NameCensus.

UK surname

Cover

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of blankets, tents, or other coverings.

In the 1881 census there were 243 people recorded with the Cover surname, ranking it #11,294 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 306, ranked #14,543, down from #11,294 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bracknell Forest, Tamworth and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cover is 309 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.9%.

1881 census count

243

Ranked #11,294

Modern count

306

2016, ranked #14,543

Peak year

2014

309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cover had 243 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,294 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016, ranked #14,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 247 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Cover surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cover surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cover 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 243 #11,294
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 207 #14,803
1911 historical 247 #13,016
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 270 #14,913
1999 modern 283 #14,501
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 271 #14,691
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 263 #15,109
2004 modern 265 #15,110
2005 modern 274 #14,663
2006 modern 278 #14,623
2007 modern 283 #14,579
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 281 #15,098
2010 modern 284 #15,312
2011 modern 297 #14,698
2012 modern 299 #14,537
2013 modern 306 #14,557
2014 modern 309 #14,533
2015 modern 305 #14,579
2016 modern 306 #14,543

Geography

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Where Covers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst, St James Clerkenwell, Frensham and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bracknell Forest, Tamworth, Waveney, Enfield and West Oxfordshire. 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 3
2 Stedham, Iping, Trotton, Chithurst Sussex
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Frensham Surrey
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bracknell Forest 003 Bracknell Forest
2 Tamworth 002 Tamworth
3 Waveney 009 Waveney
4 Enfield 018 Enfield
5 West Oxfordshire 012 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cover

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cover

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Cover surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Cover 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Cover is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cover is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cover

The surname COVER has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cufre," which meant a chest or a coffer. This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by someone who made or sold such chests or coffers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the year 1230, where a certain William le Cufere is mentioned. The presence of the French Norman prefix "le" indicates that the name had already been adopted by the Norman settlers in England after the Conquest of 1066.

The COVER name is also found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1273, where it appears as "Robert le Covere." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time, as it adapted to the changing language and dialects of different regions.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John Covere is mentioned in 1317. This suggests that the name had spread beyond its initial regions and was becoming more widespread across England.

One notable bearer of the COVER surname was Sir James Cover (1523-1584), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He served as the Attorney General for the Duchy of Lancaster and was involved in several high-profile legal cases of his time.

Another historical figure with this surname was John Cover (1571-1638), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex and is known for his work in promoting education and establishing schools in the region.

In the 17th century, the COVER name can be found in various parish records, such as those of St. Giles Cripplegate in London, where the baptism of William Cover is recorded in 1628. This suggests that the name had become well-established in urban areas as well as rural regions.

Thomas Cover (1732-1806) was a notable figure from the 18th century, serving as the Mayor of Bristol in 1789. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist, contributing to the establishment of several charitable institutions in the city.

As the centuries progressed, the COVER surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with families bearing this name making their mark in various fields, from politics and law to business and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cover families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cover 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. Surrey leads with 56 Covers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Surrey 56 4.97x
Sussex 46 11.80x
Middlesex 34 1.47x
Hampshire 29 6.12x
Kent 18 2.28x
Somerset 16 4.30x
Berkshire 10 5.76x
Shropshire 8 4.01x
Yorkshire 8 0.35x
Lancashire 6 0.22x
Devon 4 0.83x
Gloucestershire 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Subdeanary in Sussex leads with 16 Covers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1523.81x.

Place Total Index
Subdeanary 16 1523.81x
Frensham 14 848.48x
Headley 14 1085.27x
Hampton London 12 315.79x
Richmond 11 69.71x
Stedham 11 2558.14x
Clerkenwell London 9 16.49x
Martock 9 371.90x
Washington 9 1343.28x
Deptford St Paul 8 13.15x
Chilton Candover 7 5833.33x
Crowcombe 7 2000.00x
Dorking 7 92.59x
Islington London 7 3.12x
Sherburn 7 372.34x
Bletchingley 6 408.16x
Winkfield 6 208.33x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 65.53x
Manchester 5 4.05x
Chudleigh 4 261.44x
Margate St John Baptist 4 27.70x
Bridgnorth St Mary 3 153.85x
Horsham 3 39.63x
Iping 3 714.29x
Lambeth 3 1.49x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 38.07x
Streatham 3 17.49x
Ash Normandy 2 130.72x
Heston 2 26.04x
Rotherhithe 2 7.00x
South Stoneham 2 19.46x
Southwark St Saviour 2 16.84x
St Pancras London 2 1.07x
Subdeanery 2 67.57x
Wallingford St Peter 2 540.54x
Winnall 2 2000.00x
Aldershot 1 6.30x
Basildon 1 192.31x
Brighton 1 1.27x
Chorley 1 6.50x
Clapham 1 3.46x
Clewer 1 14.06x
Clifton 1 4.36x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 12.69x
Farnham 1 11.42x
Holybourne 1 212.77x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 24.57x
Merrow 1 212.77x
Mitcham 1 14.04x
New Romney 1 123.46x
Oving 1 75.76x
Peper Harow 1 833.33x
Ryde 1 9.82x
Shifnal 1 18.45x
St George Martyr London 1 21.37x
St Marylebone London 1 0.81x
Thursley 1 123.46x
Whittington 1 59.88x
Wield 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
George 15
John 9
Charles 8
Henry 8
James 7
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Lloyd 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Archie 1
Claude 1
David 1
Fraser 1
Fredk. 1
Horace 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Lawrence 1
Martin 1
Micheal 1
Reuben 1
Richd 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Cover surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cover surname in 1881?

In 1881, 243 people were recorded with the Cover surname. That placed it at #11,294 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cover surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016. That gives Cover a modern rank of #14,543.

What does the Cover surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of blankets, tents, or other coverings.

What does the Cover map show?

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