NameCensus.

UK surname

Cottam

A habitational surname derived from the place name Cottam in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,821 people recorded with the Cottam surname, ranking it #2,390 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,702, ranked #2,486, down from #2,390 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Preston and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, Preston and Blackburn with Darwen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cottam is 2,864 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.4%.

1881 census count

1,821

Ranked #2,390

Modern count

2,702

2016, ranked #2,486

Peak year

2002

2,864 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cottam had 1,821 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,390 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,702 in 2016, ranked #2,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,863 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cottam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cottam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cottam 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 1,055 #2,653
1861 historical 848 #3,260
1881 historical 1,821 #2,390
1891 historical 1,938 #2,377
1901 historical 2,473 #2,209
1911 historical 2,863 #1,817
1997 modern 2,726 #2,346
1998 modern 2,815 #2,370
1999 modern 2,856 #2,357
2000 modern 2,863 #2,352
2001 modern 2,799 #2,349
2002 modern 2,864 #2,344
2003 modern 2,785 #2,356
2004 modern 2,762 #2,374
2005 modern 2,711 #2,383
2006 modern 2,687 #2,404
2007 modern 2,694 #2,416
2008 modern 2,684 #2,433
2009 modern 2,758 #2,432
2010 modern 2,822 #2,434
2011 modern 2,757 #2,453
2012 modern 2,756 #2,424
2013 modern 2,782 #2,439
2014 modern 2,765 #2,470
2015 modern 2,724 #2,473
2016 modern 2,702 #2,486

Geography

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Where Cottams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Preston, Sheffield, Blackburn and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fylde, Preston, Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fylde 002 Fylde
2 Preston 013 Preston
3 Blackburn with Darwen 009 Blackburn with Darwen
4 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley
5 Blackburn with Darwen 010 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cottam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cottam

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cottam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cottam 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cottam 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

Cottam is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cottam falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cottam

The surname Cottam is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cot" meaning a small dwelling or shelter, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. It is a locational name, referring to someone who lived in or near a hamlet or small settlement known as Cottam.

The name Cottam is found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is mentioned as "Coteham" in Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Cotham" and "Cothum," indicating variations in pronunciation and spelling over time. The place name Cottam is derived from these early spellings and can be found in several villages and townships across England, such as Cottam in Nottinghamshire, Cottam in Lancashire, and Cottam in Yorkshire.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Cottam throughout history are:

1. John Cottam (c. 1549 - 1616), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of King James I for his religious beliefs.

2. Thomas Cottam (c. 1549 - 1582), an English Catholic priest and missionary, known for his work in spreading Catholicism in England during the Reformation.

3. William Cottam (1609 - 1678), an English Jesuit and author, best known for his work "The Preacher's Assistant" published in 1674.

4. Nathaniel Cottam (1656 - 1726), an English mathematician and astronomer, who served as the Savilian Professor of Astronomy at the University of Oxford.

5. James Cottam (1831 - 1895), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in Lancashire, including the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston.

The surname Cottam has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its origins dating back to the 11th century and beyond. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, it remains firmly connected to the small settlements and hamlets that once dotted the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cottam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cottam 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. Lancashire leads with 1,049 Cottams recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,049 4.97x
Yorkshire 198 1.12x
Lincolnshire 151 5.31x
Nottinghamshire 111 4.63x
Cheshire 57 1.45x
Middlesex 36 0.20x
Kent 30 0.49x
Staffordshire 25 0.42x
Hertfordshire 21 1.71x
Surrey 20 0.23x
Shropshire 19 1.24x
Worcestershire 14 0.60x
Westmorland 13 3.33x
Durham 12 0.23x
Northumberland 9 0.34x
Derbyshire 8 0.29x
Northamptonshire 8 0.48x
Warwickshire 8 0.18x
Dorset 6 0.51x
Bedfordshire 5 0.54x
Essex 5 0.14x
Hampshire 4 0.11x
Midlothian 4 0.17x
Cumberland 2 0.13x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Denbighshire 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.03x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 140 Cottams recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.95x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 140 24.95x
Preston 121 21.44x
Bury 41 17.02x
Ashton In Makerfield 38 63.28x
Westby With Plumpton 30 923.08x
Livesey 28 75.66x
Barrow In Furness 27 9.41x
Accrington 22 11.47x
Birkenhead 20 6.39x
Liverpool 20 1.56x
Boston 19 22.04x
Newark Upon Trent 17 19.74x
Clayton Le Moors 16 39.10x
Dukinfield 16 8.83x
Great Grimsby 16 8.87x
Leyland 16 43.61x
Tottington Lower End 16 15.96x
West Bradford 16 846.56x
Laughton En Le Morthen 15 370.37x
Brightside Bierlow 14 4.05x
Castleton 14 6.65x
Little Bolton 14 5.16x
St Maryle Wigford 14 63.41x
Habergham Eaves 13 6.74x
Louth 13 19.96x
Pemberton 13 15.46x
Stockport 13 6.44x
Ulverston 13 21.16x
Bowling 12 6.88x
Farington 12 97.72x
Forton 12 331.49x
Oswaldtwistle 12 16.10x
Padiham 12 23.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 11 3.07x
Harby 11 514.02x
Rotherham 11 11.08x
Carlton In Lindrick 10 157.23x
Crumpsall 10 20.12x
Everton 10 1.49x
Gainsborough 10 14.93x
Gorton 10 5.04x
Heaton With Oxcliffe 10 1204.82x
Lancaster 10 7.97x
Manchester 10 1.05x
Oldham 10 1.47x
Rishton 10 40.42x
Salford 10 1.61x
Sheffield 10 1.78x
Welton 10 240.96x
Burnley 9 5.07x
Byker 9 6.88x
Fishwick 9 69.02x
Hulme 9 2.04x
Northfleet 9 16.85x
Nottingham St Mary 9 1.45x
Over Darwen 9 5.34x
St Albans St Peter 9 21.78x
Aston 8 0.65x
Basford 8 7.25x
Chorley 8 6.76x
Cottingham 8 21.07x
Darlington 8 3.92x
Great Harwood 8 20.99x
Greenwich 8 2.83x
Harpurhey 8 27.33x
Leeds 8 0.80x
Manningham 8 3.69x
Royton 8 12.40x
Rushall 8 22.66x
Southwell 8 45.87x
Winmarleigh 8 344.83x
Worksop 8 11.26x
Worsley 8 6.15x
Ardwick 7 3.68x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 4.41x
Church 7 23.51x
East Stoke 7 551.18x
Saddleworth 7 5.15x
Silverstone 7 99.29x
Withnell 7 54.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 137
Elizabeth 99
Ann 55
Sarah 49
Jane 48
Alice 47
Margaret 41
Ellen 39
Eliza 29
Annie 23
Martha 18
Ada 15
Emma 15
Hannah 15
Isabella 13
Louisa 13
Emily 12
Harriet 10
Susannah 9
Anne 8
Clara 8
Catherine 7
Fanny 7
Maria 7
Agnes 6
Eleanor 6
Gertrude 6
Rebecca 6
Betsy 5
Edith 5
Esther 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Lucy 5
Minnie 5
Nancy 5
Ruth 5
Ethel 4
Grace 4
Kate 4
Margt. 4
Amy 3
Charlotte 3
Eliz. 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3
Susan 3
Susanna 3
Winifred 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cottam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cottam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,821 people were recorded with the Cottam surname. That placed it at #2,390 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cottam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,702 in 2016. That gives Cottam a modern rank of #2,486.

What does the Cottam surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from the place name Cottam in Lancashire, England.

What does the Cottam map show?

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