Find out how popular the last name Coe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Coe.

Coe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Coe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coe in America

Coe is the 2157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coe surname appeared 16,819 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 6 people would have the surname Coe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Coe

The surname Coe has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "co," which means a small valley or low ground, suggesting that the name was originally a topographic surname given to someone who lived near a low-lying area or a small valley.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Coe can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John de la Cowe in Oxfordshire. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a William atte Cowe was mentioned. This alternate spelling, "atte Cowe," further reinforces the name's connection to its topographic origins.

In the 15th century, the surname Coe gained prominence with the birth of Robert Coe (c. 1460 - c. 1520), a notable English clergyman and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1508 to 1513.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Coe. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the surname's evolution, such as Covehithe in Suffolk and Cowpen in Northumberland.

Another notable bearer of the surname Coe was Sir Edmund Coe (1572 - 1634), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for the borough of Gatton during the reign of King James I. He played a significant role in the legal affairs of his time.

In the 18th century, the Coe family gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Coe (1718 - 1801), an English horticulturist and nurseryman who is credited with introducing several new plant species to England, including the Chinese Wisteria.

The 19th century saw the birth of James Coe (1838 - 1921), an American politician and businessman who served as the mayor of Bangor, Maine, and played a pivotal role in the development of the city's infrastructure.

Other notable individuals with the surname Coe include Sebastian Coe (born 1956), a British athlete and former Olympic champion in track and field, and David Coe (born 1962), an American singer-songwriter known for his work in the Christian music industry.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Coe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Coe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Coe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Coe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Coe, please contact us.

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