NameCensus.

UK surname

Courtenay

A French surname from the town of Courtenay near Paris, where the first holders lived.

In the 1881 census there were 347 people recorded with the Courtenay surname, ranking it #8,811 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 470, ranked #10,475, down from #8,811 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Padstow and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wirral, Torbay and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Courtenay is 540 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.4%.

1881 census count

347

Ranked #8,811

Modern count

470

2016, ranked #10,475

Peak year

2000

540 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Courtenay had 347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,811 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016, ranked #10,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Courtenay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Courtenay surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Courtenay 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 160 #14,468
1881 historical 347 #8,811
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 461 #8,554
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 515 #9,110
1998 modern 530 #9,179
1999 modern 536 #9,159
2000 modern 540 #9,084
2001 modern 531 #9,039
2002 modern 538 #9,132
2003 modern 533 #9,050
2004 modern 523 #9,214
2005 modern 506 #9,367
2006 modern 495 #9,554
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 502 #9,601
2009 modern 509 #9,712
2010 modern 515 #9,821
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 483 #10,116
2013 modern 473 #10,436
2014 modern 473 #10,509
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 470 #10,475

Geography

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Where Courtenays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Padstow, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wirral, Torbay, Teignbridge, Mid Devon and Three Rivers. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Padstow Cornwall
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wirral 016 Wirral
2 Torbay 013 Torbay
3 Teignbridge 002 Teignbridge
4 Mid Devon 003 Mid Devon
5 Three Rivers 002 Three Rivers

Forenames

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First names often paired with Courtenay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Courtenay

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Courtenay is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Courtenay 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

Courtenay falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Courtenay

The surname Courtenay originated in France and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the town of Courtenay in the Loiret department of north-central France. The name is believed to come from the Latin word "curtis," meaning an enclosed estate or courtyard.

The Courtenay family was one of the most prominent noble families in medieval France and England. They trace their ancestry to Athon, a nobleman who held the castle of Courtenay in the early 11th century. The family's influence grew when they intermarried with the French royal family and gained lands in England after the Norman Conquest.

The name Courtenay appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded land holdings in England after the Norman Conquest. The first recorded spelling of the name was "de Curtenay," used by Reginald de Courtenay, who was granted lands in Devon, England, by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Courtenay was Robert de Courtenay (c. 1130-1194), who became the 6th Earl of Devon in 1172. His descendant, Hugh de Courtenay (1275-1340), was an English nobleman and military commander who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another prominent member of the Courtenay family was William Courtenay (c. 1342-1396), who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1381 until his death. He played a crucial role in the suppression of the Lollard heresy and the deposition of King Richard II.

In the 15th century, Sir Philip Courtenay (c. 1404-1463) was a member of the Lancastrian faction during the Wars of the Roses. He was beheaded in 1463 for his support of the Lancastrian cause.

Edward Courtenay (1526-1556), known as the Earl of Devon, was a prominent figure during the reign of Queen Mary I. He was considered a potential heir to the English throne and was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

The Courtenay name has been associated with various place names, including Courtenay in Oxfordshire, Courtenay in Wiltshire, and Courtenay Park in Newton Abbot, Devon, where the family held extensive lands and estates.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Courtenay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Courtenay 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 72 Courtenays recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.11x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 72 2.11x
Devon 49 6.89x
Lancashire 39 0.96x
Cornwall 33 8.54x
Kent 20 1.72x
Dorset 16 7.14x
Somerset 14 2.55x
Yorkshire 13 0.38x
Surrey 12 0.72x
Hampshire 11 1.57x
Lanarkshire 11 1.00x
Dunbartonshire 7 7.63x
Glamorgan 7 1.18x
Gloucestershire 6 0.90x
Essex 5 0.74x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.27x
Midlothian 4 0.87x
Sussex 4 0.69x
Cheshire 3 0.40x
Durham 3 0.30x
Northumberland 3 0.59x
Orkney 3 7.99x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.97x
Channel Islands 2 1.98x
Worcestershire 2 0.45x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Herefordshire 1 0.71x
Norfolk 1 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.92x
Royal Navy 1 2.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 14 Courtenays recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.15x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 14 11.15x
Liverpool 13 5.28x
Padstow 12 466.93x
St Austell 12 90.84x
Dalton In Furness 9 57.54x
Fulham London 9 18.17x
Hamilton 9 29.22x
Kensington London 9 4.74x
South Molton 9 230.77x
Knowstone 8 1600.00x
Bonhill 7 47.52x
Lewisham 7 11.27x
Yeovil 7 62.67x
Kenton 6 267.86x
Sturminster Marshall 6 638.30x
Bedminster 5 9.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 7.93x
Camberwell 5 2.29x
Crediton 5 74.29x
Forcett With Carkin 5 757.58x
Fremington 5 347.22x
Holbeck 5 22.31x
Newcastle Higher 5 123.76x
Paul 5 71.23x
Toxteth Park 5 3.64x
Winterborne Whitechurch 5 1020.41x
Brighton 4 3.44x
Everton 4 3.10x
Hammersmith London 4 4.76x
Hampstead London 4 7.52x
Islington London 4 1.21x
Lee 4 23.65x
Millbrook 4 22.69x
Powderham 4 1212.12x
St Marylebone London 4 2.19x
Tottenham 4 7.36x
Turriff 4 78.43x
Buckland West 3 697.67x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 24.69x
Chittlehampton 3 171.43x
East Ham 3 23.98x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.63x
Kirkwall St Ola 3 53.29x
Lambeth 3 1.01x
New Brentford 3 166.67x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 20.30x
St Mary Extra 3 53.29x
Stretford 3 13.46x
Bovey Tracey 2 80.32x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.23x
Ealing 2 6.56x
Govan 2 0.73x
Hackney London 2 1.04x
Medomsley 2 42.19x
Nantwich 2 22.83x
Plumstead 2 5.15x
South Stoneham 2 13.18x
St George In East London 2 6.23x
St Pancras London 2 0.73x
Swansea Town 2 4.10x
Truro St Mary 2 61.54x
Tynemouth 2 7.35x
Warrington 2 4.16x
Willesden 2 6.22x
Yardley 2 17.53x
Birkenhead 1 1.66x
Chard 1 15.02x
Fordington 1 20.70x
Kenwyn 1 9.89x
Melcombe Regis 1 10.76x
Okehampton 1 37.31x
Oldham 1 0.76x
Portland 1 8.30x
Portsea 1 0.73x
Sherborne 1 15.15x
St Faith Winchester 1 30.67x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.66x
St Peter Port 1 5.34x
Streatham 1 3.95x
Withington 1 7.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 10
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Sarah 8
Emma 6
Maria 6
Susan 6
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Jane 4
Anna 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Kate 3
Rose 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Blanch 2
Camilla 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Laura 2
Minnie 2
Anne 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Elenor 1
Emeline 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kathleen 1
Lilian 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Melville 1
Mercey 1
Tomesim 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 18
George 16
Thomas 9
Charles 8
James 7
Henry 6
Richard 6
Robert 6
Frank 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Hugh 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Austin 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn.Chs. 1
David 1
Elias 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Jessie 1
Joshua 1
Josp. 1
Leonard 1
Lindo 1
Neville 1
Peter 1
Pharamond 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Jas. 1
Wm.Jno. 1

FAQ

Courtenay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Courtenay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 347 people were recorded with the Courtenay surname. That placed it at #8,811 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Courtenay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 470 in 2016. That gives Courtenay a modern rank of #10,475.

What does the Courtenay surname mean?

A French surname from the town of Courtenay near Paris, where the first holders lived.

What does the Courtenay map show?

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