NameCensus.

UK surname

Courts

A English surname derived from a location or residence near a manor or other important house.

In the 1881 census there were 293 people recorded with the Courts surname, ranking it #9,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 401, ranked #11,857, down from #9,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bedworth, London parishes and Fleet. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lochgelly East, Cornwall and Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Courts is 430 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.9%.

1881 census count

293

Ranked #9,884

Modern count

401

2016, ranked #11,857

Peak year

2002

430 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Courts had 293 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016, ranked #11,857.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 390 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Courts surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Courts surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Courts 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 244 #8,950
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 293 #9,884
1891 historical 306 #10,945
1901 historical 370 #10,017
1911 historical 390 #9,455
1997 modern 398 #11,051
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 426 #10,938
2000 modern 425 #10,898
2001 modern 419 #10,835
2002 modern 430 #10,840
2003 modern 412 #11,026
2004 modern 411 #11,053
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 400 #11,257
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 399 #11,494
2009 modern 406 #11,586
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 404 #11,786
2012 modern 391 #11,923
2013 modern 397 #11,988
2014 modern 406 #11,865
2015 modern 407 #11,760
2016 modern 401 #11,857

Geography

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Where Courts' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bedworth, London parishes, Fleet, Foleshill and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lochgelly East, Cornwall, Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans, Torfaen and Barnet. 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 Bedworth Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fleet Lincolnshire
4 Foleshill Warwickshire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lochgelly East Fife
2 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
3 Lochgelly West and Lumphinnans Fife
4 Torfaen 002 Torfaen
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Courts

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Courts

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Courts is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Courts is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Courts

The surname Courts is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from various places called Court, such as those in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire. The name itself is derived from the Old English word "cort," meaning an enclosed yard or courtyard.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Courts is found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1273, where it appears as "de la Courte." This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive term to indicate someone who lived near or worked in a courtyard or manor house.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with the name "Court," such as Court Farm in Somerset and Court Green in Middlesex. These early records provide evidence of the name's longstanding presence in various parts of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Courts include Richard Courts (c. 1575-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Elgin in Scotland. Another notable figure is William Courts (1654-1722), a prominent English architect who worked on several significant buildings, including the Royal Hospital Chelsea and Marlborough House in London.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Courts residing in Gloucestershire. One member, John Courts (1516-1584), was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area, known for his involvement in local affairs and charitable endeavors.

Another individual of note is Sir William Courts (1835-1912), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the railway system in India during the late 19th century. He was knighted for his contributions to the country's infrastructure.

The surname Courts has also been found in historical records from other parts of the world, such as the United States and Australia, likely due to emigration from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it was initially used as a locational name associated with courtyards and manors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Courts families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Courts 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. Warwickshire leads with 93 Courts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.64x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 93 12.64x
Cornwall 49 14.84x
Middlesex 29 0.99x
Lincolnshire 25 5.36x
Kent 20 2.01x
Glamorgan 15 2.95x
Leicestershire 13 4.02x
Surrey 13 0.91x
Essex 7 1.22x
Fife 5 2.90x
Worcestershire 5 1.31x
Channel Islands 4 4.63x
Lanarkshire 4 0.42x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Staffordshire 3 0.30x
Somerset 2 0.43x
Berkshire 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 2.88x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Foleshill in Warwickshire leads with 31 Courts' recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.52x.

Place Total Index
Foleshill 31 400.52x
Birmingham 17 6.93x
Coventry Holy Trinity 13 59.20x
Leicester St Margaret 11 13.95x
Bermondsey 10 11.52x
Fleet 10 751.88x
Coventry St Michael 9 38.09x
Mile End Old Town London 9 14.50x
St Neot 9 692.31x
Edgbaston 8 35.07x
Lewisham 8 15.07x
Orpington 8 262.30x
Philleigh 8 2962.96x
East Ferry 7 5000.00x
West Ham 7 5.51x
Radyr 6 1153.85x
Cardinham 5 1666.67x
Corley 5 1666.67x
Cupar 5 66.58x
Eglwysilan 5 56.75x
St Pancras London 5 2.13x
Warwick St Mary 5 78.25x
Worcester St Peter 5 69.35x
Crowland 4 136.52x
Glasgow 4 2.39x
Holbeach 4 77.07x
Limehouse London 4 12.49x
Liskeard 4 72.33x
Llandaff 4 23.67x
St Breward 4 547.95x
St Peter Port 4 25.02x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 52.36x
Battersea 3 2.80x
Bodmin 3 54.95x
Spitalfields London 3 13.67x
Truro St Mary 3 108.30x
Aston 2 0.99x
Broadoak 2 689.66x
Fillongley 2 190.48x
Harborne 2 6.34x
Mawgan In Pyder 2 281.69x
Norwood 2 29.99x
St Giles In Fields London 2 13.98x
Wembdon 2 143.88x
Blisland 1 178.57x
Brenchley 1 28.09x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 5.24x
Cardynham 1 357.14x
Ealing 1 3.84x
East Malling 1 42.02x
Eastbourne 1 4.42x
Heaton Norris 1 5.08x
Hugglescote 1 21.01x
Kensington London 1 0.62x
Lanteglos 1 65.36x
Lanteglos By Fowey 1 74.63x
Little Claybrooke 1 169.49x
Liverpool 1 0.48x
Merther 1 400.00x
Milton In Milton 1 23.64x
Monks Coppenhall 1 4.12x
Plumstead 1 3.01x
Remenham 1 161.29x
Royal Navy 1 3.37x
St Austell 1 8.86x
St Clement 1 28.99x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.95x
St Kew 1 90.91x
Stoneleigh 1 81.97x
Towerof London London 1 107.53x
Toxteth Park 1 0.85x
Walsall Foreign 1 1.97x
Warleggan 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 14
Thomas 14
James 9
Alfred 6
George 6
Henry 5
Wm. 5
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Amos 2
Edgar 2
Frederick 2
Jacob 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Abr. 1
Adolphus 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
E.J.S. 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Oscar 1
Richard 1
Solomon 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Courts surname: questions and answers

How common was the Courts surname in 1881?

In 1881, 293 people were recorded with the Courts surname. That placed it at #9,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Courts surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 401 in 2016. That gives Courts a modern rank of #11,857.

What does the Courts surname mean?

A English surname derived from a location or residence near a manor or other important house.

What does the Courts map show?

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