NameCensus.

UK surname

Cordrey

An occupational surname possibly derived from a cord-maker or cord-seller.

In the 1881 census there were 174 people recorded with the Cordrey surname, ranking it #14,042 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, down from #14,042 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shiplake, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gloucester, Maidstone and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cordrey is 284 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

174

Ranked #14,042

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

1911

284 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cordrey had 174 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,042 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 284 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cordrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cordrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cordrey 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 174 #14,042
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 284 #11,862
1997 modern 219 #16,666
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 241 #16,179
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 208 #18,013
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 227 #17,922
2014 modern 222 #18,355
2015 modern 211 #18,906
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

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Where Cordreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shiplake, London parishes, Lambeth, St Giles Camberwell and Chipping Wycombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gloucester, Maidstone, Newham and Tandridge. 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 Shiplake Oxfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Chipping Wycombe Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gloucester 011 Gloucester
2 Maidstone 008 Maidstone
3 Newham 034 Newham
4 Maidstone 004 Maidstone
5 Tandridge 010 Tandridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cordrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cordrey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Cordrey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cordrey 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

Cordrey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cordrey

The surname Cordrey has its origins in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "cordier," which referred to a rope maker or cord maker. This occupation-based surname was commonly found in areas where rope and cord manufacturing was prevalent, such as coastal regions or near major ports.

One of the earliest known references to the name Cordrey can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a certain William Cordrey is mentioned. Another early record comes from the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279, which lists a Roger Cordrey as a landowner in the area.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including Cordray, Cordrey, and Cordrye, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire from 1332 mention a John Cordray, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 record a Thomas Cordrye.

One notable individual bearing the Cordrey surname was John Cordrey, a 16th-century English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Colchester, Essex, in 1556 during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I. His unwavering faith and sacrifice for his beliefs have made him a revered figure in Protestant history.

Another prominent figure was Sir William Cordrey (1592-1658), a renowned English politician and Member of Parliament who played a significant role during the English Civil War. He served as a Colonel in the Parliamentarian forces and was instrumental in several key battles, including the Battle of Newbury in 1643.

In the 18th century, the Cordrey name was associated with the village of Cordreys Down in Wiltshire, England, which likely derived its name from a family or individual with the Cordrey surname who had resided or held land in the area.

Over the centuries, the Cordrey surname has produced several noteworthy individuals, including John Cordrey (1780-1856), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars, and Henry Cordrey (1845-1912), a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the late 19th century.

While the Cordrey surname may not be among the most common in England, its rich history and occupational origins have left an indelible mark on the country's cultural tapestry, with numerous individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cordrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cordrey 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. Surrey leads with 70 Cordreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.46x.

County Total Index
Surrey 70 8.46x
Kent 25 4.32x
Oxfordshire 24 22.90x
Middlesex 20 1.18x
Cheshire 9 2.40x
Hampshire 8 2.30x
Buckinghamshire 6 5.85x
Berkshire 5 3.92x
Anglesey 4 13.30x
Lincolnshire 1 0.37x
Suffolk 1 0.48x
Sussex 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 27 Cordreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.90x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 27 24.90x
Bermondsey 21 41.56x
Stokenchurch 14 1489.36x
Shiplake 10 2777.78x
Lambeth 9 6.08x
Gillingham 7 58.63x
Lewisham 7 22.67x
Portsmouth 7 87.39x
Tranmere 6 43.57x
Windlesham 6 384.62x
Deptford St Nicholas 5 108.70x
Great Marlow 5 180.51x
Islington London 4 2.43x
Lee 4 47.56x
Llandysilio 4 425.53x
Chelsea London 3 5.87x
St Pancras London 3 2.20x
Croydon 2 4.36x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.48x
Higher Bebington 2 83.33x
Kensington London 2 2.12x
Mile End Old Town London 2 5.54x
Newington 2 3.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.86x
St Mary Le Strand London 2 322.58x
Aldershot 1 8.58x
Birkenhead 1 3.35x
Bray 1 26.74x
Newbury 1 24.51x
Paddington London 1 1.60x
Pangbourn 1 232.56x
Reading St Mary 1 9.80x
Richmond 1 8.63x
Shoreditch London 1 1.36x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.34x
St Martin In Fields 1 9.84x
St Swithin Lincoln 1 23.42x
Sudbury All Sts 1 158.73x
Waldron 1 128.21x
Wokingham 1 34.36x
Wycombe 1 13.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 8
Annie 6
Emma 6
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Charlotte 3
Matilda 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Aida 1
Bernice 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
Elizah. 1
Florence 1
Ida 1
J.V.C. 1
Katherine 1
Leonda 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
May 1
Olive 1
Rose 1
Sarai 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
George 8
Henry 8
John 7
Thomas 7
Edward 5
Walter 5
Francis 4
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Ambraham 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Clement 1
D'OYLEY 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E. 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Fredk. 1
James 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Tim 1

FAQ

Cordrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cordrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 174 people were recorded with the Cordrey surname. That placed it at #14,042 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cordrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Cordrey a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Cordrey surname mean?

An occupational surname possibly derived from a cord-maker or cord-seller.

What does the Cordrey map show?

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