NameCensus.

UK surname

Corder

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of cord or rope.

In the 1881 census there were 519 people recorded with the Corder surname, ranking it #6,572 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 420, ranked #11,414, down from #6,572 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gestingthorpe, Hadleigh and Hedingham, Castle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Nithsdale, Norwich and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corder is 630 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.1%.

1881 census count

519

Ranked #6,572

Modern count

420

2016, ranked #11,414

Peak year

1901

630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corder had 519 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,572 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016, ranked #11,414.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 630 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Corder surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corder surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corder 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 316 #8,054
1881 historical 519 #6,572
1891 historical 530 #7,073
1901 historical 630 #6,801
1911 historical 606 #6,794
1997 modern 482 #9,567
1998 modern 492 #9,715
1999 modern 495 #9,731
2000 modern 496 #9,689
2001 modern 478 #9,783
2002 modern 476 #9,999
2003 modern 444 #10,393
2004 modern 441 #10,474
2005 modern 424 #10,691
2006 modern 429 #10,645
2007 modern 411 #11,144
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 420 #11,266
2010 modern 425 #11,423
2011 modern 415 #11,514
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 414 #11,624
2014 modern 416 #11,660
2015 modern 422 #11,409
2016 modern 420 #11,414

Geography

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Where Corders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gestingthorpe, Hadleigh, Hedingham, Castle and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Nithsdale, Norwich, Braintree and Sefton. 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 Gestingthorpe Suffolk
2 Hadleigh Suffolk
3 Hedingham, Castle Essex
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
2 Norwich 001 Norwich
3 Braintree 002 Braintree
4 Braintree 014 Braintree
5 Sefton 022 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corder

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corder

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Corder, 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 Corder surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Corder 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Corder 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

Corder 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

Corder 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 Corder is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Corder

The surname Corder is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word 'cordier,' which means 'cord maker' or 'rope maker.' This occupational surname was likely given to individuals or families who worked in the trade of making ropes and cords from materials like hemp or flax.

One of the earliest records of the name Corder can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from the late 13th century, where it is spelled as 'Cordere.' This suggests that the name was already in use and established in England by this time. The surname is also mentioned in various tax rolls and parish records from the 14th and 15th centuries, with spellings such as 'Cordour' and 'Cordar' appearing in different regions of the country.

In the 16th century, the name Corder gained prominence with the birth of William Corder (1572-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge. Another notable figure was Robert Corder (1579-1639), a Protestant minister and author who published several religious works during his lifetime.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with certain geographical areas. For instance, the Corders of Ipswich, Suffolk, were a prominent family in the 17th and 18th centuries. One member, Robert Corder (1620-1698), was a successful merchant and benefactor who funded the construction of several buildings in the town.

In the 19th century, the name Corder gained notoriety due to William Corder (1803-1828), a notorious English murderer who was convicted and executed for the infamous Red Barn Murder. Despite this tragic association, the surname continued to be carried by many respectable individuals, such as the author and critic Charles Lethbridge Kingsford Corder (1853-1916) and the English cricketer Walter Corder (1862-1906).

Other notable individuals with the surname Corder include Henry Marshall Corder (1840-1904), an English-born Australian politician and businessman, and Paul Corder (1944-2022), a British-born Canadian television producer and writer best known for his work on the acclaimed series 'Da Vinci's Inquest.'

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corder families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corder 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. Essex leads with 166 Corders recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.64x.

County Total Index
Essex 166 16.64x
Middlesex 88 1.74x
Suffolk 40 6.50x
Yorkshire 30 0.60x
Cornwall 25 4.37x
Surrey 25 1.02x
Sussex 22 2.58x
Kent 21 1.22x
Northumberland 16 2.13x
Lancashire 14 0.23x
Lincolnshire 12 1.49x
Norfolk 12 1.54x
Berkshire 10 2.64x
Durham 8 0.53x
Gloucestershire 7 0.71x
Warwickshire 7 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.56x
Bedfordshire 4 1.53x
Oxfordshire 2 0.64x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gestingthorpe in Essex leads with 33 Corders recorded in 1881 and an index of 2972.97x.

