NameCensus.

UK surname

Couse

A surname derived from the Old French word "couse", meaning a slope or hillside.

In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Couse surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #27,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Grindon and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dundyvan, Carlisle and Redcar and Cleveland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Couse is 117 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.8%.

1881 census count

45

Ranked #27,314

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1997

117 bearers

Map years

3

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Couse had 45 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 100 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Couse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Couse surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Couse 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 45 #27,314
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 80 #25,251
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 105 #26,940
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 93 #30,123
2009 modern 98 #29,906
2010 modern 104 #29,618
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 99 #31,186
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Couses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Grindon, Manchester, Old Monkland and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dundyvan, Carlisle, Redcar and Cleveland, Kirkshaws and North Norfolk. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Grindon Durham
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Old Monkland Lanark
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
2 Carlisle 003 Carlisle
3 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Kirkshaws North Lanarkshire
5 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Couse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Couse

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Couse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Couse household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Couse 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

Couse 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

Couse falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Couse is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Couse

The surname COUSE is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "cous," meaning a raised mound or hill. This suggests that the name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived near a distinct geographical feature, such as a hillock or mound.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the COUSE name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Robertus de Couse, indicating the presence of the surname in Normandy during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, historical records mention a knight named Sir William COUSE, who fought alongside King Edward I during the Welsh Wars of 1276-1284. Sir William's bravery and loyalty to the crown are documented in various chronicles of the time.

During the Renaissance era, a notable figure bearing the COUSE surname was Jean COUSE, a French poet and playwright who lived from 1520 to 1589. His works, which included several popular comedies, were widely acclaimed and performed throughout France during his lifetime.

In the 17th century, the COUSE name gained prominence in England, where a wealthy merchant named Richard COUSE (1642-1712) made his fortune in the wool trade. He was instrumental in establishing a successful business empire that spanned across multiple cities.

Another prominent figure was Marie-Anne COUSE (1737-1805), a French botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the Caribbean region. Her detailed botanical illustrations and extensive collection of specimens were highly regarded by her contemporaries.

Throughout history, the COUSE surname has been associated with various place names and geographical locations, such as Couse Hill in Wiltshire, England, and Couse Valley in Normandy, France. These place names likely derived from the original Old French word "cous," reflecting the connection between the surname and its topographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Couse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Couse 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. Staffordshire leads with 23 Couses recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.53x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 23 15.53x
Cheshire 9 9.29x
Yorkshire 8 1.84x
Lancashire 2 0.38x
Angus 1 2.46x
Buckinghamshire 1 3.77x
Renfrewshire 1 2.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Bromwich in Staffordshire leads with 14 Couses recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.09x.

Place Total Index
West Bromwich 14 165.09x
Wednesfield 9 412.84x
Linthorpe 8 308.88x
Macclesfield 7 162.41x
Runcorn 2 89.69x
Barrow In Furness 1 14.12x
Brechin 1 62.50x
Manchester 1 4.27x
Simpson 1 909.09x
West Greenock 1 16.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Alice 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Catharine 1
Emily 1
Jane 1
Jinnie 1
Kate 1
Louie 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Sibylla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
George 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
John 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Couse households.

FAQ

Couse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Couse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Couse surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Couse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Couse a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Couse surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "couse", meaning a slope or hillside.

What does the Couse map show?

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