NameCensus.

UK surname

Cottle

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of cotehele, a type of woolen blanket or curtain.

In the 1881 census there were 1,465 people recorded with the Cottle surname, ranking it #2,849 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,532, ranked #4,041, down from #2,849 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Radstock and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Bath and North East Somerset and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cottle is 1,750 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.6%.

1881 census count

1,465

Ranked #2,849

Modern count

1,532

2016, ranked #4,041

Peak year

1911

1,750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cottle had 1,465 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,849 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,532 in 2016, ranked #4,041.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,750 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cottle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cottle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cottle 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 1,019 #2,741
1861 historical 973 #2,856
1881 historical 1,465 #2,849
1891 historical 1,471 #2,990
1901 historical 1,701 #3,033
1911 historical 1,750 #2,808
1997 modern 1,551 #3,803
1998 modern 1,582 #3,872
1999 modern 1,609 #3,851
2000 modern 1,591 #3,879
2001 modern 1,571 #3,844
2002 modern 1,584 #3,890
2003 modern 1,540 #3,906
2004 modern 1,525 #3,943
2005 modern 1,476 #4,018
2006 modern 1,487 #3,985
2007 modern 1,476 #4,059
2008 modern 1,479 #4,083
2009 modern 1,505 #4,107
2010 modern 1,536 #4,120
2011 modern 1,538 #4,061
2012 modern 1,503 #4,080
2013 modern 1,547 #4,036
2014 modern 1,554 #4,043
2015 modern 1,540 #4,028
2016 modern 1,532 #4,041

Geography

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Where Cottles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Radstock, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Bath and North East Somerset, North Devon and Torridge. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Radstock Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 014 Caerphilly
2 Bath and North East Somerset 011 Bath and North East Somerset
3 North Devon 010 North Devon
4 Torridge 008 Torridge
5 Bath and North East Somerset 027 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cottle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cottle

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

Cottle 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

Cottle 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 Cottle 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 Cottle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cottle

The surname Cottle is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "cot" meaning a small dwelling or hut, and "hyll" meaning a hill or elevated land. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived on a hill where there were cottages or small dwellings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Cothill". This suggests that the name may have originally been "Cothill" before evolving into its more modern form of "Cottle". The Hundredorum Rolls were a series of records compiled in the late 13th century, listing individuals who owned land and property in various counties across England.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings such as "Cottell", "Cottill", and "Cotterill" in records from counties like Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of spelling during that time period.

One notable figure in the history of the Cottle surname is John Cottle (1642-1719), a prominent Quaker minister and author from Gloucestershire. He wrote several religious works and was respected within the Quaker community of his time.

Another individual of note is Samuel Cottle (1770-1842), an English poet, bookseller, and publisher from Bristol. He was known for his literary connections and published works by notable poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey.

In the 19th century, Joseph Cottle (1770-1853), a brother of Samuel Cottle, was a prominent bookseller and publisher in Bristol. He played a significant role in the literary scene of the time and published works by authors such as William Wordsworth and Robert Southey.

William Cottle (1792-1849), a son of Joseph Cottle, was an English author and publisher who continued his father's legacy in the publishing business. He published works by various authors, including his own writings.

Thomas Cottle (1766-1823) was a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was involved in several notable battles and engagements, earning recognition for his service and bravery.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Cottle who have left their mark on history in various fields, ranging from literature and publishing to religion and the military.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cottle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cottle 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. Somerset leads with 418 Cottles recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.07x.

