NameCensus.

UK surname

Cottis

A locational surname derived from a place meaning "cottages" or "shelters".

In the 1881 census there were 253 people recorded with the Cottis surname, ranking it #10,980 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 400, ranked #11,879, down from #10,980 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braintree, London parishes and Coggeshall, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Thurrock and Skye South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cottis is 498 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.1%.

1881 census count

253

Ranked #10,980

Modern count

400

2016, ranked #11,879

Peak year

2000

498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cottis had 253 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,980 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016, ranked #11,879.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 415 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cottis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cottis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cottis 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 159 #14,553
1881 historical 253 #10,980
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 342 #10,608
1911 historical 415 #9,049
1997 modern 459 #9,920
1998 modern 486 #9,810
1999 modern 477 #10,014
2000 modern 498 #9,667
2001 modern 470 #9,906
2002 modern 483 #9,882
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 460 #10,120
2005 modern 444 #10,315
2006 modern 433 #10,564
2007 modern 440 #10,533
2008 modern 438 #10,668
2009 modern 431 #11,070
2010 modern 427 #11,379
2011 modern 414 #11,533
2012 modern 403 #11,662
2013 modern 415 #11,604
2014 modern 408 #11,830
2015 modern 408 #11,737
2016 modern 400 #11,879

Geography

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Where Cottis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braintree, London parishes, Coggeshall, Great, Burstead, Great and Thurrock, Grays. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Thurrock and Skye South. 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 Braintree Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Coggeshall, Great Essex
4 Burstead, Great Essex
5 Thurrock, Grays Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 004 Rochford
2 Rochford 007 Rochford
3 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
4 Skye South Highland
5 Rochford 002 Rochford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cottis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cottis

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

Cottis is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cottis falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cottis

The surname Cottis has its origins in the British Isles, specifically England, and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cot," meaning a small dwelling or cottage. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a modest home or a small settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cottis can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as Cottus and Cotis, indicating that the surname was already in use during the Norman period.

During the 13th century, there are records of a family named Cottis residing in the county of Somerset. The name also appeared in various medieval records and manuscripts, including the Pipe Rolls of the 12th and 13th centuries, which documented royal finances and land transactions.

In the 16th century, a notable individual bearing the surname Cottis was John Cottis, a landowner and prominent figure in the city of Bristol. He was born around 1520 and played an active role in local politics and civic affairs.

Another historical figure with the surname Cottis was Sir Thomas Cottis, who lived in the 17th century. He was a successful merchant and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1672. Sir Thomas Cottis was also involved in various charitable endeavors and contributed to the rebuilding efforts after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Cottis family settled in the county of Yorkshire, where they became influential landowners and businessmen. One notable member was William Cottis, born in 1740, who was a successful industrialist and owned several textile mills.

The surname Cottis has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Cottis Green in Oxfordshire and Cottis Hill in Gloucestershire. These place names may have derived from the presence of families bearing the surname in those areas.

Other prominent individuals with the surname Cottis include Robert Cottis, a respected scholar and author born in 1810, who wrote extensively on English literature and history. Additionally, Edward Cottis, born in 1865, was a renowned architect known for his innovative designs and contributions to the development of modern architecture in Britain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cottis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cottis 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 186 Cottis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.18x.

County Total Index
Essex 186 38.18x
Middlesex 38 1.54x
Surrey 14 1.16x
Suffolk 3 1.00x
Kent 2 0.24x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Yorkshire 2 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.78x
Berkshire 1 0.54x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Sussex 1 0.24x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Coggeshall in Essex leads with 17 Cottis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 671.94x.

Place Total Index
Great Coggeshall 17 671.94x
Braintree 16 366.13x
Epping 16 808.08x
Burnham 15 833.33x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 10 1449.28x
St Pancras London 7 3.52x
Barking 6 42.11x
Colchester St James 6 304.57x
Croydon 6 8.99x
Halstead 6 105.63x
Little Stambridge 6 4285.71x
Maldon All Sts 6 618.56x
Wickham Bishops 6 1333.33x
Danbury 5 602.41x
Eastwood 5 1162.79x
Mayland 5 2380.95x
West Ham 5 4.65x
Whitechapel London 5 20.55x
Writtle 5 251.26x
Clerkenwell London 4 6.87x
Grays Thurrock 4 88.30x
Hammersmith London 4 6.58x
Southminster 4 373.83x
Bermondsey 3 4.08x
Boreham 3 357.14x
Chelmsford 3 35.89x
Dunton 3 2500.00x
Southchurch 3 666.67x
Terling 3 410.96x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.87x
Bocking 2 68.26x
Camberwell 2 1.27x
Chelsea London 2 2.69x
Clapham 2 6.48x
Clayton Le Moors 2 35.21x
Creeksea 2 1666.67x
Edmonton 2 10.06x
Greenstead 2 281.69x
Hatfield Peverel 2 190.48x
Islington London 2 0.84x
Mile End Old Town London 2 3.81x
North Benfleet 2 1176.47x
Selby 2 39.14x
Springfield 2 93.90x
Ulting 2 1428.57x
Witham 2 79.68x
Woodbridge 2 52.08x
Barling 1 322.58x
Bowers Gifford 1 588.24x
Bromley 1 7.79x
Canewdon 1 163.93x
Chiswick 1 7.41x
Clewer 1 13.18x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 92.59x
Colchester St Mary At 1 57.80x
Downham 1 476.19x
Enfield 1 6.18x
Fobbing 1 277.78x
Foulness 1 166.67x
Fulham London 1 2.79x
Hackney London 1 0.72x
Hampstead London 1 2.60x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Lakenheath 1 62.89x
Little Totham 1 370.37x
Luton 1 4.52x
Maldon St Peter 1 40.32x
Marple 1 26.74x
Newton Biggin 1 500.00x
Paglesham 1 232.56x
Portsea 1 1.01x
Preston 1 13.76x
Ramsgate 1 7.28x
Shopland 1 1428.57x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.30x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Wandsworth 1 4.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 17
George 10
James 8
Charles 7
Alfred 6
Thomas 5
David 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Crispus 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Chas.Alfred 1
Chrispin 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Herbert 1
Huiet 1
Ishmael 1
Lionel 1
Mike 1
Nathan 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cottis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cottis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 253 people were recorded with the Cottis surname. That placed it at #10,980 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cottis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 400 in 2016. That gives Cottis a modern rank of #11,879.

What does the Cottis surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place meaning "cottages" or "shelters".

What does the Cottis map show?

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