NameCensus.

UK surname

Coventry

A locational surname originating from the city of Coventry in Warwickshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,182 people recorded with the Coventry surname, ranking it #3,408 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,658, ranked #3,759, down from #3,408 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basingstoke and Deane, Angus Glens and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coventry is 1,707 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

1,182

Ranked #3,408

Modern count

1,658

2016, ranked #3,759

Peak year

2010

1,707 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coventry had 1,182 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,408 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016, ranked #3,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,501 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Coventry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coventry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coventry 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 840 #3,231
1861 historical 873 #3,182
1881 historical 1,182 #3,408
1891 historical 1,299 #3,331
1901 historical 1,501 #3,419
1911 historical 1,128 #4,127
1997 modern 1,570 #3,756
1998 modern 1,653 #3,725
1999 modern 1,694 #3,671
2000 modern 1,704 #3,638
2001 modern 1,644 #3,683
2002 modern 1,669 #3,701
2003 modern 1,654 #3,662
2004 modern 1,641 #3,685
2005 modern 1,585 #3,753
2006 modern 1,582 #3,765
2007 modern 1,603 #3,764
2008 modern 1,597 #3,798
2009 modern 1,655 #3,773
2010 modern 1,707 #3,747
2011 modern 1,660 #3,797
2012 modern 1,634 #3,767
2013 modern 1,672 #3,755
2014 modern 1,676 #3,767
2015 modern 1,654 #3,781
2016 modern 1,658 #3,759

Geography

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Where Coventrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, 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 Basingstoke and Deane, Angus Glens, Cornwall, Lennoxtown and West Berkshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basingstoke and Deane 004 Basingstoke and Deane
2 Angus Glens Angus
3 Cornwall 073 Cornwall
4 Lennoxtown East Dunbartonshire
5 West Berkshire 019 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coventry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coventry

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Coventry 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

Coventry is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Coventry falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coventry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Coventry

The surname Coventry originated in England, tracing its roots back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the city of Coventry, situated in the West Midlands region. The name Coventry itself comes from the Old English "Coven-tre," meaning "the tree of the convent" or "the tree where the covens (groups of nuns) gathered."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coventry can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John de Coventry (c. 1225 - c. 1285) was an English philosopher and Franciscan friar. He is known for his work on logic and natural philosophy.

During the 15th century, the surname Coventry gained prominence with the rise of the influential Coventry family, who held significant positions in the city's governance and trade. One prominent member was Sir Thomas Coventry (1548 - 1606), who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal under King James I.

Another notable individual with the surname Coventry was Thomas Coventry, 1st Earl of Coventry (1578 - 1640), an English lawyer and statesman who served as Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and was later elevated to the peerage by King Charles I.

In the 18th century, William Coventry (1628 - 1686) was an English statesman and writer who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department under King Charles II. He is known for his contributions to English literature and his involvement in the formation of the Whig Party.

Moving into the 19th century, George Coventry, 9th Earl of Coventry (1838 - 1930), was a British aristocrat and politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire and held various positions in the House of Lords.

