NameCensus.

UK surname

Cottee

A surname derived from a geographical location or an occupational name for a cottager.

In the 1881 census there were 261 people recorded with the Cottee surname, ranking it #10,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 547, ranked #9,323, up from #10,752 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Epping and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, Havering and Wokingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cottee is 602 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.6%.

1881 census count

261

Ranked #10,752

Modern count

547

2016, ranked #9,323

Peak year

1999

602 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cottee had 261 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,752 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016, ranked #9,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cottee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cottee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cottee 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 91 #22,206
1881 historical 261 #10,752
1891 historical 298 #11,167
1901 historical 377 #9,876
1911 historical 372 #9,807
1997 modern 592 #8,226
1998 modern 596 #8,434
1999 modern 602 #8,425
2000 modern 599 #8,435
2001 modern 579 #8,495
2002 modern 567 #8,777
2003 modern 592 #8,415
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 574 #8,536
2006 modern 574 #8,564
2007 modern 569 #8,681
2008 modern 559 #8,844
2009 modern 569 #8,929
2010 modern 591 #8,884
2011 modern 586 #8,854
2012 modern 580 #8,813
2013 modern 585 #8,902
2014 modern 582 #8,997
2015 modern 567 #9,082
2016 modern 547 #9,323

Geography

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Where Cottees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Epping, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, Havering, Wokingham, Rushcliffe and Tendring. 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 Epping Essex
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 020 Colchester
2 Havering 029 Havering
3 Wokingham 017 Wokingham
4 Rushcliffe 013 Rushcliffe
5 Tendring 008 Tendring

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cottee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cottee

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cottee 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

Cottee is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cottee falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cottee

The surname Cottee has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cot," which referred to a small, humble dwelling or cottage. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive one, given to someone who resided in a modest abode.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain Richard Cotte is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across different regions of England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a John Cotte is listed. This suggests that the name had spread across multiple counties by this time.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk. One of the letters, dated 1472, mentions a William Cottee, providing further evidence of the surname's existence during this period.

As for notable individuals bearing the Cottee surname, one of the earliest recorded was Sir John Cottee, a Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in the early 16th century, born around 1490. Another early figure was William Cottee, a renowned merchant and philanthropist from London, who lived from 1552 to 1623.

In the 17th century, the name continued to be found in various records, including the Hearth Tax Returns of Middlesex in 1666, which listed a Thomas Cottee as a resident of the area.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname was James Cottee (1704-1778), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital.

During the 19th century, the Cottee name gained further recognition with the birth of William Cottee (1823-1892), a successful businessman and industrialist who established the Cottee's Seed Company in Australia.

Throughout its history, the Cottee surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Cottee's Farm in Oxfordshire and Cottee's Lane in Hertfordshire, further solidifying its connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cottee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cottee 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. Essex leads with 123 Cottees recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.47x.

County Total Index
Essex 123 24.47x
Middlesex 43 1.69x
Nottinghamshire 32 9.32x
Surrey 28 2.26x
Suffolk 12 3.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.20x
Durham 4 0.53x
Kent 3 0.35x
Norfolk 3 0.77x
Hampshire 2 0.38x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Berkshire 1 0.52x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Lincolnshire 1 0.25x
Sussex 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 29 Cottees recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.67x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 29 32.67x
Great Baddow 14 782.12x
Epping 11 539.22x
Gorleston 11 139.59x
Great Braxted 11 3333.33x
Poplar London 11 22.89x
Ewell 10 381.68x
Great Totham 10 1538.46x
Bermondsey 9 11.87x
Tollesbury 9 714.29x
Canewdon 8 1269.84x
Chelmsford 7 81.21x
Mile End 6 652.17x
Mile End Old Town London 6 11.07x
Bromley London 5 8.93x
Chester All Sts 5 1250.00x
Fulham London 5 13.54x
Maldon St Marys 5 416.67x
Camberwell 4 2.46x
Dedham 4 263.16x
Isleworth 4 35.34x
Roydon 4 540.54x
St Luke London 4 9.79x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 55.40x
West Ham 4 3.60x
Inworth 3 535.71x
Mundon 3 1071.43x
North Walsham 3 106.38x
Radford 3 17.21x
Ramsden Bell House 3 857.14x
Ryhope 3 57.03x
St Pancras London 3 1.46x
Bradwell 2 232.56x
Hawkwell 2 869.57x
Heybridge 2 136.99x
Maldon St Peter 2 78.13x
Margate St John Baptist 2 12.57x
Penge 2 12.30x
Purleigh 2 266.67x
Southampton St Mary 2 6.09x
Barnes 1 19.05x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.54x
Brighton 1 1.15x
Bristol St Augustine 1 12.41x
Clapham 1 3.14x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.66x
Cold Norton 1 625.00x
Croydon 1 1.45x
Faulkbourn 1 625.00x
Great Burstead 1 54.64x
Guston Charlton 1 666.67x
Hackney London 1 0.70x
Hammersmith London 1 1.59x
Hulme 1 1.59x
Ipswich St Nicholas 1 58.48x
Kingerby 1 1111.11x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.23x
St Lawrence Newland 1 555.56x
St Mary 1 59.17x
St Marylebone London 1 0.74x
Steventon 1 123.46x
Theydon Bois 1 131.58x
Tolleshunt Knights 1 250.00x
West Derby 1 1.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Eliza 10
Elizabeth 8
Emily 7
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Jane 4
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Helena 2
Maria 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Elener 1
Elizath 1
Emma 1
Estell 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florrie 1
Georgianna 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
M. 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Pattie 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 14
William 13
John 8
Joseph 8
George 7
Arthur 6
James 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Thomas 2
Amos 1
Cha. 1
Clarence 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk 1
Goldy 1
Hubert 1
Jessie 1
Josiah 1
Lottie 1
Nathan 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1
Sanuel 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1
Theodore 1
Thos.Wm. 1
U.S.A. 1
W. 1
Willm 1

FAQ

Cottee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cottee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 261 people were recorded with the Cottee surname. That placed it at #10,752 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cottee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 547 in 2016. That gives Cottee a modern rank of #9,323.

What does the Cottee surname mean?

A surname derived from a geographical location or an occupational name for a cottager.

What does the Cottee map show?

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