Place Total Index
Gestingthorpe 33 2972.97x
Falmouth 23 113.58x
Hadleigh 20 335.01x
Hackney London 17 6.00x
Sible Hedingham 16 480.48x
Barking 13 44.55x
Islington London 13 2.65x
Walesby 11 1964.29x
Brighton 10 5.82x
Chirton 10 58.79x
Halstead 10 85.91x
Stisted 9 697.67x
Woolwich 9 14.13x
Bishopwearmouth 8 6.20x
Earls Colne 8 290.91x
Huddersfield 8 10.97x
Norwich St Andrew 8 601.50x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.19x
Castle Hedingham 7 388.89x
Ipswich St Margaret 7 33.52x
Medlar With Wesham 7 388.89x
Preston 7 47.04x
Reading St Giles 7 18.81x
Bocking 6 100.00x
Chelsea London 6 3.94x
Coxlodge 6 104.90x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 53.48x
Edgbaston 6 15.19x
Golcar 6 45.32x
Ramsgate 6 21.32x
St Marylebone London 6 2.22x
Barling 5 793.65x
Clifton 5 9.98x
East Bedfont 5 199.20x
Goldhanger 5 581.40x
Handsworth 5 37.76x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 28.99x
Lambeth 5 1.13x
Romford 5 31.71x
St Andrewthe Less 5 13.68x
St Pancras London 5 1.23x
Wethersfield 5 199.20x
Battersea 4 2.15x
Claydon 4 434.78x
Great Wakering 4 179.37x
Hove 4 10.70x
Kirkdale 4 3.97x
Lexden 4 100.00x
Little Dunmow 4 689.66x
Little Yeldham 4 800.00x
Paddington London 4 2.15x
Tooting Graveney 4 58.39x
Westminster St James 4 7.70x
Belchamp Otten 3 517.24x
Belchamp Walter 3 280.37x
Bermondsey 3 1.99x
Great Baddow 3 84.51x
Hammersmith London 3 2.41x
Norwich St Augustine 3 95.85x
Shoreditch London 3 1.37x
Wivenhoe 3 75.76x
Bromley London 2 1.80x
Cheltenham 2 2.62x
Cranfield 2 79.68x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.50x
Edmonton 2 4.91x
Fulham London 2 2.73x
Greenstead 2 137.93x
Hanwell 2 22.32x
Maldon St Peter 2 39.37x
Sheffield 2 1.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 1.97x
Bensington 1 50.25x
Borley 1 277.78x
Byfleet 1 45.66x
Clase 1 3.06x
Finchampstead 1 86.96x
Marston Moretaine 1 49.02x
Penge 1 3.10x
Wanstead 1 5.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 14
Edith 13
Alice 12
Eliza 11
Emma 11
Emily 10
Jane 10
Ann 9
Harriet 9
Louisa 7
Maria 7
Charlotte 6
Ellen 6
Hannah 6
Caroline 4
Jessie 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Annie 3
Henrietta 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Margaretta 2
Rachel 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Bridget 1
C. 1
Dorothea 1
E.M.Violet 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Elizth. 1
Julia 1
Laura 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 25
George 22
Henry 17
Frederick 13
Charles 11
Thomas 11
Edward 9
James 7
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Fredk. 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Micah 2
Aldophe 1
Ambrose 1
Archer 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Clarance 1
Ebinezer 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Emmanuel 1
Ephraim 1
Ezekiel 1
Francis 1
Geo.H. 1
Isaac 1
Jeffery 1
Jno 1
Josiah 1
Julias 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Corder surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corder surname in 1881?

In 1881, 519 people were recorded with the Corder surname. That placed it at #6,572 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corder surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 420 in 2016. That gives Corder a modern rank of #11,414.

What does the Corder surname mean?

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of cord or rope.

What does the Corder map show?

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