NameCensus.

UK surname

Cousens

A surname derived from the French "cousin" indicating relationship or kinship.

In the 1881 census there were 740 people recorded with the Cousens surname, ranking it #4,951 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 512, ranked #9,823, down from #4,951 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fareham, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, North Norfolk and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cousens is 769 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.8%.

1881 census count

740

Ranked #4,951

Modern count

512

2016, ranked #9,823

Peak year

1901

769 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cousens had 740 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,951 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 512 in 2016, ranked #9,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 769 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cousens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cousens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cousens 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 749 #3,539
1861 historical 458 #5,668
1881 historical 740 #4,951
1891 historical 652 #5,956
1901 historical 769 #5,824
1911 historical 707 #6,025
1997 modern 508 #9,195
1998 modern 527 #9,222
1999 modern 532 #9,208
2000 modern 551 #8,930
2001 modern 538 #8,950
2002 modern 539 #9,120
2003 modern 516 #9,275
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 514 #9,262
2006 modern 509 #9,355
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 515 #9,430
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 527 #9,667
2011 modern 549 #9,281
2012 modern 534 #9,391
2013 modern 537 #9,526
2014 modern 529 #9,683
2015 modern 522 #9,710
2016 modern 512 #9,823

Geography

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Where Cousens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fareham, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Titchfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, North Norfolk, Eastleigh, Wiltshire and Pembrokeshire. 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 Fareham Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Titchfield Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 109 Leeds
2 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
3 Eastleigh 014 Eastleigh
4 Wiltshire 047 Wiltshire
5 Pembrokeshire 003 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cousens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cousens

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

Cousens is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cousens falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cousens

The surname Cousens is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the old English words "cus" meaning cow and "ene" meaning meadow or pasture, referring to someone who lived near or worked on a cow pasture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1273, where it appears as "Custins". Over time, the name evolved through various spellings such as Cussens, Cussins, and eventually Cousens.

In the 14th century, the Cousens surname appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, suggesting the name's presence in that region during that time. The Poll Tax Rolls were a record of taxes levied on individuals over the age of 14, providing a valuable resource for tracing historical names and their geographic distribution.

The Cousens name also has ties to the parish of Cousens in Cornwall, England. This place name is believed to be derived from the Cornish words "cus" meaning wood and "ens" meaning ridge, indicating a wooded ridge or hill. It is possible that some individuals with the Cousens surname may have originated from this area.

Notable individuals throughout history with the Cousens surname include:

1. William Cousens (1661-1725), an English writer and translator who published works on classical literature. 2. John Cousens (1804-1880), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. 3. Robert Cousens (1853-1935), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Automobile Club and the Church of Christ the King in Bloomsbury. 4. Emmet Cousens (1903-1987), an American author and journalist who wrote extensively on health and wellness topics. 5. Richard Cousens (born 1959), a British actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Heartbeat" and "Doctors".

