UK surname
A French surname derived from the Old French word "cuire", meaning "to cook" or "to bake".
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Coyer surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 14, ranked #37,178, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Rochdale and Rugby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Coyer is 102 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.6%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
14
2016, ranked #37,178
Peak year
1861
102 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Coyer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Coyer surname density by area, 1861 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 45 | #30,747 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 8 | #32,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 17 | #36,407 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 13 | #37,056 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 14 | #37,115 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 14 | #37,178 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Rochdale, Rugby, Bingley and North Meols. 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 | Port Glasgow | Renfrew |
| 2 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 3 | Rugby | Warwickshire |
| 4 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | North Meols | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Coyer 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 Coyer, 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 Coyer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Coyer 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, Coyer 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 Coyer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Coyer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Coyer originates from France and dates back to the early 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "coyere," which means "quiet" or "tranquil." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone with a calm or serene demeanor.
The earliest known record of the name Coyer can be found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Fécamp, a medieval manuscript from the region of Normandy, dated around 1150. This document mentions a person named Radulfus Coyer, who was a landowner in the area.
During the 13th century, the name Coyer appeared in various records across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. Some variations in spelling included Coier, Coyer, and Coyere.
One notable historical figure with the surname Coyer was Gabriel François Coyer (1707-1782), a French philosopher and writer who was a member of the Académie Française. He authored several works, including a treatise on the study of history.
In the 17th century, a family named Coyer settled in the village of Charleville-Mézières, located in the Ardennes region of northeastern France. One of their descendants, Gabriel Coyer (1770-1857), became a prominent military officer during the Napoleonic Wars.
Another individual of note was Alphonse Coyer (1835-1892), a French architect who was responsible for the design of several notable buildings in Paris, including the Église Saint-Augustin and the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin.
The name Coyer also has a connection to the town of Coye-la-Forêt in the Oise department of northern France. It is believed that some families bearing this surname may have originated from or had ties to this particular locality.
Throughout history, the Coyer surname has been present across various regions of France, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the country. While not a widespread name, it has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds, including landowners, writers, military personnel, and architects.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Coyer 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. Renfrewshire leads with 6 Coyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Renfrewshire | 6 | 88.37x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.92x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 5.57x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Port Glasgow in Renfrewshire leads with 6 Coyers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1818.18x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Port Glasgow | 6 | 1818.18x |
| West Derby | 2 | 65.79x |
| Romsey Extra | 1 | 909.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Coyer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Ellen | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Coyer 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 Coyer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Professor Of French | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Coyer surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 14 in 2016. That gives Coyer a modern rank of #37,178.
A French surname derived from the Old French word "cuire", meaning "to cook" or "to bake".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Coyer 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.