NameCensus.

UK surname

Coy

A nickname-derived surname for a quiet, reserved, or shy person.

In the 1881 census there were 943 people recorded with the Coy surname, ranking it #4,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,291, ranked #4,639, down from #4,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stretham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Lincoln and Gedling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coy is 1,389 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.9%.

1881 census count

943

Ranked #4,088

Modern count

1,291

2016, ranked #4,639

Peak year

1999

1,389 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Coy had 943 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,291 in 2016, ranked #4,639.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,162 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Coy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Coy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Coy 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 681 #3,816
1881 historical 943 #4,088
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 1,162 #4,199
1997 modern 1,352 #4,256
1998 modern 1,384 #4,317
1999 modern 1,389 #4,334
2000 modern 1,385 #4,327
2001 modern 1,346 #4,343
2002 modern 1,349 #4,437
2003 modern 1,326 #4,411
2004 modern 1,304 #4,466
2005 modern 1,285 #4,481
2006 modern 1,283 #4,491
2007 modern 1,301 #4,481
2008 modern 1,298 #4,517
2009 modern 1,328 #4,527
2010 modern 1,325 #4,618
2011 modern 1,292 #4,669
2012 modern 1,283 #4,626
2013 modern 1,294 #4,673
2014 modern 1,305 #4,663
2015 modern 1,295 #4,650
2016 modern 1,291 #4,639

Geography

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Where Coys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stretham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Doncaster and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Lincoln, Gedling and South Kesteven. 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 Stretham Cambridgeshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
2 Lincoln 008 Lincoln
3 Gedling 015 Gedling
4 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
5 North Lincolnshire 017 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Coy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Coy

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Coy 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

Coy 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

Coy falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Coy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Coy

The surname COY has its origins in the Old French word "coi" or "quoi", meaning quiet, still, or peaceful. It is believed to have been initially used as a nickname for someone with a calm or reserved demeanor. The name's earliest known roots can be traced back to the northern regions of France, particularly in the areas of Normandy and Picardy, during the 12th and 13th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname COY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Radulfus le Coy was listed as holding a manor in the county of Hertfordshire, England. This suggests that the name had already been established in France and subsequently adopted in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

The surname COY has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Coye, Coy, Coie, and Coyse. These variations can often be attributed to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in historical record-keeping. Additionally, the name has been associated with several place names, such as the village of Cuy in the Pas-de-Calais region of northern France, which may have influenced the surname's evolution.

Notable individuals bearing the surname COY include:

1. Geoffrey Coy (c. 1450 - 1512), an English lawyer and member of the Parliament during the reign of Henry VII. 2. Robert Coy (1594 - 1672), an English Puritan clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Boxwell in Gloucestershire. 3. Jean-Baptiste Coy (1756 - 1827), a French artist and engraver known for his portraits and historical paintings. 4. Eliza Ann Coy (1829 - 1905), an American educator and activist who founded the Coy Boarding School for Girls in Ypsilanti, Michigan. 5. John Thomas Coy (1856 - 1937), a British engineer and inventor, best known for his contributions to the development of the modern bicycle.

Throughout its long history, the surname COY has been widely dispersed across various regions, reflecting the migration patterns and cultural influences that have shaped its legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Coy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coy 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. Lincolnshire leads with 194 Coys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.30x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 194 13.30x
Yorkshire 193 2.14x
Nottinghamshire 96 7.81x
Leicestershire 60 5.93x
Kent 59 1.90x
Lancashire 54 0.50x
Middlesex 47 0.52x
Northamptonshire 42 4.90x
Cambridgeshire 35 6.06x
Norfolk 29 2.07x
Warwickshire 17 0.74x
Cheshire 12 0.60x
Hampshire 12 0.64x
Anglesey 9 5.57x
Huntingdonshire 9 4.97x
Surrey 9 0.20x
Derbyshire 8 0.56x
Sussex 8 0.52x
Staffordshire 7 0.23x
Durham 6 0.22x
Oxfordshire 6 1.07x
Devon 4 0.21x
Lanarkshire 4 0.14x
Worcestershire 3 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.36x
Cornwall 2 0.19x
Bedfordshire 1 0.21x
Channel Islands 1 0.37x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.13x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 22 Coys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.32x.

Place Total Index
Doncaster 22 33.32x
Harby 21 1135.14x
Gosberton 19 293.21x
Kirkdale 18 9.89x
Nottingham St Mary 18 5.66x
Stretham 15 363.20x
Hemswell 14 1206.90x
South Kyme 14 848.48x
Bromley London 12 5.98x
West Kirby 12 341.88x
Crowle 11 123.87x
Easington In Patrington 11 924.37x
Eastry 11 255.22x
Harlaxton 11 916.67x
Sheffield 11 3.82x
Aston 10 1.58x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 11.88x
Clenchwarton 10 478.47x
Elton 10 4166.67x
Epworth 10 147.06x
Frampton 10 362.32x
Hook 10 50.30x
Cropwell Butler 9 532.54x
Gravesend 9 34.16x
Holyhead 9 29.86x
Leeds 9 1.76x
Luddington 9 483.87x
Milton In Gravesend 9 19.28x
Southampton St Mary 9 7.66x
Spittlegate 9 44.62x
Weedon Loys 9 638.30x
Woolsthorpe 9 481.28x
Woolwich 9 7.83x
Bottesford 8 740.74x
Holywell Cum Needingworth 8 352.42x
Kimberworth 8 15.95x
Methley 8 62.84x
Salford 8 2.51x
Syresham 8 320.00x
Walpole St Andrew 8 365.30x
Amcotts 7 564.52x
Bingham 7 133.84x
Burton Upon Trent 7 9.72x
Central Wingland 7 933.33x
Dewsbury 7 7.55x
Erith 7 22.83x
Holbeck 7 11.69x
Hoyland Nether 7 31.57x
Islington London 7 0.79x
Manchester 7 1.44x
March 7 36.19x
Orston 7 463.58x
Tankersley 7 103.86x
Thorpe Arnold 7 1521.74x
Tong 7 40.09x
Wyke In Bradford 7 43.32x
Aslockton 6 476.19x
Carlton 6 42.77x
Denaby 6 117.42x
Dymchurch 6 346.82x
Eltham 6 32.89x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 6 23.82x
Gainsborough 6 17.45x
Knipton 6 588.24x
Long Bennington 6 211.27x
Long Eaton 6 31.83x
Middleton Cheney 6 160.43x
Screveton 6 1071.43x
Stamford St George 6 91.60x
Woodford Cum Membris 6 327.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.91x
Harmondsworth 5 88.34x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 5 11.88x
Leicester St Martin 5 73.64x
Old Sleaford 5 304.88x
St Pancras London 5 0.68x
Thornhill 5 18.96x
Towcester 5 56.50x
Barony 4 0.54x
Friern Barnet 4 19.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 63
William 52
Thomas 44
George 34
Charles 20
Henry 20
Edward 18
James 17
Robert 14
Samuel 12
Alfred 9
David 7
Frederick 7
Frank 6
Joseph 6
Michael 6
Thos. 6
Ernest 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Jonathan 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Patrick 3
Richard 3
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Nathan 2
Stephen 2
Barnett 1
Barny 1
Earnest 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo.H. 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Marshall 1
Maurice 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Coy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Coy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 943 people were recorded with the Coy surname. That placed it at #4,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Coy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,291 in 2016. That gives Coy a modern rank of #4,639.

What does the Coy surname mean?

A nickname-derived surname for a quiet, reserved, or shy person.

What does the Coy map show?

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