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

Coles, 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 Coles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coles in America

Coles is the 2505th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coles surname appeared 14,449 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 5 people would have the surname Coles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coles 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 Coles

The surname Coles has its roots in England, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "cole," which means coal, referring to a person who worked as a coal burner or seller.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Coles can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Coles" and "Colles." This comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England following the Norman Conquest provides valuable insight into the origins and early distribution of the name.

During the 13th century, the name Coles appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England, including Oxfordshire, Surrey, and Warwickshire. It was often associated with specific locations, such as Cole Harbour in Devon and Cole Street in London.

One notable figure bearing the surname Coles was William Coles (1675-1662), an English botanist and author of the influential work "The Art of Simpling," published in 1656. This book was a comprehensive guide to the identification and medicinal uses of plants.

Another prominent individual with the surname Coles was Elisha Coles (1608-1688), an English lexicographer and author of the "Dictionary English-Latin and English-Greek" (1677), which was widely used in schools at the time.

In the 18th century, the surname Coles gained further prominence with the birth of Cowper Phipps Coles (1743-1806), a British naval officer and inventor. He is credited with developing the sliding keel, a groundbreaking design that improved the stability and maneuverability of ships.

Moving into the 19th century, we encounter Abraham Coles (1813-1891), an American naval officer and inventor who designed the revolutionary revolving turret for ironclad warships during the American Civil War.

Another notable figure was Sir Jenkin Coles (1860-1946), a Welsh businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the coal industry in South Wales.

Throughout its history, the surname Coles has undergone various spelling variations, such as Cole, Coale, and Colle, reflecting the fluidity of name spellings in earlier periods. However, the core meaning and association with the coal industry have persisted over time, making it a distinctive and historically significant surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coles

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

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 Coles 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 Coles 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 Coles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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