NameCensus.

UK surname

Courage

A surname derived from the French word meaning "bravery" or "valor".

In the 1881 census there were 224 people recorded with the Courage surname, ranking it #11,970 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 307, ranked #14,508, down from #11,970 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Charlton Marshall, Phillack and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, Poole and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Courage is 327 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.1%.

1881 census count

224

Ranked #11,970

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

2010

327 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Courage had 224 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,970 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Courage surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Courage surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Courage 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 224 #11,970
1891 historical 255 #12,552
1901 historical 306 #11,494
1911 historical 278 #12,038
1997 modern 300 #13,530
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 311 #13,423
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 320 #13,239
2004 modern 321 #13,284
2005 modern 322 #13,175
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 303 #14,038
2009 modern 312 #14,040
2010 modern 327 #13,889
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 300 #14,505
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 311 #14,464
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Courages are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Charlton Marshall, Phillack, Gateshead, Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford and Constantine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, Poole, Northumberland, Mendip and Isle of Wight. 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 Charlton Marshall Dorset
2 Phillack Cornwall
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Shillingstone or Shilling Okeford Dorset
5 Constantine Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
2 Poole 008 Poole
3 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
4 Mendip 001 Mendip
5 Isle of Wight 017 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Courage

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Courage

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

Courage is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Courage 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 Courage 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 Courage, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Courage

The surname Courage is believed to have originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "corage," which means "heart" or "inner strength." The name likely referred to someone who displayed bravery or resilience in the face of adversity.

In the early 13th century, the name Courage appeared in records from the Normandy region of France. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Wandrille, a collection of charters and legal documents from a Benedictine monastery in Normandy, dating back to the year 1218.

The name Courage also has a connection to the English town of Corbridge, located in Northumberland. The town's name is derived from the Old English words "cor" and "brycg," meaning "bridge over the Cor River." It is possible that the Courage surname may have originated as a reference to someone who hailed from Corbridge or a similar place name.

One notable figure in history with the surname Courage was Sir John Courage (1553-1610), an English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1609. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and played a significant role in the trade and commerce of the city.

Another historical figure was André Courage (1675-1737), a French playwright and poet who was born in Paris. He is best known for his tragedies and comedies, which were performed at the Comédie-Française and other theaters in Paris.

In the 19th century, there was a prominent English brewer named John Courage (1790-1855) who founded the Courage Brewery in London. The brewery became one of the largest and most successful in the city, and the Courage name was closely associated with the brewing industry for many years.

Another notable individual was Marie Courage (1891-1976), a French resistance fighter during World War II. She played a crucial role in the French Resistance movement and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Légion d'Honneur for her bravery and service.

Lastly, one cannot forget the American author and journalist James Fenimore Courage (1789-1851), best known for his historical novels set in the frontier period of American history, such as "The Last of the Mohicans" and "The Deerslayer."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Courage families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Courage 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. Dorset leads with 54 Courages recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.66x.

County Total Index
Dorset 54 37.66x
Cornwall 48 19.40x
Aberdeenshire 32 15.81x
Surrey 28 2.63x
Hampshire 17 3.80x
Essex 10 2.32x
Durham 9 1.38x
Sussex 8 2.17x
Lanarkshire 7 0.99x
Middlesex 5 0.23x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.51x
Gloucestershire 1 0.23x
Kent 1 0.13x
Kincardineshire 1 3.76x
Royal Navy 1 3.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Constantine in Cornwall leads with 31 Courages recorded in 1881 and an index of 2152.78x.

Place Total Index
Constantine 31 2152.78x
Shilling Okeford 29 6904.76x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 19 50.18x
Shenfield 10 892.86x
Gateshead 9 18.49x
Leatherhead 9 337.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 18.93x
Chickerell 8 1311.48x
Croydon 8 13.54x
Phillack 8 250.78x
Yetminster 8 1509.43x
Cadder 7 134.10x
Christchurch 7 72.09x
Holdenhurst 6 51.06x
Mabe 5 980.39x
Portsea 4 4.56x
Reigate Foreign 4 34.69x
Charlton Marshall 3 612.24x
Falmouth 3 34.25x
Horsham 3 41.90x
Kensington London 3 2.47x
Windlesham 3 150.00x
Blandford St Mary 2 740.74x
Brighton 2 2.69x
Chelsea London 2 3.04x
Eton 2 66.89x
Hambledon 2 176.99x
Inverurie 2 87.34x
Lambeth 2 1.05x
Newhills 2 48.31x
Poole St James 2 37.11x
Alfriston 1 227.27x
Banchory Ternan 1 43.48x
Bristol St John Baptist 1 250.00x
Frant 1 38.31x
Insch 1 86.96x
Kea 1 54.35x
Langton Long Blandford 1 476.19x
Lavant Mid 1 333.33x
Lewisham 1 2.52x
Royal Navy 1 4.49x
Stourpaine 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 9
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Helen 4
Anne 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Grace 2
Lavinia 2
Louisa 2
M. 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Ailean 1
Alberta 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Cecily 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth.L. 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Evelyne 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Josephine 1
Lovday 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Merab 1
Muriel 1
R. 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1
Tamsen 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Courage surname: questions and answers

How common was the Courage surname in 1881?

In 1881, 224 people were recorded with the Courage surname. That placed it at #11,970 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Courage surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Courage a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Courage surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word meaning "bravery" or "valor".

What does the Courage map show?

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