NameCensus.

UK surname

Cote

A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a slope, riverbank, or dike.

In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Cote surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #29,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barnham, East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wandsworth, Hastings and Charnwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cote is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 303.8%.

1881 census count

26

Ranked #29,911

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1861

146 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cote had 26 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Cote surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cote surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cote 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 26 #29,911
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 21 #31,686
1911 historical 50 #27,806
1997 modern 69 #30,712
1998 modern 77 #30,289
1999 modern 64 #31,692
2000 modern 62 #31,939
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 74 #31,048
2003 modern 83 #30,088
2004 modern 84 #30,244
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 77 #31,856
2008 modern 83 #31,483
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 91 #31,497
2011 modern 85 #32,127
2012 modern 84 #32,502
2013 modern 94 #31,656
2014 modern 100 #31,033
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

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Where Cotes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barnham, East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak), London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Ealing, Chiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wandsworth, Hastings, Charnwood, Wealden and Stevenage. 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 Barnham Norfolk
2 East Meon (incl. Westbury & Peak) Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
5 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wandsworth 006 Wandsworth
2 Hastings 004 Hastings
3 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
4 Wealden 018 Wealden
5 Stevenage 002 Stevenage

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cote

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cote

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Cote surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cote household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cote is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cote is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cote falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cote 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cote, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cote

The surname Cote is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "coste" meaning "side" or "slope." It is believed to have originated as a toponymic surname, referring to people who lived near a hillside or slope.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Cote date back to the 12th century in Normandy, France. It is mentioned in several medieval records, including the Exchequer Rolls of Normandy in 1180.

In England, the name Cote is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating the presence of Norman settlers with this surname shortly after the Norman Conquest. The Domesday Book mentions a Radulfus Cote holding lands in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Cote was Robert de Cote, who lived in Buckinghamshire, England, in the 13th century. Another notable early bearer was Sir John Cote, a member of the English gentry in the 14th century.

The name Cote is also associated with several place names in England, such as Cotesbach in Leicestershire and Cote Bruern in Oxfordshire. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "cot," meaning a small dwelling or shelter, combined with other descriptive elements.

In Scotland, the surname Cote is found in various spellings, including Coats, Coatts, and Cottis. One of the earliest recorded Scottish bearers was John Cote, who was listed in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Cote. One of them was Jacques Cote (1670-1748), a French-Canadian explorer and fur trader who played a significant role in the early exploration of the Canadian West.

Another notable bearer was Jean-Baptiste Cote (1730-1800), a French-Canadian painter and sculptor known for his religious artwork in the churches of Quebec.

In the United States, the surname Cote is associated with several prominent figures, including Samuel Prentiss Cote (1862-1921), a U.S. Congressman from New York, and Robert Cote (1917-1995), a political activist and labor organizer.

Overall, the surname Cote has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions, with its origins rooted in the French language and Norman heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cote families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cote 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. Berkshire leads with 5 Cotes recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.27x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 5 26.27x
Lancashire 5 1.66x
Somerset 4 9.80x
Middlesex 3 1.18x
Sussex 3 7.02x
Devon 2 3.79x
Yorkshire 2 0.80x
Hampshire 1 1.92x
Northamptonshire 1 4.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chilton Foliat in Berkshire leads with 5 Cotes recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Chilton Foliat 5 10000.00x
Bedminster 4 104.17x
East Grinstead 3 491.80x
Lower Booths 3 555.56x
Alverstoke 1 53.19x
Everton 1 10.43x
Fulham London 1 27.17x
Guiseley 1 312.50x
Islington London 1 4.07x
Liverpool 1 5.47x
Long Buckby 1 454.55x
Morton On Swale 1 5000.00x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 227.27x
Plymouth Charles The 1 42.92x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 3
Edith 2
Emma 2
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Harriet 1
Louisa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Cote households.

FAQ

Cote surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cote surname in 1881?

In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Cote surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cote surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Cote a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Cote surname mean?

A French topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a slope, riverbank, or dike.

What does the Cote map show?

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