NameCensus.

UK surname

Coton

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the cottages" or "cottoners."

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Coton surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 593, ranked #8,799, up from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and Tamworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Cornwall and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coton is 637 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 116.4%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

593

2016, ranked #8,799

Peak year

1997

637 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coton had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016, ranked #8,799.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 525 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Coton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coton 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 253 #9,764
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 397 #8,927
1901 historical 436 #8,907
1911 historical 525 #7,551
1997 modern 637 #7,788
1998 modern 633 #8,076
1999 modern 621 #8,253
2000 modern 612 #8,310
2001 modern 606 #8,237
2002 modern 603 #8,436
2003 modern 601 #8,328
2004 modern 594 #8,411
2005 modern 570 #8,582
2006 modern 588 #8,406
2007 modern 577 #8,604
2008 modern 582 #8,612
2009 modern 600 #8,598
2010 modern 599 #8,796
2011 modern 603 #8,660
2012 modern 579 #8,830
2013 modern 603 #8,713
2014 modern 610 #8,692
2015 modern 604 #8,692
2016 modern 593 #8,799

Geography

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Where Cotons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, Tamworth and Solihull, Church Bickenhill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Cornwall, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick and North Warwickshire. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Tamworth Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Solihull, Church Bickenhill Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 Stratford-on-Avon 008 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Warwick 001 Warwick
5 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coton, 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 Coton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coton 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Coton 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

Coton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Coton

The surname Coton originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is a locational name derived from various places named Coton, which means "cottage town" or "settlement of cottages." The name is found in several counties, including Cambridgeshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, and Staffordshire.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th century. In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called Coton is mentioned in Cambridgeshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1195 also reference a person named Roger de Cotun in Derbyshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Cotun, Coton, and Cotten. These variations reflect the local dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

One notable person with the surname Coton was William Coton (c. 1572-1619), an English clergyman and writer. He served as a chaplain to King James I and wrote several religious works, including "The Abridgement of the Church Militant" and "The Exposition upon the Whole Book of Ecclesiastes."

Another prominent figure was Sir John Coton (c. 1585-1662), an English politician and landowner. He served as a member of Parliament during the English Civil War and supported the Royalist cause.

In the 18th century, Thomas Coton (1678-1748) was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford and the church of St. Philip in Birmingham.

The name Coton also appears in literary works. In Charles Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist," published in 1838, one of the characters is a woman named Mrs. Coton, who runs a baby farm.

Another notable person with this surname was William Coton (1857-1919), an English ornithologist and naturalist. He contributed to the study of bird migration and wrote several books, including "A Treatise on Birds" and "The Migration of British Birds."

These examples illustrate the long history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the surname Coton, which can be traced back to the early settlements and place names in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coton 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. Warwickshire leads with 117 Cotons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.36x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 117 17.36x
Yorkshire 33 1.25x
Staffordshire 28 3.10x
Kent 17 1.86x
Surrey 15 1.15x
Worcestershire 15 4.30x
Lancashire 11 0.35x
Middlesex 9 0.34x
Derbyshire 6 1.43x
Essex 6 1.14x
Northumberland 5 1.26x
Leicestershire 4 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.83x
Sussex 2 0.44x
Durham 1 0.13x
Lincolnshire 1 0.23x
Northamptonshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 37 Cotons recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.94x.

Place Total Index
Aston 37 19.94x
Birmingham 23 10.24x
Halifax 20 51.44x
Wilnecote 18 932.64x
Lambeth 14 6.01x
Plumstead 14 46.05x
Leeds 12 8.02x
Balsall 11 1047.62x
Clifton Campville 9 1267.61x
Redditch 9 127.12x
Solihull 9 185.57x
Chelsea London 6 7.45x
Hampton In Arden 6 1016.95x
Kings Norton 6 19.17x
Melbourne 6 209.79x
Warrington 6 15.96x
West Ham 6 5.15x
Seaton Delaval 5 143.27x
Stoke 5 375.94x
Tamworth 5 103.73x
Curdworth 4 645.16x
Fazeley 4 243.90x
Hints 4 2000.00x
Toxteth Park 4 3.72x
Bushbury 3 185.19x
Greasley 3 36.90x
Lea Marston 3 1071.43x
Woolwich 3 8.90x
Hastings St Mary 2 17.84x
Hinckley 2 28.45x
Kensington London 2 1.35x
Wigginton 2 263.16x
Clapham 1 2.99x
Earls Barton 1 46.73x
Edgbaston 1 4.78x
Hackney London 1 0.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 2.90x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.18x
Northowram 1 5.39x
Ragdale 1 1111.11x
Shenstone 1 43.67x
St Nicholas Lincoln 1 24.45x
West Derby 1 1.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Ann 8
Ellen 6
Ada 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Alice 3
Amy 3
Louisa 3
Anne 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Chartalle 1
Christina 1
Dinah 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Hanette 1
Harriat 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Millinent 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 21
George 10
James 6
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Henry 5
Samuel 5
Abraham 4
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Hiram 2
Jesse 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Alice 1
Foster 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
G.Thomas 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Malby 1
Saml. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Coton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Coton surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 593 in 2016. That gives Coton a modern rank of #8,799.

What does the Coton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "the cottages" or "cottoners."

What does the Coton map show?

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