NameCensus.

UK surname

Cotton

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with, processed, or sold cotton.

In the 1881 census there were 7,145 people recorded with the Cotton surname, ranking it #593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,823, ranked #741, down from #593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wolstanton and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cotton is 9,533 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.5%.

1881 census count

7,145

Ranked #593

Modern count

8,823

2016, ranked #741

Peak year

1999

9,533 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cotton had 7,145 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,823 in 2016, ranked #741.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,251 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cotton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cotton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cotton 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 4,842 #573
1861 historical 5,040 #561
1881 historical 7,145 #593
1891 historical 7,321 #611
1901 historical 8,622 #613
1911 historical 9,251 #527
1997 modern 8,772 #719
1998 modern 9,499 #689
1999 modern 9,533 #691
2000 modern 9,390 #697
2001 modern 9,147 #701
2002 modern 9,358 #700
2003 modern 9,076 #707
2004 modern 9,102 #705
2005 modern 8,926 #708
2006 modern 8,893 #713
2007 modern 8,878 #720
2008 modern 8,930 #721
2009 modern 9,103 #723
2010 modern 9,228 #732
2011 modern 9,049 #735
2012 modern 8,854 #738
2013 modern 8,963 #739
2014 modern 8,989 #740
2015 modern 8,881 #740
2016 modern 8,823 #741

Geography

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Where Cottons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wolstanton, St Werburgh and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight
2 Stoke-on-Trent 018 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 019 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Stoke-on-Trent 023 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cotton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cotton

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

Cotton 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

Cotton falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cotton

The surname Cotton originates from England and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cotun," which means "cottager" or "cottage dweller." This name was given to people who lived in small, humble dwellings or cottages.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Cotton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cotun" and "Cotune." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings in England and provides valuable insights into the names and occupations of people during that time.

In the 13th century, the surname Cotton began to appear in various records across different regions of England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Cheshire, and Staffordshire. These regions were known for their thriving textile industries, which may have contributed to the prevalence of the name in those areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cotton was Sir John Cotton (c. 1275-1349), a wealthy English landowner and knight from Cambridgeshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in the Hundred Years' War against France.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Bruce Cotton (1571-1631), an English antiquarian and collector of manuscripts. His extensive collection, known as the Cotton Library, is now part of the British Library and includes valuable historical documents such as the Lindisfarne Gospels and the Beowulf manuscript.

In the 17th century, the Cotton family played a significant role in the English Civil War. Sir Thomas Cotton (1594-1662) was a Royalist soldier who fought for King Charles I, while his son, Sir John Cotton (1621-1701), was a Member of Parliament and supporter of the parliamentary cause.

Another notable figure was Nathaniel Cotton (1707-1788), an English clergyman and writer who authored several works on religious subjects and is known for his book "Visions in Verse."

