NameCensus.

UK surname

Coulon

A surname derived from the French word "coulomb", meaning a dovecote or pigeon house.

In the 1881 census there were 63 people recorded with the Coulon surname, ranking it #24,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #24,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Westminster and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coulon is 140 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.5%.

1881 census count

63

Ranked #24,711

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1891

140 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coulon had 63 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Coulon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coulon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coulon 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 95 #21,768
1881 historical 63 #24,711
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 136 #19,110
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 73 #30,306
1998 modern 83 #29,638
1999 modern 83 #29,823
2000 modern 91 #28,952
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 80 #30,679
2005 modern 85 #30,219
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 95 #31,000
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 102 #30,415
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Coulons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth, Manchester, Batley and Dalton-le-Dale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, Westminster, Haringey, Wycombe and Wandsworth. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Whitworth Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Dalton-le-Dale Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 005 South Oxfordshire
2 Westminster 009 Westminster
3 Haringey 001 Haringey
4 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
5 Wandsworth 018 Wandsworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coulon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coulon

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Coulon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Coulon 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Coulon is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Coulon 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

Coulon 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 Coulon 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Coulon

The surname COULON originated in France and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "coulon," which means "pigeon" or "dove." This surname was likely originally a nickname or a descriptive name for someone who had a particular interest in or affinity for pigeons or doves.

The earliest known records of the COULON surname can be found in various regions of France, particularly in the central and eastern parts of the country. One of the earliest known bearers of this name was Jean Coulon, a nobleman from the Île-de-France region who lived in the 13th century.

During the Middle Ages, the COULON surname was also associated with several places in France, such as Coulon, a commune in the Deux-Sèvres department in western France, and Coulonges, a commune in the Vienne department in central France. These place names likely derived from the same Old French word as the surname and may have contributed to its spread across different regions.

In the 14th century, the COULON surname appeared in various historical records, including tax rolls and land deeds. One notable figure from this time was Pierre Coulon, a merchant from Burgundy who was involved in trade with the Low Countries.

Throughout the centuries, the COULON surname has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 16th century, there was Jean Coulon (c. 1515–1581), a French Protestant theologian and reformer. In the 18th century, Louis Coulon (1718–1803) was a French lawyer and legal scholar who served as a judge in Paris.

During the 19th century, the COULON surname gained prominence in the fields of art and literature. Amable-Paul Coulon (1792–1860) was a French painter known for his landscapes and historical scenes. Auguste Coulon (1858–1945) was a French writer and journalist who published several novels and short stories.

Another notable figure was Georges Coulon (1904–1982), a French anthropologist and ethnologist who conducted extensive research on indigenous cultures in Africa and Asia. He made significant contributions to the study of social anthropology and published numerous works on the subject.

While the COULON surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including Canada, where a significant number of people with this surname can be found due to French immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coulon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coulon 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Coulons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 3.30x
Durham 8 4.67x
Kent 5 2.55x
Northumberland 4 4.67x
Surrey 4 1.43x
Lancashire 3 0.44x
Midlothian 3 3.89x
Warwickshire 3 2.07x
Yorkshire 3 0.53x
Flintshire 2 12.93x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.58x
Cheshire 1 0.79x
Perthshire 1 3.87x
Staffordshire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 7 Coulons recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.55x.

Place Total Index
Clerkenwell London 7 51.55x
Chatham 5 92.59x
Darlington 5 75.64x
Chelsea London 4 23.07x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 78.28x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 34.54x
Aston 3 7.51x
Chopwell 3 937.50x
St Marylebone London 3 9.76x
Crichton 2 952.38x
Everton 2 9.19x
Flint 2 227.27x
Nottingham St Mary 2 9.97x
St George Martyr London 2 170.94x
Bradford 1 7.24x
Burnley 1 17.39x
Chiswick 1 31.85x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 3.22x
Huddersfield 1 12.03x
Leeds 1 3.11x
Perth West Church 1 81.30x
Runcorn 1 34.13x
St George Bloomsbury 1 30.30x
Westminster St Margaret 1 35.97x
Wolverhampton 1 6.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Kate 2
Margaret 2
A. 1
Anna 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Elizth. 1
Eugenie 1
Jane 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 3
Eugene 2
H. 2
Patrick 2
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Dominick 1
J. 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Thomas 1
V. 1

FAQ

Coulon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coulon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 63 people were recorded with the Coulon surname. That placed it at #24,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coulon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Coulon a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Coulon surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "coulomb", meaning a dovecote or pigeon house.

What does the Coulon map show?

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