NameCensus.

UK surname

Cordwell

A locational surname derived from a place name in Derbyshire, meaning "well or spring near the cord or withy beds".

In the 1881 census there were 592 people recorded with the Cordwell surname, ranking it #5,906 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 703, ranked #7,683, down from #5,906 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Stoke-on-Trent and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cordwell is 845 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.8%.

1881 census count

592

Ranked #5,906

Modern count

703

2016, ranked #7,683

Peak year

1911

845 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cordwell had 592 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,906 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 703 in 2016, ranked #7,683.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 845 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Cordwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cordwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cordwell 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 428 #5,717
1861 historical 382 #6,698
1881 historical 592 #5,906
1891 historical 636 #6,088
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 845 #5,249
1997 modern 766 #6,768
1998 modern 786 #6,855
1999 modern 788 #6,880
2000 modern 766 #6,986
2001 modern 742 #7,036
2002 modern 758 #7,055
2003 modern 744 #7,063
2004 modern 763 #6,935
2005 modern 734 #7,074
2006 modern 727 #7,154
2007 modern 740 #7,134
2008 modern 748 #7,122
2009 modern 766 #7,125
2010 modern 757 #7,330
2011 modern 735 #7,431
2012 modern 713 #7,499
2013 modern 707 #7,673
2014 modern 722 #7,590
2015 modern 714 #7,606
2016 modern 703 #7,683

Geography

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Where Cordwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Manchester and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Stoke-on-Trent, Eastleigh, Rochdale and Erewash. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Eccles Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 009 Salford
2 Stoke-on-Trent 032 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Eastleigh 010 Eastleigh
4 Rochdale 013 Rochdale
5 Erewash 009 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cordwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cordwell

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Cordwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Cordwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cordwell 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

Cordwell 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

Cordwell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cordwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cordwell

The surname CORDWELL is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from a place called Cordwell, a small hamlet in the county of Derbyshire. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "cord" meaning a rope or cord, and "well" referring to a spring or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Derbyshire Feet of Fines, a legal document from 1285, which mentions a Robert de Cordwell. This suggests that the CORDWELL surname was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the Parish Registers of Bradbourne, Derbyshire, with the baptism of William Cordwell in 1564. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued use in the local area over the centuries.

A notable historical figure bearing the CORDWELL name was John Cordwell, born in 1592 in Staffordshire. He was a prominent clergyman and served as the Rector of Astbury in Cheshire from 1628 until his death in 1668.

Another individual of note was Robert Cordwell, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in Derbyshire in the late 17th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the local wool trade and owned substantial properties in the area.

In the 18th century, the CORDWELL surname spread beyond its traditional Derbyshire roots. William Cordwell (1720-1789) was a successful businessman and entrepreneur from Lancashire, who established a prosperous textile business.

Moving into the 19th century, James Cordwell (1811-1891) was a prominent figure in the field of agriculture. Born in Staffordshire, he authored several influential books on farming practices and served as a judge at numerous agricultural shows.

Throughout its history, the CORDWELL surname has been closely associated with the Midlands region of England, particularly the counties of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Cheshire. While not a widespread name, it has a rich heritage rooted in the local communities and landscapes of this area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cordwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cordwell 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. Lancashire leads with 209 Cordwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 209 3.02x
Middlesex 90 1.55x
Staffordshire 45 2.29x
Hertfordshire 40 9.97x
Gloucestershire 34 2.98x
Warwickshire 31 2.11x
Surrey 30 1.06x
Yorkshire 25 0.43x
Kent 17 0.86x
Cheshire 16 1.24x
Derbyshire 15 1.65x
Essex 13 1.13x
Channel Islands 5 2.90x
Cornwall 5 0.76x
Montgomeryshire 5 3.75x
Suffolk 5 0.70x
Angus 4 0.74x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.51x
Norfolk 3 0.34x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton Upon Irwell in Lancashire leads with 37 Cordwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.13x.

