NameCensus.

UK surname

Cord

A surname derived from the Old French word "corde," meaning a rope or cord maker.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Cord surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, St James Westminster and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Downfield, Stobswell and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cord is 216 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.8%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

1861

216 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cord had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Cord surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cord surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cord 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 161 #17,473
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 70 #25,853
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 130 #23,805
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 131 #24,282
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Cords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, St James Westminster, Manchester, Northill and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Downfield, Stobswell, Newport, Whitfield and Fairmuir. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 St James Westminster London (West Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Northill Cornwall
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Downfield Dundee City
2 Stobswell Dundee City
3 Newport 002 Newport
4 Whitfield Dundee City
5 Fairmuir Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cord

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cord

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Cord surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cord household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cord is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cord 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

Cord 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 Cord is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cord

The surname CORD is derived from the Old French word "corde," which means "rope" or "cord." This name originated in the region of Normandy, France, during the medieval period.

CORD was likely an occupational surname given to individuals who worked with ropes, such as rope makers or sailors. It may have also been bestowed upon those who lived near a rope-making establishment or a location associated with rope or cord.

The earliest recorded mention of the surname CORD can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CORD surname is Walter Cord, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. Another early bearer of the name was Roger Cord, who was recorded in the Curia Regis Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1205.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Corde, Cordy, and Cordes, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. For example, Richard Corde was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272, while John Cordy was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297.

Notable individuals with the surname CORD include:

1. Sir John Cord (1490-1557), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Mucius Cord (1565-1625), a French philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the development of algebra and the study of conic sections.

3. William Cord (1628-1698), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Northamptonshire.

4. Marie-Louise Cord (1720-1795), a French painter and engraver known for her portrait miniatures and landscapes.

5. Henry Cord (1834-1904), an American businessman and industrialist who founded the Cord Automobile Company, which produced luxury vehicles in the early 20th century.

The surname CORD has also been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Cordville, a small village in Dorset, England, and Cordtown, a hamlet in County Wexford, Ireland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cord families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cord 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Cords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 1.42x
Lanarkshire 12 3.77x
Lancashire 12 1.03x
Monmouthshire 10 14.04x
Sussex 10 6.02x
Ayrshire 7 9.50x
Hampshire 7 3.47x
Devon 6 2.93x
Somerset 5 3.15x
Cornwall 3 2.69x
Gloucestershire 2 1.04x
Lincolnshire 2 1.27x
Renfrewshire 2 2.62x
Surrey 2 0.42x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.10x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.68x
Cheshire 1 0.46x
Cumberland 1 1.18x
Kent 1 0.30x
Norfolk 1 0.66x
Wiltshire 1 1.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 12 Cords recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.88x.

Place Total Index
Barony 12 14.88x
Bedwellty 10 79.55x
Brighton 7 20.89x
Church 7 424.24x
Dalmellington 7 322.58x
Bromley London 6 27.69x
Clevedon 5 303.03x
East Meon 4 754.72x
Exeter St Mary Steps 4 869.57x
Chelsea London 3 10.11x
Salford 3 8.73x
St Ives 3 137.61x
Abbey 2 17.17x
Bristol St Paul In 2 38.84x
Camberwell 2 3.18x
Newick 2 540.54x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 12.66x
Portsmouth 2 43.01x
St Pancras London 2 2.52x
Sutton St Mary 2 134.23x
Westminster St James 2 19.74x
Charlton 1 44.84x
Farnham Royal 1 285.71x
Fraserburgh 1 38.91x
Hambledon 1 147.06x
Haslingden 1 20.66x
Hove 1 13.72x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 21.98x
Little Bolton 1 6.65x
Mere 1 101.01x
Oakmere 1 714.29x
Orton 1 666.67x
Westminster St Margaret 1 21.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Ellen 2
Lucy 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Cather. 1
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Rebecca 1
Susan 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cord surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cord surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Cord surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cord surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Cord a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Cord surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "corde," meaning a rope or cord maker.

What does the Cord map show?

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