UK surname
A surname derived from the Old French word for overseer or manager.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Cotrell surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Biddulph, Endford, Netheravon and Henham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cotrell is 121 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.4%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
121 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cotrell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cotrell surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 69 | #21,148 |
| 1861 | historical | 121 | #18,148 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 55 | #29,744 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 77 | #25,106 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 18 | #36,412 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Biddulph, Endford, Netheravon, Henham, Gateshead and Tidworth, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biddulph | Cheshire |
| 2 | Endford, Netheravon | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Henham | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | Tidworth, South | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cotrell surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cotrell, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cotrell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cotrell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cotrell is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cotrell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cotrell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cotrell is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cotrel," which means a cottager or a small farmer. The name was likely given to someone who lived in a small cottage or worked as a farmer on a larger estate.
In the early records of England, the name appears with various spellings, such as Cotterell, Cotteril, and Cotterill. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is recorded as "Cotterel."
The surname Cotrell is also associated with several place names in England, such as Cotterill in Staffordshire and Cotterell in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cotrell was John Cotrell, who was born around 1450 in Wiltshire, England. Another notable figure was Sir John Cotterell (1585-1672), an English courtier and diplomat during the reign of King Charles I.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cotrell family established themselves in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. Notable individuals from this period include Richard Cotterell (1568-1628), a wealthy landowner in Warwickshire, and Clement Cotterell (1615-1701), an English clergyman and scholar.
In the 18th century, the Cotrell surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir Clement Cotterell (1708-1789), a British army officer who served in the Seven Years' War. Another significant figure was John Cotterell (1782-1858), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and history.
As the surname spread throughout England and beyond, it continued to evolve with various spellings, including Cotterill, Cotterell, and Cotteril. While the name has been associated with different occupations and social classes over the centuries, it remains a well-established surname with a rich history rooted in the English countryside.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cotrell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 8 Cotrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 8 | 4.75x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.19x |
| Worcestershire | 7 | 9.48x |
| Somerset | 6 | 6.59x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 4.00x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.88x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 14.31x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 3.45x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.45x |
| Flintshire | 3 | 19.74x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.85x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.90x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 4.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 8 Cotrells recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gateshead | 8 | 63.49x |
| Claines | 6 | 295.57x |
| Bridgewater | 5 | 202.43x |
| Congleton | 5 | 231.48x |
| Oxford St Clement | 5 | 568.18x |
| Bermondsey | 3 | 17.81x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 12.21x |
| Holywell | 3 | 157.07x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 7.36x |
| Portsea | 3 | 13.20x |
| Kirkdale | 2 | 17.71x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.39x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 8.80x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 11.68x |
| Great Malvern | 1 | 64.94x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.03x |
| Ledbury | 1 | 125.00x |
| Manchester | 1 | 3.31x |
| Plymtree | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Ryde | 1 | 40.16x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 43.48x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cotrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cotrell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Cotrell households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Cement Laborer | 1 |
| Chair Woman | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Estate Agent | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Laundry Labourer | 1 |
| Machinist Seamstress | 1 |
| Music Teacher Of Piano Forte | 1 |
| Parlour Maid | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Silk Doubler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Cotrell surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Cotrell a modern rank of #36,998.
A surname derived from the Old French word for overseer or manager.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cotrell bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.