UK surname
English habitation name from a place named with Old English cord "cord" and inga "people", likely meaning "dwellers by a cord (or line) of land".
In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Cordingly surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #19,999 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Bookham, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cordingly is 154 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.6%.
1881 census count
98
Ranked #19,999
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1851
154 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cordingly surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cordingly surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 154 | #12,668 |
| 1861 | historical | 125 | #17,678 |
| 1881 | historical | 98 | #19,999 |
| 1891 | historical | 82 | #26,494 |
| 1901 | historical | 70 | #26,383 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 15 | #36,457 |
| 1999 | modern | 20 | #35,923 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 21 | #35,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 14 | #37,124 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Bookham, Great, Bradford and Stockport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | Bookham, Great | Surrey |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Stockport | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cordingly surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cordingly, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cordingly surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cordingly household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cordingly is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cordingly is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cordingly, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cordingly is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the village of Cordingley, which is located in the county of Yorkshire. The name is likely derived from the Old English words "cording" meaning a cord or rope, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cordelei." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
During the 13th century, the name appears in various records with spellings such as "Cordingeleye," "Cordinglay," and "Cordyngleye." These variations likely reflect the local dialects and the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Cordingley (c. 1490 - 1557), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1541 and was known for his philanthropic efforts in supporting the city's poor.
Another prominent figure was Thomas Cordingley (1626 - 1704), an English clergyman and author. He served as the Rector of Whitchurch in Shropshire and published several works on theology and religious topics.
In the 18th century, Richard Cordingley (1737 - 1815) made a name for himself as a successful industrialist and entrepreneur in the textile industry. He established several mills in Yorkshire and played a significant role in the region's industrial development.
During the 19th century, the name gained recognition in the field of literature with the writer and poet Elizabeth Cordingley (1825 - 1892). Her works, which often explored themes of nature and spirituality, were widely acclaimed and contributed to the cultural landscape of Victorian England.
Another notable figure from this period was Sir Robert Cordingley (1857 - 1935), a British civil engineer and entrepreneur. He was instrumental in the construction of several major infrastructure projects, including the Mersey Railway Tunnel and the Forth Bridge in Scotland.
While the surname Cordingly is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, clergy, industrialists, writers, and engineers.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cordingly surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 48 Cordinglys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.07x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 48 | 5.07x |
| Lancashire | 23 | 2.03x |
| Surrey | 12 | 2.58x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 3.27x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.95x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.70x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.24x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.22x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.50x |
| Dorset | 1 | 1.59x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Bookham in Surrey leads with 11 Cordinglys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3055.56x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Bookham | 11 | 3055.56x |
| Heckmondwike | 9 | 295.08x |
| Droylsden | 8 | 216.22x |
| Yarm | 7 | 1428.57x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 5 | 27.75x |
| Dewsbury | 5 | 51.49x |
| Manningham | 5 | 42.84x |
| St Mark Lincoln | 5 | 1515.15x |
| Blackburn | 4 | 13.25x |
| Halifax | 4 | 28.76x |
| Holy Trinity | 4 | 17.56x |
| Liversedge | 4 | 94.79x |
| Bramley In Bramley | 3 | 82.64x |
| Accrington | 2 | 19.40x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 8.07x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 2 | 8.19x |
| Bradford | 2 | 8.72x |
| Horton In Bradford | 2 | 13.52x |
| Nantwich | 2 | 81.63x |
| Thurstonland | 2 | 606.06x |
| Ardingly | 1 | 196.08x |
| Bradford Abbas | 1 | 588.24x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.87x |
| Cummersdale | 1 | 357.14x |
| Eastry | 1 | 222.22x |
| Gorton | 1 | 9.38x |
| Hastings Holy Trinity | 1 | 84.03x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.96x |
| New Malton | 1 | 88.50x |
| Tavistock | 1 | 44.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cordingly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 6 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Edith | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Alicia | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Betty | 1 |
| Carolin | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Drusilla | 1 |
| Emiley | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Louesia | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Pricilla | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cordingly surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cordingly households.
FAQ
In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Cordingly surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Cordingly a modern rank of #36,760.
English habitation name from a place named with Old English cord "cord" and inga "people", likely meaning "dwellers by a cord (or line) of land".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cordingly bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.