Cote
What is the origin of the last name Cote?
Meaning and origin
The last name Cote derives from the French word "cote," meaning a hillside or slope. It is a toponymic surname, indicating that it is based on a geographic feature. In this case, the name likely originated as a descriptor for someone living near or on a hillside.
The longer story
The last name Cote has origins in both French and English. In French, the word "cote" refers to a slope or hillside. The surname may have been given to someone who lived near or on a hillside. In English, the name Cote is derived from the Old English word "cot," which means a small cottage or shelter.
The Cote surname is relatively common, with a wide distribution across countries such as the United States, Canada, France, and England. This suggests that the name has been carried by individuals who migrated or were part of various historical events, such as colonization or trade.
Research indicates that the spelling variations of the Cote surname can be influenced by regional accents or dialects. Some common variations include Cotes, Coats, Coot, Coat, and Coate. These variations can make it challenging to trace the exact origins of individuals with the Cote last name.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,681
Cote was the 1,681st most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 21,446 people, about 6.9 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Where it is found
Countries linked to Cote.
Surnames like Cote
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Cote is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.