UK surname
Likely a locational surname derived from a place name containing the element "cov" meaning a shelter or cave.
In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Coverly surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #26,869 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coverly is 100 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.4%.
1881 census count
48
Ranked #26,869
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1851
100 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coverly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coverly surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 100 | #17,164 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 48 | #26,869 |
| 1891 | historical | 46 | #30,657 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 34 | #34,282 |
| 1998 | modern | 33 | #34,532 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 29 | #34,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 27 | #35,041 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 28 | #35,354 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 28 | #35,801 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester, Pleasley and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Pleasley | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coverly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Coverly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Coverly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coverly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Coverly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coverly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coverly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "COVERLY" is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period in the 13th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from the place name "Coverley" or "Coverlee", which are variations of the Old English words "cū" meaning "cow" and "lēah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing". This suggests that the name referred to a person who lived near a meadow where cows grazed.
One of the earliest known records of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named "Thomas de Couerleye". The name also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where it is spelled "Coverlaye".
In the 14th century, the surname was recorded in various forms, including "Coverley", "Coverly", and "Coverlie". One notable bearer of the name during this time was John Coverley, who was born around 1350 in Nottinghamshire and served as a member of the local gentry.
The Coverly family was also present in the county of Cheshire, where they held lands and properties. Sir Thomas Coverly, born in 1420, was a prominent figure in the region and served as a High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1458.
During the Tudor period, the name continued to be well-represented, particularly in the northern counties of England. In the 16th century, Robert Coverly, born in 1525 in Yorkshire, was a renowned scholar and writer who published several works on theology and philosophy.
Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Coverly, who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1620 in Lancashire, he was a military officer and served in the English Civil War, fighting on the Royalist side.
As the name spread across England, it also took on various spellings, such as "Coverlie", "Coverleigh", and "Coverlye". One of the more prominent individuals with this surname was Sir Roger Coverly, born in 1675 in Gloucestershire. He was a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament, known for his contributions to local politics and society.
Throughout its history, the surname "COVERLY" has been associated with various locations and place names across England, reflecting the nomadic nature of its bearers and their settlement patterns over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coverly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 21 Coverlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 21 | 4.79x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 2.30x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 5.82x |
| Essex | 2 | 2.31x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.41x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 4.11x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 1.69x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 13 Coverlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 139.19x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mile End Old Town London | 13 | 139.19x |
| Manchester | 8 | 34.16x |
| Heanor | 4 | 388.35x |
| Great Bolton | 3 | 43.48x |
| Govan | 2 | 5.70x |
| Islington London | 2 | 4.70x |
| Poplar London | 2 | 24.15x |
| Ratcliffe On The Wreake | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Shadwell London | 2 | 162.60x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 46.19x |
| Woodford | 2 | 204.08x |
| Kirkby In Ashfield | 1 | 158.73x |
| Manningham | 1 | 18.66x |
| Newton | 1 | 24.94x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coverly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coverly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Coverly households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Gas Fitter | 2 |
| Mariner | 2 |
| Office Cleaner | 2 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton Operative (Card Room) | 1 |
| Domestic Serv General | 1 |
| Engineer | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Market Porter | 1 |
| Nurse (Ds) (Dom) | 1 |
| Pattern Maker In Print Firm | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tinsmith | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Coverly surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Coverly a modern rank of #36,760.
Likely a locational surname derived from a place name containing the element "cov" meaning a shelter or cave.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coverly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.