NameCensus.

UK surname

Cottingham

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Cottingham in England.

In the 1881 census there were 797 people recorded with the Cottingham surname, ranking it #4,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,274, ranked #4,696, down from #4,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, East Lindsey and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cottingham is 1,321 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.8%.

1881 census count

797

Ranked #4,670

Modern count

1,274

2016, ranked #4,696

Peak year

1999

1,321 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cottingham had 797 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,274 in 2016, ranked #4,696.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,138 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cottingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cottingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cottingham 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 549 #4,612
1861 historical 565 #4,654
1881 historical 797 #4,670
1891 historical 903 #4,563
1901 historical 1,022 #4,672
1911 historical 1,138 #4,096
1997 modern 1,258 #4,526
1998 modern 1,309 #4,541
1999 modern 1,321 #4,537
2000 modern 1,299 #4,579
2001 modern 1,260 #4,617
2002 modern 1,278 #4,647
2003 modern 1,249 #4,642
2004 modern 1,256 #4,623
2005 modern 1,237 #4,636
2006 modern 1,224 #4,700
2007 modern 1,242 #4,683
2008 modern 1,250 #4,671
2009 modern 1,286 #4,657
2010 modern 1,309 #4,675
2011 modern 1,267 #4,763
2012 modern 1,265 #4,682
2013 modern 1,282 #4,716
2014 modern 1,295 #4,692
2015 modern 1,289 #4,666
2016 modern 1,274 #4,696

Geography

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Where Cottinghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Keymer, North & South and Faldingworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, East Lindsey and West Lindsey. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Keymer, North & South Sussex
5 Faldingworth Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 013 Wealden
2 East Lindsey 016 East Lindsey
3 Wealden 010 Wealden
4 Wealden 006 Wealden
5 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cottingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cottingham

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cottingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cottingham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cottingham 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

Cottingham is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cottingham falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cottingham

The surname Cottingham is of English origin, originating from the village of Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "cot" meaning a small dwelling or cottage, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. The earliest recorded spelling of the place name was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Cotingaham".

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Cotyngham". Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, Cottingham. The name first appeared as a surname in the late 12th century, referring to someone who hailed from the village of Cottingham.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Robert de Cottingham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1198. Another early record is that of William de Cottingham, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1286.

During the medieval period, the Cottingham family held lands and properties in the East Riding of Yorkshire. In the 16th century, George Cottingham (1520-1591) was a notable English Protestant reformer and theologian.

Sir John Cottingham (1549-1628) was a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1623 to 1628. He played a significant role in the judicial proceedings against Sir Walter Raleigh.

Another noteworthy figure was John Cottingham (1615-1701), an English philosopher and mathematician who made contributions to the field of optics and was a member of the Royal Society.

In the 19th century, James Cottingham (1819-1891) was a renowned English architect and designer, known for his work on Regency and Gothic Revival buildings. One of his most famous works is the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, completed in 1848.

Lastly, the British philosopher and author, John Cottingham (born 1943), is a prominent figure in modern times. He is a former Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Reading and has written extensively on the philosophy of religion and ethics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cottingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cottingham 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. Lincolnshire leads with 157 Cottinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.61x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 157 12.61x
Sussex 137 10.44x
Yorkshire 113 1.46x
Northamptonshire 88 12.02x
Nottinghamshire 67 6.39x
Middlesex 35 0.45x
Surrey 34 0.90x
Lancashire 29 0.31x
Suffolk 28 2.95x
Kent 27 1.02x
Essex 19 1.24x
Cheshire 18 1.05x
Lanarkshire 13 0.52x
Northumberland 7 0.60x
Hampshire 5 0.31x
Staffordshire 5 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.61x
Durham 3 0.13x
Westmorland 3 1.75x
Dorset 2 0.39x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.29x
Bedfordshire 1 0.25x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Gloucestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elland Cum Greetland in Yorkshire leads with 20 Cottinghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.55x.

Place Total Index
Elland Cum Greetland 20 57.55x
Lambeth 19 2.80x
Chailey 18 442.26x
Ringstead 15 590.55x
Welton 15 824.18x
Worksop 15 48.20x
Melbecks 14 450.16x
Messingham 14 463.58x
Standground 12 341.88x
Brighton 11 4.15x
Buxted 11 214.01x
Keymer 11 118.66x
Sheffield 11 4.48x
Wadhurst 11 127.61x
Coningsby 10 280.11x
Ditchling 10 279.33x
Glasgow 10 2.24x
Northampton Priory St 10 22.76x
Scotter 10 350.88x
Claxby Pluckacre 9 5000.00x
East Hoathly 9 394.74x
Aldwinkle All Sts 8 888.89x
Broughton 8 229.23x
Camberwell 8 1.61x
East Chiltington 8 727.27x
Gedling 8 462.43x
Great Chesterford 8 329.22x
Altrincham 7 23.32x
Bulwell 7 30.69x
Dovercourt 7 129.63x
Faldingworth 7 933.33x
Mayfield 7 90.21x
Mile End Old Town London 7 4.23x
Mirfield 7 16.53x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.58x
Oxton 7 510.95x
Pembury 7 185.68x
Raunds 7 93.83x
Shotwick 7 3333.33x
Stoke Newington London 7 11.55x
Toxteth Park 7 2.24x
Uffington 7 569.11x
Westmeston 7 804.60x
Ipswich St Helen 6 53.38x
Lowestoft 6 13.40x
Manchester 6 1.44x
Newick 6 207.61x
North Shields 6 25.96x
Paston 6 192.93x
Plumpton 6 483.87x
Wakefield 6 10.13x
West Barkwith 6 1875.00x
Wombwell 6 26.68x
Wortley In Bramley 6 9.82x
Basford 5 10.34x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.30x
Eston 5 29.76x
Great Grimsby 5 6.33x
Islington London 5 0.66x
Leeds 5 1.15x
Moss Side 5 10.29x
Pelhams Lands 5 1162.79x
Portsea 5 1.60x
Snarford 5 1851.85x
Tonbridge 5 5.22x
Bexhill 4 61.16x
Brenchley 4 42.11x
Corby 4 198.02x
Farnsfield 4 143.88x
Friesthorpe 4 2500.00x
Hackney London 4 0.92x
Hornsey 4 4.06x
Ingham 4 251.57x
Laughton 4 207.25x
Lingfield 4 54.13x
Middle Rasen 4 168.78x
Oundle 4 48.84x
Sawley In Ripon 4 404.04x
Snenton 4 9.70x
Westham 4 149.81x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 53
George 43
Thomas 37
James 18
Henry 17
Robert 16
Joseph 14
Edward 13
Frank 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Amos 4
David 4
Edmund 3
Harry 3
Miles 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fred. 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Patrick 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Armous 1
Arther 1
Dennis 1
E.L. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Joe 1
Lionel 1
Norah 1
Obed 1
Ralph 1
Wolfran 1

FAQ

Cottingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cottingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 797 people were recorded with the Cottingham surname. That placed it at #4,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cottingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,274 in 2016. That gives Cottingham a modern rank of #4,696.

What does the Cottingham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Cottingham in England.

What does the Cottingham map show?

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