Throughout history, the surname Cotton has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, textile workers, and landowners. It has also been linked to various place names, such as Cotton End in Bedfordshire, Cotton in Staffordshire, and Cotton Edmunds in Cheshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cotton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cotton 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,014 Cottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.31x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,014 4.31x
Middlesex 815 1.17x
Lancashire 713 0.86x
Yorkshire 612 0.89x
Hampshire 455 3.18x
Warwickshire 449 2.55x
Derbyshire 306 2.80x
Surrey 290 0.85x
Suffolk 216 2.54x
Leicestershire 192 2.48x
Worcestershire 181 1.99x
Cheshire 171 1.11x
Shropshire 156 2.59x
Cornwall 138 1.75x
Devon 136 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 127 1.35x
Gloucestershire 125 0.91x
Kent 112 0.47x
Essex 107 0.78x
Lincolnshire 104 0.93x
Norfolk 86 0.80x
Bedfordshire 73 2.02x
Sussex 66 0.56x
Hertfordshire 55 1.14x
Northamptonshire 53 0.81x
Durham 42 0.20x
Herefordshire 30 1.05x
Somerset 25 0.22x
Wiltshire 23 0.37x
Midlothian 22 0.24x
Berkshire 21 0.40x
Dorset 21 0.46x
Lanarkshire 21 0.09x
Oxfordshire 21 0.49x
Denbighshire 20 0.76x
Northumberland 20 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 19 1.37x
Glamorgan 18 0.15x
Monmouthshire 15 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.33x
Pembrokeshire 12 0.54x
Channel Islands 10 0.48x
Merionethshire 9 0.71x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.11x
Fife 6 0.15x
Royal Navy 6 0.72x
Cumberland 4 0.07x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.05x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.11x
Flintshire 2 0.11x
Perthshire 2 0.06x
Angus 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.02x
Westmorland 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. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 218 Cottons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.73x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 218 8.73x
Birmingham 124 2.12x
Portsea 89 3.18x
Burton Upon Trent 81 14.71x
Wolstanton 79 11.05x
Aston 75 1.55x
St Pancras London 71 1.26x
Nottingham St Mary 60 2.47x
Paul 60 41.83x
Islington London 57 0.84x
Kensington London 57 1.47x
Sheepshed 56 52.85x
Lambeth 52 0.86x
Ryde 51 16.61x
St Marylebone London 51 1.37x
Bethnal Green London 49 1.62x
Salford 49 2.01x
Wellington 49 14.47x
Camberwell 48 1.08x
Stone 46 15.28x
Chelsea London 44 2.09x
Hammersmith London 43 2.50x
Trentham 42 20.98x
Warrington 42 4.28x
Litchurch 41 9.33x
West Ham 40 1.32x
St George Hanover Square 37 3.01x
Derby St Werburgh 36 5.71x
Shoreditch London 36 1.19x
Walsall Foreign 35 2.88x
Foleshill 34 18.38x
Gorton 34 4.37x
Huddersfield 34 3.38x
Bermondsey 33 1.59x
Blackburn 33 1.50x
Little Hulton 33 24.08x
Burslem 31 4.60x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 31 17.78x
Derby St Peter 30 8.63x
Kingswinford 30 3.51x
Holy Trinity 29 1.74x
Newcastle Under Lyme 29 6.96x
Darlaston 28 8.61x
Freshwater 28 42.87x
Leicester St Margaret 28 1.49x
Manchester 28 0.75x
Niton 28 146.44x
Bromley London 27 1.76x
Dawlish 27 24.94x
Grundisburgh 26 132.32x
Hitchin 26 11.98x
Pendleton In Salford 26 2.64x
Shifnal 26 15.90x
Southampton St Mary 26 2.89x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 25 1.94x
Bromsgrove 25 8.16x
Dudley 25 2.26x
Hunslet 25 2.32x
Newington 25 0.97x
Shorwell 25 170.53x
Wadsworth 25 22.23x
Battersea 24 0.94x
Hulme 24 1.39x
Coventry St Michael 23 4.07x
Hackney London 23 0.59x
Marsden In Almondbury 23 36.58x
West Derby 23 0.95x
Betchton 22 111.45x
Brighton 22 0.93x
Turvey 22 96.41x
Wombridge 22 29.58x
Clerkenwell London 21 1.28x
Everton 21 0.80x
Liverpool 21 0.42x
Sheffield 21 0.95x
Barking 20 4.97x
Burton Extra 20 14.82x
Carisbrooke 20 10.08x
Hampstead London 20 1.84x
Hillingdon 20 9.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 442
Elizabeth 300
Sarah 243
Ann 140
Emma 137
Eliza 134
Jane 130
Alice 102
Ellen 102
Annie 101
Emily 83
Hannah 81
Martha 72
Maria 58
Harriet 55
Louisa 54
Charlotte 50
Margaret 47
Clara 44
Fanny 43
Florence 43
Caroline 42
Edith 42
Ada 36
Lucy 33
Frances 32
Catherine 31
Susan 31
Harriett 24
Rose 24
Kate 23
Amelia 21
Anne 20
Agnes 19
Minnie 19
Esther 18
Sophia 18
Lizzie 16
Rebecca 16
Matilda 15
Selina 15
Gertrude 14
Isabella 12
Lydia 12
Susannah 12
Ethel 11
Rachel 10
Laura 9
Lilly 9
Nellie 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 408
John 388
George 236
Thomas 223
Charles 183
James 171
Henry 164
Joseph 122
Robert 93
Samuel 93
Alfred 90
Arthur 89
Edward 87
Albert 64
Frederick 62
Richard 59
Walter 51
Frank 43
Harry 41
Edwin 31
Benjamin 28
Daniel 28
Herbert 27
Ernest 26
Francis 20
Isaac 16
David 14
Andrew 13
Thos. 13
Wm. 13
Enoch 12
Fred 12
Fredrick 10
Geo. 10
Percy 10
Christopher 9
Ralph 9
Reuben 9
Stephen 9
Chas. 8
Elijah 8
Harold 8
Hugh 8
Tom 8
Michael 7
Moses 7
Philip 7
Willm. 7
Fredk. 6
Sidney 6

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cotton households.

FAQ

Cotton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cotton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,145 people were recorded with the Cotton surname. That placed it at #593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cotton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,823 in 2016. That gives Cotton a modern rank of #741.

What does the Cotton surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked with, processed, or sold cotton.

What does the Cotton map show?

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