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

Cottonham, 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 Cottonham surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cottonham in America

Cottonham is the 133048th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cottonham surname appeared 127 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cottonham.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cottonham 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 Cottonham

The surname Cottonham has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "cot" meaning a small dwelling or cottage, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name was initially used to identify someone who lived in a small hamlet or settlement known as Cottonham.

The name Cottonham is closely linked to the area of Cottenham in Cambridgeshire, which was recorded as "Cottenhaum" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This settlement's name is believed to have been derived from the same roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the two.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cottonham can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1196, where a Richard de Cottenham is mentioned. This suggests that the surname had already begun to establish itself by the late 12th century.

Over the centuries, the name has been subject to various spellings, including Cottingham, Cottenham, and Cottonham. This variation was not uncommon during this period, as spelling conventions were not yet standardized.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Cottonham include John Cottonham, a prominent merchant in London during the 15th century, and Thomas Cottonham, a landowner in Norfolk who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines records from 1524.

Sir John Cottonham, born in 1618, was a prominent figure in the English Civil War, serving as a colonel in the Parliamentarian forces. He was later knighted for his service and became a Member of Parliament.

In the literary world, Mary Cottonham (1690-1758) was a renowned poet and writer, known for her contributions to the Augustan literary circle in London.

Another notable figure was William Cottonham (1768-1842), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Covent Garden Theatre and the Cottonham Estate in Kensington.

While the surname Cottonham is not as common today as it once was, its rich history and connections to various regions in England serve as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cottonham

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

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

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

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