NameCensus.

UK surname

Cousland

A locational surname referring to someone from Cousland, a village in East Lothian, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Cousland surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 113, ranked #28,691, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Denny, Govan Combination and Dunblane and Lecropt. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northampton, North Kesteven and Glenwood North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cousland is 113 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

2015

113 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cousland had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 103 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Cousland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cousland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cousland 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 103 #20,650
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 76 #25,734
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 86 #28,876
1998 modern 86 #29,343
1999 modern 88 #29,287
2000 modern 93 #28,701
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Couslands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Denny, Govan Combination, Dunblane and Lecropt, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northampton, North Kesteven, Glenwood North, Blane Valley and Corby. 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 Denny Stirling
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Dunblane and Lecropt Perth
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northampton 005 Northampton
2 North Kesteven 009 North Kesteven
3 Glenwood North Glasgow City
4 Blane Valley Stirling
5 Corby 008 Corby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cousland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cousland

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Cousland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cousland 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 are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cousland 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

Cousland is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cousland falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cousland

The surname Cousland is of Scottish origin and has its roots in the small village of Cousland, located in East Lothian, Scotland. The name is derived from the Old English words "cus" and "land," which together mean "cultivated land." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely landowners or farmers in the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 12th century, when a Robert de Cousland was mentioned in the Chartulary of Dunfermline Abbey in 1180. This document, which recorded the legal transactions of the abbey, provides valuable insight into the historical presence of the Cousland name in Scotland.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Ragman Rolls, a series of parchments recording the swearing of fealty to King Edward I of England by Scottish noblemen and landowners. This record includes the name of William de Cousland, who was likely a prominent landholder during that time.

The Cousland family played a significant role in Scottish history, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Sir Robert Cousland, who lived in the 15th century and served as a diplomat for King James IV of Scotland. He was instrumental in negotiating treaties and fostering diplomatic relations with England and other European nations.

Another notable figure was Sir Alexander Cousland, born in 1620, who was a Scottish soldier and military commander during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He fought alongside Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian forces and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Dunbar in 1650.

In the literary world, the name Cousland is associated with the Scottish author and poet, John Cousland (1775-1835). He was a prominent figure in the Edinburgh literary scene and published several works, including "The Poems of John Cousland" and "The Scottish Villagers."

The Cousland name has also been associated with various places and landmarks in Scotland. For instance, there is a Cousland House, a historic mansion located in the village of Cousland, which was once the seat of the Cousland family. Additionally, the Cousland Burn, a small river that runs through the village, bears the family name.

Throughout history, the Cousland surname has been recorded with various spelling variations, such as Couseland, Cowseland, and Cousland. These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the regional dialects and spellings used in different parts of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cousland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cousland 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. Lanarkshire leads with 47 Couslands recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.90x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 47 14.90x
Stirlingshire 17 47.25x
Midlothian 15 11.48x
Ayrshire 5 6.85x
Cheshire 5 2.32x
Perthshire 5 11.42x
Inverness-shire 2 6.87x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.11x
Durham 1 0.34x
Fife 1 1.73x
Staffordshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 29 Couslands recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.32x.

Place Total Index
Barony 29 36.32x
Denny 17 890.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 22.83x
Glasgow 11 19.64x
Govan 6 7.69x
Hartford 5 1020.41x
Kilmarnock 5 57.54x
Dunblane 4 380.95x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 64.72x
Kiltarlity 2 281.69x
Cannock 1 17.39x
Kennoway 1 188.68x
Newton 1 227.27x
Perth East Church 1 24.21x
Peterhead 1 20.92x
Walston 1 909.09x
Westoe 1 6.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jessie 2
Jane 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Andrew 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 Cousland households.

FAQ

Cousland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cousland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Cousland surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cousland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Cousland a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Cousland surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Cousland, a village in East Lothian, Scotland.

What does the Cousland map show?

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