NameCensus.

UK surname

Corcoran

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "corcair" meaning "purple," likely referring to a dye maker.

In the 1881 census there were 1,437 people recorded with the Corcoran surname, ranking it #2,897 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,776, ranked #1,421, up from #2,897 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Leeds and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Craigmillar and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corcoran is 4,943 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 232.4%.

1881 census count

1,437

Ranked #2,897

Modern count

4,776

2016, ranked #1,421

Peak year

2010

4,943 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corcoran had 1,437 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,897 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,776 in 2016, ranked #1,421.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,968 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Corcoran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corcoran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corcoran 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 549 #4,796
1881 historical 1,437 #2,897
1891 historical 1,486 #2,959
1901 historical 1,968 #2,692
1911 historical 1,922 #2,579
1997 modern 4,528 #1,446
1998 modern 4,734 #1,439
1999 modern 4,776 #1,438
2000 modern 4,736 #1,436
2001 modern 4,616 #1,441
2002 modern 4,727 #1,444
2003 modern 4,612 #1,443
2004 modern 4,586 #1,448
2005 modern 4,529 #1,445
2006 modern 4,511 #1,451
2007 modern 4,571 #1,446
2008 modern 4,605 #1,443
2009 modern 4,723 #1,444
2010 modern 4,943 #1,409
2011 modern 4,835 #1,423
2012 modern 4,771 #1,409
2013 modern 4,829 #1,416
2014 modern 4,827 #1,428
2015 modern 4,789 #1,424
2016 modern 4,776 #1,421

Geography

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Where Corcorans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Craigmillar, Manchester, Wakefield and Carmarthenshire. 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 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 021 Brent
2 Craigmillar City of Edinburgh
3 Manchester 013 Manchester
4 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
5 Carmarthenshire 013 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corcoran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corcoran

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Corcoran, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Corcoran surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Corcoran household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Corcoran 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

Corcoran is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corcoran falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Corcoran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Corcoran

The surname Corcoran originated in Ireland and is derived from the Irish Gaelic name "O'Corcrain," meaning "descendant of Corcran." The name Corcran itself is derived from the old Irish word "corcar," meaning "purple" or "crimson," suggesting a connection to a person with reddish hair or complexion.

Corcoran is a relatively common name in Ireland, particularly in the counties of Cork, Kerry, and Limerick. It is believed to have first emerged as a surname in the 10th or 11th century, during the period when hereditary surnames were becoming more widespread in Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Corcoran can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a chronicle of Irish history compiled by monks in the 12th century. The Annals mention a certain "Corcran" who was killed in a battle in the year 1014.

In the 16th century, the Corcoran family held lands in County Cork, particularly in the area around Ballincollig. A notable member of the family during this period was Dermot Corcoran, who fought alongside the Irish chieftain Hugh O'Neill in the Nine Years' War against English rule in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Corcoran name appears in various historical records, such as the Petty Census of Ireland, which was conducted between 1659 and 1666. This census provides valuable information about the distribution and prevalence of the name during that time.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Corcoran was Michael Corcoran (1827-1863), an Irish-American military officer who served as a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He is credited with forming the famous Irish Brigade, which played a significant role in several major battles.

Another notable Corcoran was James A. Corcoran (1820-1889), an Irish-American lawyer and judge who served as a justice on the New York Supreme Court. He was also involved in several high-profile legal cases during his career.

In the 19th century, the name Corcoran also gained prominence in the field of education. Michael Corcoran (1827-1905) was a renowned Irish-American educator who founded several schools and played a significant role in the establishment of the Catholic school system in Philadelphia.

Patrick Corcoran (1840-1910) was an Irish-born American architect who designed numerous notable buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Old Executive Office Building and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, which bears his name.

