Coltrane
A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a coal mine.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,302 Americans carry the last name Coltrane. That puts it at #22,809 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.38 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 263,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Coltrane surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.3K
1 in 263,252
Census rank
#22,809
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,123 bearers of the surname Coltrane in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22809th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Coltrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (21.8%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Coltrane
The surname Coltrane is believed to have originated in Scotland, specifically in the Scottish Lowlands region. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "colt" and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement where horses were bred or kept.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Coltrane can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which documented Scottish landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This suggests that the Coltrane surname had already been established in Scotland by the late 13th century.
In the 15th century, the Coltrane family was known to have holdings in the counties of Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. Records from this period show various spellings of the name, including Coltrane, Coltran, and Coltraine.
A notable figure in the history of the Coltrane name was Sir Walter Coltrane, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the 16th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the Scottish Parliament.
Another significant bearer of the Coltrane surname was John Coltrane, the legendary American jazz saxophonist and composer (1926-1967). Although not of Scottish descent, his name originated from the same historical roots.
In the 17th century, the Coltrane family established themselves in Ireland, particularly in County Antrim. One notable member from this branch was Samuel Coltrane (1732-1808), an Irish Presbyterian minister and author.
Other notable individuals with the Coltrane surname include Alice Coltrane (1937-2007), an American jazz pianist and composer, and John William Coltrane (1890-1962), an American businessman and politician who served as the 34th governor of Kansas.
The Coltrane name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Coltranetown and Coltranehall, further highlighting its historical ties to the region.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Coltrane
Among Census respondents with the surname Coltrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (21.8%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Coltrane bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Coltrane surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White74.3%
- Black or African American21.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.1%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Coltrane surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,809 | #22,809 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,123 | 1,123 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Coltrane bearers went from 1,123 to 1,123 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #22,809 to #22,809.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Coltrane
FAQ
Coltrane surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Coltrane?
The surname Coltrane holds position #22,809 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,302 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Coltrane surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Coltrane, the largest self-reported group is White at 74.3%. The next largest groups are Black (21.8%) and Hispanic (2.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.