NameCensus.

UK surname

Cordell

Derived from a French place name meaning "rope maker's town" or from an Old English word for "maker of cord."

In the 1881 census there were 657 people recorded with the Cordell surname, ranking it #5,456 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 985, ranked #5,873, down from #5,456 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, East Hertfordshire and Lossiemouth West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cordell is 1,082 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.9%.

1881 census count

657

Ranked #5,456

Modern count

985

2016, ranked #5,873

Peak year

1998

1,082 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cordell had 657 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,456 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 985 in 2016, ranked #5,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,039 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cordell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cordell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cordell 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 367 #6,469
1861 historical 398 #6,441
1881 historical 657 #5,456
1891 historical 701 #5,596
1901 historical 931 #5,008
1911 historical 1,039 #4,422
1997 modern 1,055 #5,256
1998 modern 1,082 #5,329
1999 modern 1,067 #5,409
2000 modern 1,069 #5,381
2001 modern 1,058 #5,333
2002 modern 1,079 #5,358
2003 modern 1,051 #5,371
2004 modern 1,066 #5,326
2005 modern 1,034 #5,391
2006 modern 1,025 #5,450
2007 modern 1,005 #5,586
2008 modern 985 #5,723
2009 modern 1,026 #5,648
2010 modern 1,045 #5,666
2011 modern 1,043 #5,620
2012 modern 1,018 #5,655
2013 modern 1,035 #5,679
2014 modern 1,027 #5,727
2015 modern 1,004 #5,788
2016 modern 985 #5,873

Geography

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Where Cordells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St John Hackney, St Matthew Bethnal Green and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, East Hertfordshire, Lossiemouth West, Cheltenham and Chiltern. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 012 Lichfield
2 East Hertfordshire 002 East Hertfordshire
3 Lossiemouth West Moray
4 Cheltenham 012 Cheltenham
5 Chiltern 012 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cordell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cordell

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Cordell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cordell 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cordell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cordell is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cordell falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cordell 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 Cordell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cordell

The surname Cordell originates from France and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cordel," meaning a small cord or rope. The name likely referred to someone who worked as a rope-maker or cord-maker.

In its early days, the surname was found in various regions of France, including Normandy, Brittany, and Picardy. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Doomsday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror.

The Cordell surname has undergone several spelling variations over the centuries, including Cordel, Cordell, Cordeill, and Cordelle. These variations can be attributed to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping practices during the Middle Ages.

One notable bearer of the Cordell name was Sir Robert Cordell (c. 1470-1537), an English politician and lawyer who served as the Solicitor General and Speaker of the House of Commons during the reign of Henry VIII. He played a significant role in the legal proceedings surrounding the King's annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Another prominent figure with the Cordell surname was William Cordell (1592-1668), an English colonist and landowner in Virginia. He served as a member of the House of Burgesses and was one of the founders of Middlesex County, Virginia.

In the 18th century, Joshua Cordell (1711-1789) was a notable American merchant and politician from Maryland. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and played a role in the American Revolutionary War.

The Cordell name has also been associated with several place names, such as Cordell, Oklahoma, which was named after a prominent landowner in the area, and Cordell Park in Somerville, Massachusetts, named after a local businessman and philanthropist.