Place Total Index
Barton Upon Irwell 37 71.13x
St Pancras London 26 5.55x
Worsley 24 56.35x
Ware 23 199.83x
Salford 22 10.82x
Wolverhampton 22 14.56x
Manchester 19 6.11x
Birmingham 18 3.68x
Shoreditch London 16 6.34x
Pendleton In Salford 15 18.22x
Pendlebury 14 95.96x
Ripley 13 115.35x
Aston 12 2.97x
Oldham 12 5.38x
Woodchester 11 611.11x
Clifton 10 193.05x
Lee 10 34.66x
Rodborough 10 181.16x
Walsall Foreign 10 9.85x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 43.67x
South Mimms 9 112.64x
St Marylebone London 9 2.89x
Essendon 8 661.16x
Lambeth 8 1.58x
Wethersfield 8 275.86x
Battersea 7 3.27x
Enfield 7 18.32x
Heckmondwike 7 37.72x
Pilkington 7 26.67x
Burntwood Edial 6 47.77x
Camberwell 6 1.61x
Edmonton 6 12.79x
Hackney London 6 1.84x
Hougham 6 50.80x
Skelmersdale 6 52.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 5.12x
Wybunbury 6 504.20x
Calstock 5 38.67x
Chadderton 5 14.80x
Eccleston In Prescot 5 14.41x
Heap 5 13.64x
Hyde 5 13.18x
North Meols 5 7.39x
Shalford 5 342.47x
St Helier 5 8.90x
Tregynon 5 352.11x
Warrington 5 6.10x
Cheetham 4 7.76x
Chorley 4 10.31x
Dundee 4 1.99x
Hucknall Torkard 4 20.10x
Weybread 4 294.12x
Wortley In Bramley 4 8.75x
Baldock 3 79.58x
Birkenhead 3 2.93x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 2.79x
Heigham 3 6.24x
Monken Hadley 3 128.76x
Pennington In Leigh 3 22.62x
Tewin 3 285.71x
Almondbury 2 7.17x
Ashton Under Hill 2 277.78x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 3.72x
Gloucester St Michael 2 76.34x
Minchinhampton 2 21.98x
Newton 2 3.76x
Norwood 2 15.02x
Stoke Newington London 2 4.41x
Stroud 2 9.00x
Wednesfield 2 6.91x
Brighton 1 0.50x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 1 21.83x
Elton 1 4.19x
Habergham Eaves 1 1.58x
Kingstanley 1 23.70x
Mickleover 1 35.46x
Paddington London 1 0.47x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 3.97x
Sutton 1 4.87x
Watford 1 3.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Sarah 33
Ann 18
Elizabeth 18
Eliza 10
Alice 9
Hannah 9
Martha 9
Annie 8
Florence 7
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Ada 5
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Margaret 5
Susannah 5
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Lucy 3
Betsy 2
Elizth. 2
Grace 2
M.E. 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Priscilla 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Susanna 2
Veronique 2
Annis 1
Charlote 1
Esther 1
Ezze 1
Fanny 1
Janit 1
Jessie 1
L.A. 1
Leah 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Zoa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 35
James 25
George 17
Charles 16
Joseph 14
Henry 13
Robert 12
Edward 11
Frederick 10
Thomas 10
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Richard 6
Arthur 5
Benjamin 4
David 4
Harry 4
Thos. 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Wm. 3
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Amos 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Ed. 1
Ewart 1
F.W. 1
Francis 1
Fredc. 1
Frederic 1
Gilbert 1
Giles 1
Harold 1
Ira 1
Jno. 1
Jubal 1
Matthew 1
Montague 1
Nehamiah 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Sarah 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Cordwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cordwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 592 people were recorded with the Cordwell surname. That placed it at #5,906 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cordwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 703 in 2016. That gives Cordwell a modern rank of #7,683.

What does the Cordwell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Derbyshire, meaning "well or spring near the cord or withy beds".

What does the Cordwell map show?

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