County Total Index
Somerset 418 18.07x
Gloucestershire 206 7.31x
Middlesex 143 1.00x
Wiltshire 121 9.52x
Devon 94 3.14x
Surrey 78 1.11x
Cornwall 68 4.18x
Lancashire 56 0.33x
Hampshire 51 1.73x
Glamorgan 49 1.96x
Yorkshire 32 0.22x
Kent 29 0.59x
Monmouthshire 24 2.31x
Essex 14 0.49x
Durham 13 0.30x
Warwickshire 12 0.33x
Brecknockshire 11 3.83x
Sussex 8 0.33x
Channel Islands 7 1.64x
Dorset 7 0.74x
Herefordshire 6 1.02x
Worcestershire 5 0.27x
Northumberland 4 0.19x
Shropshire 4 0.32x
Cumberland 3 0.24x
Derbyshire 2 0.09x
Isle of Man 2 0.75x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.30x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 74 Cottles recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.89x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 74 27.89x
Radstock 70 460.22x
Walcot 49 39.78x
Midsomer Norton 32 146.86x
Bristol St George 30 23.02x
Morwenstow 29 726.82x
Bedminster 28 12.88x
Lyncombe Widcombe 28 46.24x
Westwood 26 984.85x
Melksham 25 113.33x
Bristol St Paul In 22 29.30x
Llandaff 20 24.03x
St Mary Magdalene 20 167.22x
West Derby 19 3.81x
Clevedon 18 74.84x
Pilton 18 326.68x
Yeovil 18 38.30x
Bermondsey 17 3.97x
Kensington London 17 2.13x
St Pancras London 17 1.47x
Dunkerton 16 319.36x
Islington London 16 1.15x
Lambeth 16 1.28x
Newington 15 2.83x
Droxford 14 124.56x
Liverpool 14 1.35x
Bath St James 13 53.87x
Oystermouth 13 67.15x
Plympton St Mary 13 75.19x
Paulton 12 113.31x
Portsea 12 2.08x
St Thomas Apostle 11 219.56x
Timsbury 11 156.92x
Wellow 11 161.76x
Bitton 10 40.77x
Collingbourne Ducis 10 471.70x
Northwood 10 23.84x
Westbury 10 33.72x
Limehouse London 9 5.71x
Shepton Mallet 9 34.68x
Westport St Mary 9 97.72x
Bisley 8 31.32x
Burstow 8 134.68x
Christchurch 8 24.90x
Frome 8 14.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 3.47x
Shadwell London 8 19.90x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.77x
St George Hanover Square 8 3.16x
St Sepulchre London 8 38.02x
Welcombe 8 776.70x
Aston 7 0.70x
Bathwick 7 27.34x
Crook Billy Row 7 12.79x
Landkey 7 238.10x
Llangattock 7 29.91x
Malmesbury St Paul 7 64.04x
Sculcoates 7 3.10x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 18.17x
South Crosland 7 46.70x
Stoke Damerel 7 3.34x
Toxteth Park 7 1.21x
West Ham 7 1.12x
Battersea 6 1.13x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 6 23.37x
Brixham 6 17.31x
Bromham 6 104.71x
Camerton 6 89.15x
Farnborough 6 19.40x
Friern Barnet 6 18.96x
Hackney London 6 0.74x
Huntspill 6 63.36x
Kenn 6 128.76x
Lydney 6 41.24x
Mile End Old Town London 6 1.96x
Milton In Gravesend 6 8.16x
Shoreditch London 6 0.96x
Swanscombe 6 27.24x
Totnes 6 34.29x
Wolsingham 6 15.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 98
John 74
James 53
George 52
Charles 41
Henry 34
Alfred 31
Thomas 30
Frederick 25
Edward 21
Albert 19
Samuel 19
Joseph 15
Ernest 10
Richard 10
Robert 10
Arthur 9
Edwin 8
Walter 7
Frank 6
Fred 6
Geo. 5
Harry 5
Wm. 5
Francis 4
Moses 4
Abraham 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Abram 2
Andrew 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Noah 2
Saml. 2
Samuell 2
Simon 2
Stephen 2
Bryan 1
Chas. 1
Emmanuel 1
Enos 1
Frances 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Cottle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cottle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,465 people were recorded with the Cottle surname. That placed it at #2,849 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cottle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,532 in 2016. That gives Cottle a modern rank of #4,041.

What does the Cottle surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of cotehele, a type of woolen blanket or curtain.

What does the Cottle map show?

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