2000
#8,594
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,525
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.31
Rare Last name
Coots
Derived from the Old English word "cot," referring to a cottage or small house, likely indicating a cottager.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,168 Americans carry the last name Coots. That puts it at #8,661 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 82,235 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Coots surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, 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
4.2K
1 in 82,235
Census rank
#8,661
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
3.6K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 3,635 bearers of the surname Coots in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 8661st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Coots, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Coots
Among Census respondents with the surname Coots, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Coots bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 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.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
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 Coots surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.3% · 3,354
- Two or more races3.5% · 128
- Hispanic or Latino2.3% · 83
- Black or African American0.9% · 32
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.7% · 25
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.4% · 13
Timeline
Historical Census data for Coots
Coots appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#8,994
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,636
+111 bearers (+3.1%)
Per 100,000 1.23
Rank movement Down 400 places
2020
#8,661
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 3,635
-1 bearers (-0.0%)
Per 100,000 1.22
Rank movement Up 333 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #8,594 | 3,525 | 1.31 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #8,994 | 3,636 | 1.23 | +111 bearers (+3.1%) | Down 400 places |
| 2020 | #8,661 | 3,635 | 1.22 | -1 bearers (-0.0%) | Up 333 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Coots surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #8,994 | #8,661 | 3.7% |
| Count | 3,636 | 3,635 | -0.0% |
| Per 100K | 1.23 | 1.22 | -1.1% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Coots bearers went from 3,636 to 3,635 (+-0.0% change). The surname moved up 333 positions in the national ranking, going from #8,994 to #8,661.
FAQ
Coots surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Coots?
Name Census estimates that about 4,168 living Americans carry the surname Coots. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 82,235 residents.
How common is Coots?
Coots ranks #8,661 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.22 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 3,635 people with the surname Coots. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,168), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.22 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.22 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Coots.
Has Coots become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Coots went from 3,636 recorded bearers to 3,635. That is a decrease of 1 (-0.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #8,994 to #8,661.
What does the Census say about the background of Coots?
Among Census respondents with the surname Coots, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (3.5%) and Hispanic (2.3%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Coots in the 2020 Census, accounting for 92.3% (3,354 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Coots appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (92.3%), Two or More Races (3.5%), Hispanic (2.3%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Coots (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Coots mean?
Derived from the Old English word "cot," referring to a cottage or small house, likely indicating a cottager. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Coots (1.22 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Coots?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.