Throughout history, the surname Corcoran has also been associated with various place names and older spellings. For example, the town of Ballincollig in County Cork was historically known as "Baile an Chorcranaigh," meaning "the town of the Corcoran family."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corcoran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corcoran 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. Lancashire leads with 693 Corcorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.15x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 693 4.15x
Yorkshire 228 1.63x
Middlesex 100 0.71x
Staffordshire 78 1.64x
Cheshire 59 1.90x
Surrey 32 0.47x
Glamorgan 27 1.10x
Lanarkshire 22 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 20 1.05x
Durham 19 0.45x
Somerset 15 0.66x
Monmouthshire 14 1.38x
Berwickshire 13 7.63x
Gloucestershire 13 0.47x
Herefordshire 11 1.91x
Kent 11 0.23x
Devon 9 0.31x
Midlothian 9 0.48x
Shropshire 9 0.74x
Angus 7 0.54x
Roxburghshire 7 2.75x
Northumberland 6 0.29x
Royal Navy 6 3.58x
Fife 5 0.60x
Derbyshire 4 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 4 1.06x
Renfrewshire 4 0.37x
Flintshire 3 0.79x
Hampshire 3 0.10x
Warwickshire 3 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.40x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Essex 1 0.04x
Morayshire 1 0.46x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 116 Corcorans recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.43x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 116 11.43x
Leeds 79 10.03x
Manchester 69 9.19x
Wardleworth 43 45.05x
Gorton 36 22.93x
Stoke Upon Trent 33 6.55x
Toxteth Park 26 4.60x
Wigan 25 10.71x
Little Bolton 22 10.24x
Wolverhampton 22 6.02x
Bootle Cum Linacre 20 15.08x
Bradford 20 5.92x
Newton 20 15.54x
Nottingham St Mary 20 4.08x
Everton 19 3.57x
Parr 19 31.79x
Salford 19 3.87x
Chorley 16 17.07x
Ashton Under Lyne 15 4.11x
Walcot 15 12.43x
Ashton In Makerfield 14 29.44x
Birkdale 14 33.13x
Birkenhead 14 5.65x
Bedwellty 13 7.24x
Stockport 13 8.13x
Whitechapel London 13 9.37x
Hulme 12 3.44x
St Pancras London 12 1.06x
Warrington 12 6.06x
Cheetham 11 8.83x
Great Bolton 11 4.97x
Shoreditch London 11 1.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 3.77x
Kirkdale 10 3.56x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 4.24x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.34x
Pendleton In Salford 10 5.03x
Tadcaster West 10 90.58x
Tonge 10 28.54x
Bermondsey 9 2.15x
Bickerstaffe 9 82.34x
Cardiff St Mary 9 6.67x
Hampton Bishop 9 703.13x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 11.01x
Spotland 9 4.85x
Warley 9 22.32x
Barony 8 0.69x
Blackburn 8 1.80x
Halifax 8 3.91x
Halliwell 8 13.16x
Mertoun 8 241.69x
Middlesbrough 8 4.40x
St George Hanover Square 8 3.23x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.69x
Cheam 7 95.37x
Clayton Le Moors 7 21.60x
Dundee 7 1.44x
Elland Cum Greetland 7 11.14x
Govan 7 0.62x
Shifnal 7 21.20x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 6 11.84x
Batley 6 4.53x
Dukinfield 6 4.18x
Eccleshill 6 17.67x
Edinburgh New North 6 36.56x
Hunslet 6 2.76x
Lichfield St Mary 6 43.80x
Maidstone 6 4.19x
Mitcham 6 13.84x
Morebattle 6 122.95x
Newton In Makerfield 6 11.73x
Rainford 6 33.22x
Royal Navy 6 4.18x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 9.85x
St Botolph Aldgate London 6 20.70x
Stoke Damerel 6 2.93x
Wolstanton 6 4.16x
Darfield 5 39.37x
Horton In Bradford 5 2.30x
Ovenden 5 8.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 169
Catherine 61
Margaret 53
Ellen 45
Bridget 39
Ann 30
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 24
Julia 15
Jane 13
Alice 12
Eliza 12
Annie 10
Kate 10
Maria 8
Martha 8
Hannah 6
Margt. 6
Anne 5
Winifred 5
May 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Barbara 3
Catharine 3
Emily 3
Katherine 3
Louisa 3
Maggie 3
Norah 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Bridgett 2
Cathrine 2
Cecila 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Johannah 2
Lizzie 2
Margrate 2
Minnie 2
Nancy 2
Teresa 2
Elisabeth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 151
James 77
Thomas 73
Patrick 60
Michael 43
William 40
Edward 23
Joseph 17
Martin 15
Henry 14
Richard 11
Peter 10
Bernard 8
Daniel 7
Thos. 7
David 6
Francis 6
Anthony 5
Charles 5
Wm. 4
Bryan 3
Dennis 3
Dominick 3
Edwd. 3
Hugh 3
Timothy 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Denis 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Michal 2
Nicholas 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Barney 1
Cornelias 1
Cornelious 1
Donelly 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Jerry 1
Jno. 1
Joh. 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Corcoran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corcoran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,437 people were recorded with the Corcoran surname. That placed it at #2,897 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corcoran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,776 in 2016. That gives Corcoran a modern rank of #1,421.

What does the Corcoran surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "corcair" meaning "purple," likely referring to a dye maker.

What does the Corcoran map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Corcoran 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.