While the Cousens surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions of England, with connections to both rural and urban areas of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cousens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cousens 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. Hampshire leads with 110 Cousens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.44x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 110 7.44x
Middlesex 97 1.35x
Surrey 61 1.74x
Sussex 60 4.94x
Essex 45 3.16x
Suffolk 45 5.13x
Yorkshire 39 0.55x
Kent 35 1.42x
Dorset 31 6.55x
Lincolnshire 26 2.26x
Somerset 24 2.07x
Gloucestershire 17 1.20x
Devon 16 1.07x
Berkshire 15 2.77x
Glamorgan 14 1.12x
Pembrokeshire 14 6.11x
Cornwall 13 1.59x
Norfolk 10 0.90x
Lancashire 9 0.11x
Wiltshire 9 1.41x
Hertfordshire 7 1.41x
Northumberland 6 0.56x
Caernarfonshire 5 1.72x
Derbyshire 5 0.44x
Leicestershire 5 0.63x
Staffordshire 5 0.21x
Durham 4 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.41x
Northamptonshire 3 0.44x
Bedfordshire 2 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.19x
Rutland 1 1.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 23 Cousens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 23 7.94x
Hadleigh 18 211.27x
Thatcham 15 179.86x
Bishopstoke 14 369.39x
St Marylebone London 14 3.64x
St Mary Extra 13 109.34x
Swansea Town 13 12.63x
Wanstead 13 52.17x
Chardstock 12 365.85x
Kensington London 12 2.99x
St Dominick 12 585.37x
Titchfield 12 107.72x
Battersea 11 4.15x
Lambeth 10 1.59x
Broadwater 9 32.28x
Canterbury Holy Cross 9 379.75x
Everleigh 9 1022.73x
Exning 9 203.16x
Hockley 9 584.42x
Brightside Bierlow 8 5.71x
Cawood 8 291.97x
Fareham 8 45.05x
South Cave 8 337.55x
Wimbledon 8 20.28x
Alverstoke 7 13.09x
Amroth 7 386.74x
Chelsea London 7 3.22x
Harting 7 221.52x
Preston 7 32.99x
Scamblesby 7 777.78x
South Hamlet 7 80.00x
St Andrew Hubbard London 7 5833.33x
St George Hanover Square 7 5.51x
Bermondsey 6 2.80x
Burton Pidsea 6 689.66x
Camberwell 6 1.30x
Hackney London 6 1.48x
Mickley 6 177.51x
Morden 6 300.00x
Newington 6 2.25x
North Walsham 6 75.09x
Pevensey 6 666.67x
Theydon Garnon 6 184.62x
Yeovil 6 25.45x
Arundel 5 73.42x
Bolsover 5 88.34x
Boston 5 14.30x
Bromley 5 13.34x
Burslem 5 7.17x
Chigwell 5 37.23x
Crumpsall 5 24.80x
Fordington 5 49.07x
Gedding 5 2000.00x
Hound 5 49.85x
Leicester St Margaret 5 2.57x
Llanbeblig 5 16.90x
Pembroke St Mary 5 16.95x
Preston Candover 5 490.20x
Southampton St Michael 5 102.67x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.76x
West Teignmouth 5 43.55x
West Thurrock 5 105.71x
Epping 4 69.20x
Fulham London 4 3.83x
Godalming 4 18.09x
Great Grimsby 4 5.47x
Great Mongeham 4 344.83x
Hastings St Andrew 4 91.74x
Leeds 4 0.99x
Martock 4 53.05x
Penge 4 8.69x
Shoreditch London 4 1.28x
South Bersted 4 38.68x
Spetisbury 4 305.34x
St George In East London 4 5.90x
Tottenham 4 3.48x
North Muskham 3 223.88x
Rumbolds Wyke 3 134.53x
Skirbeck Quarter 3 142.18x
Southampton All Sts 3 11.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 35
Elizabeth 28
Alice 15
Ann 15
Annie 15
Eliza 15
Emma 14
Jane 14
Ellen 12
Emily 10
Caroline 7
Louisa 7
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Fanny 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Bessie 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Laura 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Susan 3
Adeline 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Emelene 2
Eva 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Hetty 2
Lavinia 2
Lucy 2
Maude 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Bessy 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 30
James 27
Charles 25
Henry 22
George 21
Thomas 21
Arthur 13
Richard 13
Alfred 11
Frederick 9
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Richmond 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Clapham 1
Daniel 1
Dilroy 1
Elias 1
Fred 1
Fred.J. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Kemeth 1
Kennett 1
Leonard 1
M.A. 1
Newson 1
Oliver 1

FAQ

Cousens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cousens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 740 people were recorded with the Cousens surname. That placed it at #4,951 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cousens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 512 in 2016. That gives Cousens a modern rank of #9,823.

What does the Cousens surname mean?

A surname derived from the French "cousin" indicating relationship or kinship.

What does the Cousens map show?

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