers of the surname Cossey may have been from this area or had connections to the village.

In the 14th century, the Cossey surname appears in the Court Rolls of Gloucestershire, which were legal records kept by the local manorial courts. These rolls mention individuals such as John Cossey and Thomas Cossey, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that time period.

One notable bearer of the Cossey surname was Sir Thomas Cossey (c. 1505 - 1555), who was a member of the English gentry and served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another individual of historical significance was Sir Henry Cossey (c. 1545 - 1609), who was a wealthy landowner and held the position of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1591.

In the 17th century, the Cossey surname can be found in the records of the East India Company, with individuals such as John Cossey (1610 - 1670) serving as a captain and merchant for the company. Additionally, William Cossey (1634 - 1702) was a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Norfolk during this period.

Throughout the centuries, the Cossey surname has also been associated with various places and locations in England, including the village of Cossey in Norfolk, and the hamlet of Cosseys in Leicestershire, further emphasizing the name's deep-rooted connection to the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cossey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cossey 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. Norfolk leads with 185 Cosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.65x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 185 29.65x
Suffolk 49 9.91x
Middlesex 42 1.04x
Hampshire 25 3.01x
Yorkshire 24 0.60x
Kent 23 1.66x
Essex 15 1.87x
Durham 14 1.16x
Devon 11 1.30x
Surrey 9 0.46x
Somerset 8 1.22x
Glamorgan 4 0.57x
Lincolnshire 4 0.62x
Gloucestershire 3 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heigham in Norfolk leads with 26 Cosseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.64x.

Place Total Index
Heigham 26 77.64x
Bungay Holy Trinity 18 708.66x
Rollesby 13 1666.67x
West Ham 13 7.35x
Ormesby St Margaret W 12 769.23x
Aldershot 11 39.48x
Kenton 10 375.94x
Northfleet 10 81.97x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 10 263.85x
Seething 10 1851.85x
Ellingham 9 1914.89x
Hackney London 9 3.96x
Weston Longville 9 1578.95x
Amport 8 851.06x
Lowestoft 8 34.26x
Mile End Old Town London 8 9.26x
Newton St Faith 8 1702.13x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.97x
Chedgrave 7 1372.55x
Lyng 7 1000.00x
Maidstone 7 16.97x
Bridgewater 6 33.84x
Brooke 6 612.24x
Chilton 6 159.15x
Croydon 6 5.47x
Great Ayton 6 243.90x
Holdenhurst 6 27.50x
Mettingham 6 1200.00x
Runham 6 480.00x
St George Martyr London 6 72.99x
Stalham 6 504.20x
Wymondham 6 94.04x
Bingley 5 19.52x
Great Yarmouth 5 9.67x
Hilgay 5 212.77x
Westoe 5 7.31x
Coedfrank 4 81.80x
Ipswich St Lawrence 4 597.01x
Kirby Cane 4 689.66x
Lakenheath 4 153.26x
Loddon 4 250.00x
Mundham 4 975.61x
Spilsby 4 194.17x
St Pancras London 4 1.22x
Bowling 3 7.53x
Falsgrave 3 50.59x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 49.02x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 69.61x
South Walsham St Mary 3 576.92x
Spexhall 3 1071.43x
St George In East London 3 7.86x
Tong 3 38.61x
Upton With Fishley 3 405.41x
Ashby St Mary 2 714.29x
Beccles 2 25.16x
Dersingham 2 141.84x
Hampstead London 2 3.16x
Heworth 2 8.41x
Islington London 2 0.51x
Langley 2 465.12x
Neatishead 2 250.00x
Norwich St George Colegate 2 88.11x
Ormesby St Michael 2 500.00x
Raveningham 2 606.06x
Repps Cum Bastwick 2 540.54x
Stoke Holy Cross 2 344.83x
Twerton 2 29.67x
Wandsworth 2 5.12x
Westbury On Trym 2 7.42x
Wilby 2 307.69x
Wivenhoe 2 62.89x
Darsham 1 166.67x
Horstead With Stanninghall 1 128.21x
Hythe St Leonard 1 20.45x
Lewisham 1 1.35x
Newington 1 0.67x
Reedham 1 84.03x
Somerleyton 1 120.48x
South Shields 1 9.30x
Upsall In Guisbrough 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 13
Alice 12
Emma 11
Charlotte 10
Ellen 8
Jane 8
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Emily 5
Jessie 5
Louisa 5
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Anna 3
Edith 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Ruth 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Nelly 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Emely 1
Florence 1
Frank 1
Harriett 1
Hettie 1
Ida 1
Jemima 1
Juliana 1
June 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Margt. 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 23
George 19
Charles 14
James 13
Robert 13
Samuel 10
Frederick 7
Richard 6
Edward 5
Henry 5
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Stephen 4
Thomas 4
David 3
Harry 3
Albert 2
Bertie 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Lewis 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Barzillai 1
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
Earnest 1
Edger 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Geo.S. 1
Georgett 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Japeth 1
Japhet 1
Joseph 1
Prune 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Spencer 1
Uriah 1
Walter 1
Wm.Ge. 1

FAQ

Cossey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cossey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Cossey surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cossey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 780 in 2016. That gives Cossey a modern rank of #7,067.

What does the Cossey surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Cossa's island," referring to an island belonging to a person named Cossa.

What does the Cossey map show?

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