NameCensus.

UK surname

Coulston

An English habitational surname derived from a place named Coulston.

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Coulston surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 373, ranked #12,515, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Cliburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craigton, Eden and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coulston is 406 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

373

2016, ranked #12,515

Peak year

2000

406 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coulston had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016, ranked #12,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 382 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Coulston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coulston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coulston 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 266 #8,373
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 289 #11,425
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 374 #9,770
1997 modern 387 #11,275
1998 modern 405 #11,241
1999 modern 396 #11,527
2000 modern 406 #11,271
2001 modern 387 #11,484
2002 modern 390 #11,646
2003 modern 386 #11,544
2004 modern 378 #11,757
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 361 #12,178
2007 modern 357 #12,413
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 359 #12,714
2010 modern 374 #12,597
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 372 #12,374
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 374 #12,598
2015 modern 374 #12,495
2016 modern 373 #12,515

Geography

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Where Coulstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Cliburn and Orston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craigton, Eden, Cornwall, Ribble Valley and South Lakeland. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cliburn Westmorland
5 Orston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craigton Glasgow City
2 Eden 005 Eden
3 Cornwall 059 Cornwall
4 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
5 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coulston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coulston

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Coulston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Coulston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Coulston 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

Coulston 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

Coulston falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Coulston

The surname Coulston has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "col" meaning coal and "tun" meaning town or settlement. This suggests that the name was likely associated with a place where coal mining or trade took place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Coulston appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where a William de Coleston is mentioned. This document was a survey of landowners in England, indicating that the name was already established by that time.

In the 14th century, the Coulston name appeared in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, where a John de Colston is listed. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, suggesting that the Coulstons may have held some level of prominence or wealth.

The surname Coulston is also found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, which recorded the names of individuals subject to taxation. This provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the region during that period.

One notable bearer of the Coulston name was Sir John Coulston, a merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1453. He was involved in trade with the Hanseatic League and played a role in the establishment of the Mercers' Company.

Another notable figure was Thomas Coulston (1567-1624), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of York and was involved in the translation of the King James Bible.

In the 17th century, the Coulston surname appeared in various parish records and court documents across England, indicating its widespread use throughout the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Coulston name in America dates back to the late 17th century, with the arrival of William Coulston in New Jersey in 1677. This suggests that some members of the Coulston family may have been among the early English settlers in the American colonies.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the surname have emerged, including Colston, Coulson, and Coleson, reflecting the fluid nature of English orthography in earlier times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coulston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coulston 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. Lancashire leads with 63 Coulstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 63 1.77x
Middlesex 35 1.17x
Yorkshire 35 1.18x
Westmorland 27 41.02x
Durham 23 2.58x
Gloucestershire 22 3.75x
Nottinghamshire 16 3.96x
Lincolnshire 11 2.30x
Cumberland 10 3.88x
Ayrshire 8 3.57x
Leicestershire 7 2.11x
Glamorgan 6 1.15x
Northamptonshire 6 2.13x
Bedfordshire 5 3.22x
Herefordshire 4 3.26x
Sussex 4 0.79x
Cornwall 3 0.88x
Hampshire 3 0.49x
Surrey 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.40x
Derbyshire 2 0.43x
Dorset 2 1.02x
Northumberland 2 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.16x
East Lothian 1 2.52x
Kent 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.46x
Somerset 1 0.21x
Worcestershire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowther in Westmorland leads with 19 Coulstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3958.33x.

Place Total Index
Lowther 19 3958.33x
Cheltenham 15 33.11x
Brandon Byshottles 14 125.45x
Walton Le Dale 13 136.13x
Orston 10 2000.00x
Cleator 9 83.88x
Halifax 9 20.66x
Hammersmith London 8 10.84x
Maybole 8 117.30x
Ecclesfield 7 32.17x
Layton With Warbreck 7 53.68x
Tankersley 7 316.74x
Cardiff St John 6 35.23x
Crook Billy Row 6 52.59x
Preston 6 6.31x
Thurning 6 3157.89x
Bedford St Paul 5 46.99x
Cliburn 5 1724.14x
Gloucester St John Baptist 5 131.93x
Lancaster 5 23.65x
Burnley 4 13.36x
Eastbourne 4 17.22x
Hackney London 4 2.38x
Heckington 4 219.78x
Liverpool 4 1.85x
Manningham 4 10.94x
Melton Mowbray 4 67.00x
St Marylebone London 4 2.50x
Withnell 4 183.49x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 3.86x
Askham 3 566.04x
Bitchfield 3 1764.71x
Bradford 3 4.18x
Brightside Bierlow 3 5.15x
Litherland 3 40.38x
New Sealford 3 303.03x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.87x
Shadwell London 3 35.80x
Tottenham 3 6.29x
Wendron 3 63.69x
Westminster St John 3 8.23x
Bermondsey 2 2.24x
Brampton 2 30.53x
Broughton In Salford 2 6.16x
Dalby Great 2 425.53x
Great Bolton 2 4.25x
Greatham 2 263.16x
Hartpury 2 243.90x
Islington London 2 0.69x
Ledbury 2 47.39x
Mile End Old Town London 2 3.14x
Oldham 2 1.74x
Ross 2 40.98x
Ryde 2 15.16x
Salford 2 1.91x
St George Hanover Square 2 3.79x
Wray With Botton 2 312.50x
Allington 1 294.12x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 12.99x
Birmingham 1 0.40x
Blandford Forum 1 25.77x
Burton Leonard 1 227.27x
Darenth 1 63.69x
Dunbar 1 17.99x
Esh 1 15.43x
Greasley 1 10.98x
Heaton 1 67.57x
Heaton Norris 1 4.94x
Hunslet 1 2.16x
Leamington Priors 1 5.38x
Little Bolton 1 2.19x
Old Artillery Ground 1 38.76x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.64x
Portsea 1 0.83x
Richmond 1 4.89x
Spitalfields London 1 4.44x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.82x
Taunton St Mary 1 11.30x
Trevethin 1 4.89x
Whatton 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 21
Thomas 13
George 9
James 7
Joseph 7
Charles 5
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Chas. 3
Jonathan 3
Walter 3
Frederick 2
Richard 2
Walton 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Benjamine 1
Cristopher 1
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Edwd 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Gabriel 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Wilmot 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Coulston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coulston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Coulston surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coulston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016. That gives Coulston a modern rank of #12,515.

What does the Coulston surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place named Coulston.

What does the Coulston map show?

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