Throughout its history, the surname Coventry has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including religious figures, politicians, statesmen, and members of the aristocracy. While the name's origins can be traced back to the city of Coventry, it has gained widespread recognition across England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coventry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coventry 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 224 Coventrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.93x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 224 1.93x
Lancashire 124 0.90x
Fife 115 16.78x
Berkshire 113 13.00x
Cheshire 72 2.82x
Midlothian 72 4.64x
Lanarkshire 57 1.52x
Angus 50 4.66x
Surrey 45 0.80x
Hampshire 37 1.56x
Kinross-shire 32 109.33x
Perthshire 25 4.81x
Essex 22 0.96x
Kent 21 0.53x
Worcestershire 20 1.32x
Gloucestershire 17 0.75x
Stirlingshire 15 3.51x
Oxfordshire 14 1.96x
Warwickshire 14 0.48x
Renfrewshire 12 1.34x
Somerset 11 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 10 1.43x
Sussex 10 0.51x
Derbyshire 7 0.39x
Glamorgan 6 0.30x
Northumberland 6 0.35x
Suffolk 5 0.35x
Bedfordshire 3 0.50x
Channel Islands 3 0.87x
Royal Navy 3 2.17x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Devon 2 0.08x
Dorset 2 0.26x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.78x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.64x
Morayshire 2 1.11x
Shropshire 2 0.20x
Anglesey 1 0.49x
Ayrshire 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 0.32x
Herefordshire 1 0.21x
Inverness-shire 1 0.29x
Monmouthshire 1 0.12x
Rutland 1 1.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 39 Coventrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.00x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 39 37.00x
Wemyss 31 106.90x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 4.81x
Glasgow 30 4.51x
Shoreditch London 30 5.98x
Bethnal Green London 28 5.57x
Orwell 28 346.96x
Hackney London 21 3.23x
Pangbourn 21 716.72x
St Pancras London 21 2.25x
Great Neston 20 236.97x
Dundee 17 4.25x
Govan 17 1.84x
Tottenham 17 9.22x
Everton 15 3.43x
Kensington London 15 2.33x
Liverpool 15 1.80x
Fordingbridge 14 108.44x
Kirkdale 14 6.06x
Nantwich 13 43.77x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 12 32.71x
Paddington London 12 2.82x
Alva 11 54.00x
Hampstead London 11 6.10x
Newtyle 11 303.03x
Clewer 10 28.09x
Glencorse 10 167.79x
Islington London 10 0.89x
Newbury 10 35.92x
Barking 9 13.46x
Newburgh 9 103.33x
Preston 9 2.45x
Wallasey 9 103.45x
Alyth 8 57.18x
Barony 8 0.84x
Bow London 8 5.43x
Bromley London 8 3.14x
Liff Benvie 8 4.91x
Newington 8 1.87x
Runcorn 8 13.58x
Tealing 8 266.67x
Wandsworth 8 7.18x
Wavertree 8 18.19x
Withington 8 18.08x
Aberfoyle 7 376.34x
Arngask 7 322.58x
Aston 7 0.87x
Auchtermuchty 7 76.00x
Birkdale 7 20.14x
Lambeth 7 0.69x
North Meols 7 5.20x
Speen 7 49.23x
Stretford 7 9.26x
Walton On Hill 7 9.40x
Buxton 6 39.11x
Childrey 6 292.68x
Croome D Abitot 6 833.33x
Edinburgh St Georges 6 18.64x
Kingsclere 6 55.35x
Markinch 6 25.78x
Newington 6 416.67x
Port Glasgow 6 13.83x
Toxteth Park 6 1.29x
Twerton 6 31.22x
Westhoughton 6 16.36x
Willesden 6 5.50x
Colchester St Botolph 5 25.72x
Dysart 5 10.83x
Earley 5 34.53x
Kilmalcolm 5 46.51x
Knockholt 5 158.73x
Stokenchurch 5 78.13x
Taplow 5 118.76x
Waltham Holy Cross 5 23.41x
Woolwich 5 3.43x
Chester St John Baptist 4 8.71x
Mortimer 4 96.15x
New Windsor 4 13.69x
Newbattle 4 30.17x
Streatham 4 4.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 43
Charles 25
James 25
George 22
Thomas 20
Henry 19
Edward 18
Richard 13
Walter 11
Frederick 10
Joseph 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
Harry 6
Edwin 5
Robert 5
Andrew 3
David 3
Edgar 3
Herbert 3
Jas. 3
Albert 2
Harold 2
Mark 2
Millis 2
Seymour 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Clarence 1
Corbet 1
Cornelius 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Fulwar 1
G.A. 1
Hedley 1
Honbl. 1
Hugh 1
Jas.S. 1
Jno 1
Jno. 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Coventry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coventry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,182 people were recorded with the Coventry surname. That placed it at #3,408 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coventry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,658 in 2016. That gives Coventry a modern rank of #3,759.

What does the Coventry surname mean?

A locational surname originating from the city of Coventry in Warwickshire, England.

What does the Coventry map show?

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