NameCensus.

UK surname

Cussen

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Coisín, meaning "descendant of the little foot".

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Cussen surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 184, ranked #20,731, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet, Christchurch and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cussen is 202 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 441.2%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

2002

202 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cussen had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 76 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cussen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cussen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cussen 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 23 #29,205
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 47 #30,566
1901 historical 51 #28,492
1911 historical 76 #25,221
1997 modern 195 #17,912
1998 modern 190 #18,687
1999 modern 197 #18,400
2000 modern 187 #18,990
2001 modern 180 #19,161
2002 modern 202 #18,189
2003 modern 193 #18,501
2004 modern 188 #18,919
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 173 #19,995
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 173 #20,869
2010 modern 184 #20,521
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 187 #20,086
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Cussens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet, Christchurch, South Somerset, Kensington and Chelsea and Plymouth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 007 Thanet
2 Christchurch 004 Christchurch
3 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
4 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Plymouth 026 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cussen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cussen

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Cussen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cussen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cussen 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

Cussen 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

Cussen 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 Cussen 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cussen

The surname Cussen has its origins in Ireland, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "cosán," meaning a path or a way. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a well-traveled path or roadway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Fiants of the Reign of Elizabeth I, which mention a Richard Cussen in County Cork in 1586. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cork and Kerry, where it is believed to have originated.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Petty's Census of 1659, which lists several Cussen families in County Cork. The name is also found in the Hearth Money Rolls of the late 17th century, further solidifying its presence in the region.

One notable bearer of the surname was Jeremiah Cussen, a prominent Catholic priest who lived in the late 18th century. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Catholic Church in the town of Killarney, County Kerry.

Another individual of historical importance was Richard Cussen, a merchant and landowner who lived in the early 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the city of Cork and was involved in various business ventures.

In the 19th century, the name Cussen gained recognition through the work of Richard D. Cussen, a renowned Irish historian and writer. He was born in 1821 and authored several books on Irish history and culture, including "The Story of Ancient Irish Civilization" and "The Antiquities of Ireland."

A notable figure from the 20th century was Mary Cussen, a celebrated Irish artist known for her landscape paintings. She was born in 1893 and her works are held in collections across Ireland and beyond.

Throughout its history, the surname Cussen has also appeared in various alternative spellings, such as Cushen, Cussan, and Cushin, reflecting the evolution of language and local dialects in different regions of Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cussen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cussen 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Cussens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 2.54x
Surrey 10 6.19x
Middlesex 5 1.51x
Suffolk 3 7.43x
Devon 1 1.45x
Durham 1 1.01x
Hampshire 1 1.47x
Kent 1 0.88x
Lanarkshire 1 0.93x
Nottinghamshire 1 2.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 9 Cussens recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.19x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 9 91.19x
Pendleton In Salford 8 170.58x
Holton 3 6000.00x
Liverpool 2 8.37x
St Marylebone London 2 11.30x
Westminster St James 2 58.65x
Bothwell 1 34.36x
Conside Knitsley 1 129.87x
Greenwich 1 18.94x
Holy Trinity 1 714.29x
Islington London 1 3.11x
Lymington 1 200.00x
Ordsall 1 294.12x
Woking 1 103.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Catherine 2
Helena 2
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Marian 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

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 Cussen households.

FAQ

Cussen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cussen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Cussen surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cussen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Cussen a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Cussen surname mean?

An Anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Coisín, meaning "descendant of the little foot".

What does the Cussen map show?

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