NameCensus.

UK surname

Corben

A surname derived from the Welsh word "corben," meaning a person from a ravine or a small valley.

In the 1881 census there were 218 people recorded with the Corben surname, ranking it #12,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, down from #12,158 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Neath Port Talbot and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corben is 315 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.8%.

1881 census count

218

Ranked #12,158

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

1901

315 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corben had 218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,158 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 315 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Corben surname distribution map

The map shows where the Corben surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Corben surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corben over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 179 #11,346
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 218 #12,158
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 315 #11,263
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 252 #15,193
1998 modern 260 #15,291
1999 modern 247 #15,932
2000 modern 249 #15,787
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 245 #16,041
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 240 #16,144
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 223 #17,248
2008 modern 223 #17,395
2009 modern 226 #17,587
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 233 #17,339
2013 modern 237 #17,423
2014 modern 241 #17,338
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Corbens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner, Lambeth, Swanage and Abbotsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Neath Port Talbot and North Dorset. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 3
2 Alverstoke, Gosport, Rowner Hampshire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Swanage Dorset
5 Abbotsbury Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
3 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
4 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
5 North Dorset 004 North Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corben

These lists show first names that appear often with the Corben surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corben

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Corben, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Corben surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Corben household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Corben is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Corben is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corben falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Corben is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Corben, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Corben

The surname Corben is believed to have its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the place name "Corben" or "Corbyn," which could refer to several different locations in England.

One theory suggests that the name is derived from the Old English words "corr," meaning a curved or winding stream, and "byn," meaning a hill or dwelling. This would indicate that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a winding stream on a hill or elevated area.

Another possibility is that the name is derived from the Old French word "corbeau," meaning a raven or crow. This could suggest that the name was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion, or perhaps someone who lived near a place associated with ravens or crows.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Corben can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William Corben living in Oxfordshire. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Corben is mentioned.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Corben, a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament who lived in the 16th century (c. 1520-1584). He served as Sheriff of Montgomeryshire and represented the county in the House of Commons during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was Robert Corben, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who published several works on theology and biblical studies (c. 1610-1670).

In the 18th century, there was a prominent family of Corbens who were landowners and gentry in Shropshire, England. One member of this family was Sir Corbet Corben (1712-1799), a Member of Parliament who served as High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1745.

During the 19th century, the name Corben appeared in various parts of England, including London, where a notable individual was Charles Corben (1818-1891), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant donations to educational institutions.

Throughout its history, the surname Corben has been subject to various spellings, including Corbyn, Corbin, and Corbett, reflecting the regional variations and influences on the name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corben families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corben surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hampshire leads with 50 Corbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.32x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 50 11.32x
Dorset 36 25.45x
Middlesex 34 1.58x
Surrey 30 2.86x
Kent 27 3.67x
Northamptonshire 9 4.44x
Devon 7 1.56x
Essex 7 1.65x
Sussex 5 1.38x
Yorkshire 5 0.23x
Royal Navy 3 11.68x
Suffolk 3 1.14x
Somerset 2 0.58x
Derbyshire 1 0.30x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 27 Corbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.18x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 27 31.18x
Swanage 21 1200.00x
Lambeth 18 9.58x
Ramsgate 10 83.26x
Abbotsbury 9 1250.00x
Shoreditch London 9 9.63x
Alverstoke 8 50.03x
Greenwich 8 23.31x
Hornsey 8 29.35x
Southampton St Mary 8 28.80x
Camberwell 7 5.08x
Twickenham 7 75.76x
West Ham 7 7.45x
Maidstone 6 27.38x
Stoke Damerel 6 19.10x
Clapham 5 18.55x
Skinningrove 5 381.68x
Standground 5 515.46x
Islington London 4 1.91x
Milborne St Andrew 4 952.38x
Peterborough 4 27.25x
Royal Navy 3 13.66x
Southwold 3 193.55x
Christchurch 2 20.88x
Hastings St Andrew 2 153.85x
Minster In Sheppey 2 16.42x
Ratcliffe London 2 16.81x
Ventnor 2 47.62x
Westbourne 2 110.50x
Worth Matravers 2 869.57x
Bathwick 1 26.04x
Bedhampton 1 192.31x
Chartham 1 54.64x
Derby St Alkmund 1 9.89x
Devonport 1 19.38x
Duddingston 1 17.24x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 12.90x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
Lytham 1 25.64x
South Stoneham 1 10.44x
Southampton All Sts 1 13.19x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
St Pancras London 1 0.58x
Taunton St Mary 1 15.70x
Westminster St James 1 4.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Corben surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Corben surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 13
George 11
Charles 8
James 8
William 8
Henry 6
Harry 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Albert 2
Ebenezer 2
Gilbert 2
Moses 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Jeremiah 1
Joseph 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Titus 1
Tom 1
Willim. 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Corben surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corben surname in 1881?

In 1881, 218 people were recorded with the Corben surname. That placed it at #12,158 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corben surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Corben a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Corben surname mean?

A surname derived from the Welsh word "corben," meaning a person from a ravine or a small valley.

What does the Corben map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Corben bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.