Other notable individuals with the Cordell surname include Edward Cordell (1805-1878), a British politician and Member of Parliament, and Charles Cordell (1844-1926), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Armour Institute of Technology, now the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cordell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cordell 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 254 Cordells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 254 4.00x
Essex 164 13.08x
Hertfordshire 43 9.82x
Kent 30 1.38x
Surrey 27 0.87x
Staffordshire 26 1.21x
Lincolnshire 13 1.28x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.17x
Warwickshire 10 0.62x
Durham 9 0.48x
Glamorgan 9 0.81x
Sussex 9 0.84x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.99x
Norfolk 8 0.82x
Lancashire 7 0.09x
Hampshire 6 0.46x
Lanarkshire 4 0.19x
Worcestershire 4 0.48x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.59x
Northamptonshire 2 0.33x
Cornwall 1 0.14x
Devon 1 0.08x
Monmouthshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.32x
Shropshire 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 54 Cordells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.17x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 54 15.17x
Bethnal Green London 42 15.23x
Harlow 37 685.19x
Waltham Holy Cross 33 281.57x
Islington London 22 3.57x
Shoreditch London 22 7.99x
Kensington London 20 5.66x
Mile End Old Town London 18 13.32x
High Laver 16 1538.46x
Loughton 14 225.81x
Walsall Foreign 14 12.64x
Epping 13 255.40x
Nazeing 12 745.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 11 4.84x
East Retford 10 134.59x
St George In East London 10 16.74x
Over Whitacre 9 1428.57x
West Ham 9 3.25x
Ardeley 8 740.74x
Broxbourne 8 92.17x
Eastbourne 8 16.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 6.26x
Spitalfields London 8 16.75x
Barking 7 19.08x
Bishopwearmouth 7 4.32x
Deptford St Paul 7 4.19x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 7 142.86x
Shenley 7 242.21x
St Albans St Peter 7 47.39x
St Pancras London 7 1.37x
Binbrooke 6 237.15x
Bow London 6 7.42x
Llandaff 6 16.31x
Newington 6 2.56x
Paddington London 6 2.57x
Southminster 6 218.18x
Enfield 5 12.00x
Great Baddow 5 112.11x
Milton In Milton 5 54.29x
Portsea 5 1.96x
Wanstead 5 22.78x
Barony 4 0.77x
Bromsgrove 4 14.33x
Covenham St Bartholomew 4 754.72x
Doddington 4 135.59x
Edmonton 4 7.82x
Finchley 4 16.43x
Manchester 4 1.18x
Netteswell 4 555.56x
Ware 4 31.87x
Bengeo 3 59.06x
Briton Ferry 3 22.74x
Erith 3 14.05x
Faversham 3 14.52x
Fulham London 3 3.26x
Gillingham 3 6.72x
Isleworth 3 10.63x
Lambeth 3 0.54x
Poplar London 3 2.50x
Walesby 3 428.57x
Willesden 3 5.01x
Benwick 2 112.99x
Camberwell 2 0.49x
Cheshunt 2 13.07x
Harrietsham 2 135.14x
Hornsey 2 2.49x
Milton In Gravesend 2 6.16x
Northampton All Sts 2 9.87x
Norton Folgate London 2 96.15x
Putney 2 6.91x
Ramsey 2 19.82x
Richmond 2 4.61x
Salford 2 0.90x
Sittingbourne 2 11.69x
St Albans St Michael 2 40.90x
St Marylebone London 2 0.59x
Rainham 1 16.81x
Southwark Christchurch 1 3.36x
St George Hanover Square 1 0.89x
Woodford 1 7.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 24
Eliza 17
Emma 17
Ellen 16
Sarah 16
Jane 11
Alice 10
Annie 10
Ann 9
Emily 9
Susan 8
Harriet 7
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Matilda 5
Agnes 4
Hannah 4
Harriett 4
Martha 4
Amy 3
Julia 3
Kate 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Christiana 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Johanah 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Catherine 1
Cecilia 1
Charles 1
Elizath. 1
Elizh.J. 1
Ella 1
Emmaly 1
Esther 1
Jemima 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
James 32
John 32
George 23
Henry 20
Thomas 18
Charles 17
Joseph 15
Edward 12
Arthur 10
Benjamin 9
Alfred 7
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Harry 4
Robert 4
Wm. 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Chas. 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Samuel 2
Andrew 1
Annie 1
Bemjamin 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Gustavus 1
Horace 1
Hosea 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Nathan 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Cordell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cordell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 657 people were recorded with the Cordell surname. That placed it at #5,456 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cordell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 985 in 2016. That gives Cordell a modern rank of #5,873.

What does the Cordell surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "rope maker's town" or from an Old English word for "maker of cord."

What does the Cordell map show?

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