Save Type Surname (from location) Usage English Pronounced Pron. /ˈkəʊts/(British English) /ˈkoʊts/(American English) [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsCotes, Coats Meaning & History Name for a cottager or a person who lived in a humble dwelling, derived from Old English cote meaning "cottage, hut". It could also be used as a habitational name for someone from any of numerous locations with this name.