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

Coots, 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 Coots surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Coots in America

Coots is the 8994th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Coots surname appeared 3,636 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Coots.

We can also compare 2010 data for Coots 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 Coots

The surname "COOTS" originated in England during the late medieval period, and is believed to be derived from an Anglo-Saxon word "cot," meaning a small house or cottage. It was likely a descriptive name given to someone who lived in a small dwelling or worked as a cottager.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a William Cote. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also list a John Cote, indicating the name's presence in different regions of England during that time.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as "Cote," "Cotte," and "Cottes," reflecting the inconsistent spelling practices of the era. The modern spelling of "COOTS" emerged in the 16th century, likely influenced by regional dialects and the evolving English language.

The surname "COOTS" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John Coots (c. 1610-1672), an English soldier and politician who served as a Colonel in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Coots (1751-1830), an English-born American pioneer and surveyor who played a significant role in the early settlement of Tennessee. He was among the first settlers in the Cumberland region and helped establish the town of Gallatin.

In the literary world, George Coots (1837-1890) was a notable Canadian poet and journalist who contributed significantly to the literary scene of his time. His works often reflected the experiences of rural life and the Canadian landscape.

The surname also has connections to the United States military. Lieutenant Colonel George Coots Jr. (1892-1967) was a highly decorated American officer who served in World War I and World War II, earning numerous commendations for his bravery and leadership.

More recently, Charles Coots (1919-2004) was an American songwriter and composer who co-wrote several popular songs, including "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" and "Ol' Man River," which became standards in the American music canon.

While these are just a few examples, the surname "COOTS" has a rich history spanning multiple centuries and regions, with numerous individuals leaving their mark in various fields and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Coots

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

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

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

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