NameCensus.

UK surname

Couling

A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "coulant" meaning "flowing" or "gliding".

In the 1881 census there were 341 people recorded with the Couling surname, ranking it #8,918 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 563, ranked #9,114, down from #8,918 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Billinghay, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, Plymouth and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Couling is 590 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.1%.

1881 census count

341

Ranked #8,918

Modern count

563

2016, ranked #9,114

Peak year

1998

590 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Couling had 341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,918 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016, ranked #9,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 520 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Couling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Couling surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Couling 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 240 #9,068
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 341 #8,918
1891 historical 436 #8,262
1901 historical 475 #8,373
1911 historical 520 #7,607
1997 modern 538 #8,815
1998 modern 590 #8,492
1999 modern 590 #8,540
2000 modern 560 #8,819
2001 modern 543 #8,892
2002 modern 556 #8,909
2003 modern 559 #8,725
2004 modern 553 #8,823
2005 modern 558 #8,701
2006 modern 547 #8,855
2007 modern 539 #9,025
2008 modern 560 #8,835
2009 modern 581 #8,793
2010 modern 573 #9,073
2011 modern 572 #8,992
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 578 #8,981
2014 modern 576 #9,058
2015 modern 566 #9,096
2016 modern 563 #9,114

Geography

Back to top

Where Coulings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Billinghay, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Kempsford and Charlbury, Cornbury Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, Plymouth, Teignbridge and Ceredigion. 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 Billinghay Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Kempsford Gloucestershire
5 Charlbury, Cornbury Park Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 007 North Kesteven
2 Plymouth 021 Plymouth
3 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
4 Teignbridge 006 Teignbridge
5 Ceredigion 001 Ceredigion

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Couling

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Couling

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

Couling is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Couling falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Couling

The surname Couling is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name from various places in England bearing similar names, such as Cooling in Kent, Cowling in Yorkshire, or Cowling in Lancashire.

One theory suggests that the name Couling derives from the Old English words "cu" meaning cow and "ling" meaning meadow or pasture. This indicates that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a cow pasture or a meadow used for grazing cattle.

Another possible origin lies in the Old English word "culing," which means a descendant or a young person. In this case, the name may have been used as a nickname for a young man or a son.

The earliest recorded instances of the Couling surname date back to the 13th century. One notable reference is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1292, which mentions a John de Couling.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where a William Couling is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279 include a reference to a John Cullyng.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Couling surname. One such person was John Couling (c. 1494-1568), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Oxford during the 16th century.

Another prominent figure was Richard Couling (1621-1687), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of Magdalen Hall, Oxford.

In the 18th century, James Couling (1739-1825) was a notable architect and surveyor who worked on various projects in London and Kent.

The 19th century saw the birth of William Couling (1835-1908), a British trade unionist and socialist activist who played a significant role in the labor movement.

More recently, Edith Couling (1888-1964) was a British artist and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings and illustrations in children's books.

While the Couling surname may have originated from specific locations or nicknames, it has since spread across different regions and has been associated with diverse individuals throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Couling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Couling 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. Oxfordshire leads with 82 Coulings recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.92x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 82 39.92x
Lincolnshire 48 9.03x
Middlesex 44 1.32x
Gloucestershire 35 5.37x
Berkshire 29 11.61x
Surrey 29 1.79x
Wiltshire 15 5.10x
Essex 10 1.52x
Cornwall 9 2.39x
Kent 9 0.79x
Yorkshire 9 0.27x
Lancashire 7 0.18x
Warwickshire 7 0.83x
Hertfordshire 2 0.87x
Somerset 2 0.37x
Sussex 2 0.36x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x
Suffolk 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kempsford in Gloucestershire leads with 30 Coulings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3157.89x.

Place Total Index
Kempsford 30 3157.89x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 22 901.64x
Inkpen 21 2658.23x
Ewerby 18 3529.41x
Clerkenwell London 11 14.01x
Islington London 10 3.10x
Long Ditton 10 377.36x
St Germans 9 342.21x
Caterham 8 111.73x
Norwood 8 105.12x
Ruskington 8 588.24x
Aston 7 3.03x
Oxford St Clement 7 135.14x
Oxford St Peter In East 7 886.08x
Walthamstow 7 29.62x
Wroughton 7 274.51x
Bethnal Green London 6 4.15x
Heckington 6 297.03x
Swindon 6 26.29x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 15.95x
Finstock Fawler 5 735.29x
Iffley 5 289.02x
Kensington London 5 2.70x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 82.64x
Womersley 5 1136.36x
Chevening 4 322.58x
Churchill 4 701.75x
Lambeth 4 1.38x
Oxford St Aldate 4 185.19x
Oxford St Giles 4 40.82x
Pangbourn 4 476.19x
Scarborough 4 13.36x
South Rauceby 4 909.09x
Brant Broughton 3 389.61x
Bromley 3 17.34x
Cirencester 3 33.98x
Cornbury Park 3 6000.00x
Fulbrook 3 750.00x
Newington 3 2.44x
Oxford St Thomas 3 31.28x
Brighton 2 1.77x
Cowley 2 31.20x
Croydon 2 2.22x
Fillingham 2 571.43x
Great Grimsby 2 5.92x
Greenwich 2 3.78x
Gt Milton 2 289.86x
Kings Langley 2 119.76x
North Rauceby 2 645.16x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 2 196.08x
Reading St Mary 2 10.00x
West Ham 2 1.38x
Westminster St James 2 5.85x
Barking 1 5.21x
Brauncewell 1 500.00x
Bristol St Paul In 1 5.75x
Brompton Regis 1 172.41x
Burford 1 56.18x
Castle Eaton 1 270.27x
Clare 1 51.55x
Clevedon 1 17.95x
Dorking 1 9.19x
Holbeach 1 16.89x
Huyton With Roby 1 21.65x
Kintbury 1 51.81x
Lechlade 1 74.63x
Lt Tew 1 312.50x
Milford 1 63.29x
New Sleaford 1 29.33x
Oldham 1 0.79x
Sarsden 1 555.56x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.49x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.71x
St Marylebone London 1 0.56x
Walsall Foreign 1 1.72x
Wantage 1 25.13x
Witney 1 29.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 10
Annie 8
Emily 8
Alice 7
Ann 6
Caroline 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Fanny 6
Martha 6
Ada 5
Hannah 5
Florence 3
Frances 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Deborah 2
Edith 2
Ida 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Clara 1
Elizbt. 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Frence 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Jane 1
Jessy 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Marcy 1
Marian 1
Marianne 1
N.C. 1
Nelley 1
Phebe 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 14
James 12
George 10
Thomas 10
Charles 8
Henry 8
Samuel 7
Robert 6
Alfred 5
David 4
Frederick 4
Isaac 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Leonard 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Carr 1
Charle 1
Chas. 1
Elger 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Lot 1
Martin 1
Michal 1
Montague 1
P.E.G.W. 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Price 1
Robt. 1
Ted 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wilton 1
Wullen 1

FAQ

Couling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Couling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 341 people were recorded with the Couling surname. That placed it at #8,918 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Couling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 563 in 2016. That gives Couling a modern rank of #9,114.

What does the Couling surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Old French word "coulant" meaning "flowing" or "gliding".

What does the Couling map show?

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