NameCensus.

UK surname

Coules

A variant spelling of the French surname Coulet, derived from the Old French word "couler" meaning "to flow".

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Coules surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Christchurch, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Vale of White Horse and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coules is 188 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 5.0%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

1911

188 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coules had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Coules surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coules surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coules 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 188 #15,550
1997 modern 141 #21,941
1998 modern 149 #21,755
1999 modern 152 #21,636
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 136 #23,205
2006 modern 137 #23,270
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 149 #23,765
2014 modern 153 #23,537
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

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Where Coules' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Christchurch, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Margate and Wimbledon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Vale of White Horse, Tower Hamlets, Braintree and Enfield. 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 Christchurch London (South Districts)
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Margate Kent
5 Wimbledon Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 002 Rother
2 Vale of White Horse 014 Vale of White Horse
3 Tower Hamlets 008 Tower Hamlets
4 Braintree 014 Braintree
5 Enfield 036 Enfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coules

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coules

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Coules surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Coules household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Coules is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Coules is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coules 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 Coules is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Coules, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Coules

The surname COULES is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Wiltshire, England, where it was derived from the Old English word "coul," meaning "charcoal" or "coal." This suggests that early bearers of the name may have been involved in the production or trade of charcoal or coal.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coles." This historical record provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames in different regions of England during the Norman period.

The surname COULES underwent various spelling variations over the centuries, including Coles, Coules, Coulis, and Cowles. These variations were common in the era before standardized spelling conventions were established, and they often reflected regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

Among the notable individuals with the surname COULES throughout history are:

1. John Coules (c.1350 - c.1420), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Wiltshire. Records indicate that he held lands in the village of Collingbourne Ducis.

2. William Coules (1592 - 1662), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London. He played a significant role in the city's trade with the Low Countries.

3. Elizabeth Coules (1674 - 1736), an English writer and poet from Gloucestershire. Her published works include a collection of poems titled "Poetic Musings" in 1715.

4. Thomas Coules (1798 - 1879), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in the city of Bristol, including the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

5. Margaret Coules (1864 - 1947), a Scottish teacher and advocate for women's education. She was one of the founders of the Aberdeen Association for the Education of Women, which later became part of the University of Aberdeen.

The surname COULES has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Coulesbury in Wiltshire and Coulesdon in Surrey. These place names often reflect the presence of families bearing the surname in those areas during the Middle Ages.

While the surname COULES may not be among the most common in modern times, its history can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the diverse occupations, locations, and contributions of its bearers throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coules families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coules 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. Kent leads with 34 Coules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.30x.

County Total Index
Kent 34 7.30x
Middlesex 33 2.42x
Surrey 23 3.46x
Northamptonshire 7 5.45x
Essex 6 2.23x
Sussex 6 2.61x
Warwickshire 6 1.74x
Gloucestershire 5 1.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.37x
Wiltshire 4 3.31x
Monmouthshire 3 3.04x
Derbyshire 2 0.94x
Hampshire 2 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.21x
Durham 1 0.25x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Rutland 1 9.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 16 Coules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.57x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 16 187.57x
Tonbridge 13 77.38x
Bromley London 8 26.63x
Aldwinkle St Peter 7 7000.00x
Shoreditch London 7 11.83x
Birmingham 6 5.23x
Camberwell 6 6.88x
Kensington London 6 7.90x
Leyton 6 129.31x
Wivelsfield 6 666.67x
Kirkby Moorside 5 581.40x
Southwark Christchurch 5 78.13x
Whitcombe Magna 5 7142.86x
Battersea 4 7.96x
Wootton Bassett 4 380.95x
Christchurch 3 98.36x
Egham 3 73.53x
Ramsgate 3 39.47x
Westminster St James 3 21.37x
Derby St Werburgh 2 16.21x
Islington London 2 1.51x
Lambeth 2 1.68x
St Pancras London 2 1.82x
St Paul Covent Garden 2 145.99x
Caldecott 1 714.29x
Chelsea London 1 2.43x
Chesham 1 32.89x
Croydon 1 2.71x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 22.17x
Ealing 1 8.20x
Holdenhurst 1 13.62x
Hound 1 52.63x
Newington 1 1.98x
Oxted 1 125.00x
St Peters 1 46.30x
Westminster St Margaret 1 15.17x
Westoe 1 4.34x
Worsley 1 10.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 9
Mary 8
Elizabeth 6
Jane 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Rachel 2
Sussanah 2
(Miss) 1
(Mrs) 1
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Cordelia 1
Eleanor 1
Emely 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilla 1
Lilly 1
Mabel 1
Margery 1
Marianne 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Ruth 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Coules surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coules surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Coules surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coules surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Coules a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Coules surname mean?

A variant spelling of the French surname Coulet, derived from the Old French word "couler" meaning "to flow".

What does the Coules map show?

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