NameCensus.

UK surname

Cording

An English locational surname from a place called Cording or Cordingley.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Cording surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 467, ranked #10,522, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Blaenau Gwent and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cording is 518 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.0%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

467

2016, ranked #10,522

Peak year

1999

518 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cording had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 467 in 2016, ranked #10,522.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 464 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cording surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cording surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cording 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 246 #10,010
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 408 #8,733
1901 historical 423 #9,113
1911 historical 464 #8,307
1997 modern 497 #9,340
1998 modern 500 #9,590
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 513 #9,441
2001 modern 507 #9,364
2002 modern 501 #9,611
2003 modern 477 #9,815
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 463 #9,989
2006 modern 459 #10,088
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 481 #9,930
2009 modern 495 #9,942
2010 modern 493 #10,161
2011 modern 487 #10,155
2012 modern 468 #10,366
2013 modern 485 #10,267
2014 modern 487 #10,289
2015 modern 474 #10,418
2016 modern 467 #10,522

Geography

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Where Cordings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, St Leonard Shoreditch, Kentisbere, Blackborough and St Philip and Jacob. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Blaenau Gwent, Bradford and North Devon. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Kentisbere, Blackborough Devon
5 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
2 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
3 Bradford 043 Bradford
4 North Devon 013 North Devon
5 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cording

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cording

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cording is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cording 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

Cording falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cording

The surname Cording has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cord," which referred to a rope or cord maker. This occupation-based surname suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were involved in the production or trade of ropes or cords.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Cording can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a Robert Cordyng is mentioned. The name also appeared in various medieval records, including the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which listed a Willelmus Cordyng.

In the 14th century, the surname Cording appeared in various forms, such as Cordynge, Cordinges, and Cordingge, reflecting the variations in spelling during that time. One notable bearer of this name was William Cordyng, who was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1380.

As the surname spread across England, it became associated with certain place names. For instance, the village of Cordingley in West Yorkshire is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "cord" and "inga," meaning "the dwellers by the cord makers."

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several individuals with the surname Cording left their mark on history. One such person was John Cording, who was born in 1560 and served as the Mayor of Southampton in 1609. Another notable figure was Robert Cording, a merchant from London who lived between 1580 and 1647.

In the 18th century, the Cording surname continued to be prominent, with individuals like William Cording (1703-1781), a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire, and Thomas Cording (1725-1798), a renowned clockmaker from London.

The 19th century saw the surname Cording spread further across England and beyond. One notable bearer was Charles Cording (1832-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. Another was John Cording (1856-1932), a respected educator and headmaster of a prestigious school in London.

While these are just a few examples, the surname Cording has a rich history that can be traced back to its occupational origins in medieval England. Its legacy continues to be carried on by individuals bearing this name in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cording families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cording 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. Somerset leads with 93 Cordings recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.07x.

County Total Index
Somerset 93 17.07x
Middlesex 52 1.54x
Devon 32 4.54x
Lancashire 29 0.72x
Gloucestershire 22 3.31x
Glamorgan 19 3.22x
Surrey 19 1.15x
Staffordshire 15 1.31x
Yorkshire 14 0.42x
Monmouthshire 12 4.90x
Berkshire 7 2.76x
Hampshire 6 0.86x
Hertfordshire 5 2.14x
Kent 5 0.43x
Worcestershire 4 0.91x
Dorset 3 1.35x
Essex 2 0.30x
Norfolk 2 0.38x
West Lothian 2 3.92x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.48x
Sussex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 20 Cordings recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.00x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 32.00x
Shoreditch London 19 12.95x
Wellington 14 189.45x
Huyton With Roby 13 276.01x
Featherstone 12 318.30x
Monmouth 11 169.49x
Kingswinford 10 24.11x
Runnington 10 12500.00x
Ystradyfodwg 9 17.41x
Enmore 8 2424.24x
Hillfarrance 8 1632.65x
Roath 7 26.15x
Bradford 6 31.91x
Dulverton 6 375.00x
Hackney London 6 3.16x
Kentisbeare 6 618.56x
Lambeth 6 2.03x
Old Cleeve 6 307.69x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 11.06x
Ruscombe 6 1395.35x
St Pancras London 6 2.20x
Taunton St James 6 75.47x
Tiverton 6 49.42x
Ardwick 5 13.80x
Bethnal Green London 5 3.40x
Kensington London 5 2.66x
Kings Brompton Brompton 5 1724.14x
Maidstone 5 14.53x
Wrington 5 273.22x
Burrington 4 769.23x
Finchley 4 30.82x
Stawley 4 2222.22x
Topsham 4 120.12x
Worcester St John 4 75.76x
Bermondsey 3 2.98x
Clapham 3 7.09x
East Barnet 3 64.79x
Farnworth 3 12.47x
Luxborough 3 625.00x
Sherborne 3 45.87x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 4.40x
St George Hanover Square 3 5.03x
Willenhall 3 14.02x
Bashall Eaves 2 666.67x
Battersea 2 1.61x
Berkhampstead 2 38.17x
Cardiff St Mary 2 6.16x
Carhampton 2 266.67x
Chelsea London 2 1.96x
Dalmeny 2 102.56x
Grenton 2 1250.00x
Hoveton St John 2 588.24x
Milverton 2 99.50x
Newton St Cyres 2 202.02x
North Petherton 2 45.56x
Portsea 2 1.47x
Widnes 2 6.90x
Birkenhead 1 1.68x
Bishops Lydeard 1 71.94x
Brighton 1 0.87x
Bristol St Paul In 1 5.66x
Camberwell 1 0.46x
Colchester St Nicholas 1 166.67x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 34.84x
Exeter Heavitree 1 19.05x
Godalming 1 9.63x
Grays Thurrock 1 16.10x
Holdenhurst 1 5.49x
Leckwith 1 71.94x
Mayfield 1 69.93x
Northwood 1 10.12x
Norton Fitzwarren 1 129.87x
Royal Navy 1 2.90x
Shadwell London 1 10.56x
Shebbear 1 94.34x
Taunton St Mary 1 10.00x
Timberscombe 1 222.22x
Tormoham 1 3.35x
Tregare 1 303.03x
Uffculme 1 47.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 11
Ann 10
Eliza 8
Emma 8
Caroline 6
Jane 6
Louisa 6
Lucy 6
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Matilda 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Elizth. 2
Ester 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elizath. 1
Elizebeth 1
Evanjeline 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Leah 1
Lizzy 1
Margaret 1
Maryann 1
May 1
Olive 1
Phoebe 1
Ruth 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 18
James 16
George 14
Thomas 9
Henry 8
Charles 7
Robert 7
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Samuel 4
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Cornelius 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Elias 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Charlie 1
Cuthbert 1
David 1
Edwd.Albert 1
Emma 1
Esau 1
Frederic 1
Geo.J. 1
Gregory 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Paesar 1
Richard 1
Robt.D. 1
Rodney 1
Samuell 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Trever 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cording surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cording surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Cording surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cording surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 467 in 2016. That gives Cording a modern rank of #10,522.

What does the Cording surname mean?

An English locational surname from a place called Cording or Cordingley.

What does the Cording map show?

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