This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Coles family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Coles Family History

Coles Surname Meaning

English (southern): variant of Cole with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Coles family from?

You can see how Coles families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Coles family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Coles families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 1,692 Coles families living in London. This was about 15% of all the recorded Coles's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Coles families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Coles surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Coles ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Coles. 8% of Coles men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Coles women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Coles were Gardener and Private Means.

View Census Data for Coles | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Gardener
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Coles family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 263,000 census records available for the last name Coles. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Coles census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Coles

Passenger Lists

There are 32,000 immigration records available for the last name Coles. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Coles immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 25,000 military records available for the last name Coles. For the veterans among your Coles ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Coles military records

You've only scratched the surface of Coles family history

Discover More

What is the average Coles lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Coles life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Coles in 1942 was 36, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Coles

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Coles ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Coles family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial