NameCensus.

UK surname

Cordy

A locational surname derived from a French place name meaning "cord" or "rope."

In the 1881 census there were 355 people recorded with the Cordy surname, ranking it #8,679 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 382, ranked #12,292, down from #8,679 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shipdham and Trevethin with Pontypool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Norfolk, South Gloucestershire and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cordy is 444 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.6%.

1881 census count

355

Ranked #8,679

Modern count

382

2016, ranked #12,292

Peak year

1901

444 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cordy had 355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,679 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016, ranked #12,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 444 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cordy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cordy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cordy 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 190 #10,852
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 355 #8,679
1891 historical 414 #8,628
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 428 #8,827
1997 modern 404 #10,931
1998 modern 422 #10,928
1999 modern 416 #11,110
2000 modern 410 #11,204
2001 modern 409 #11,032
2002 modern 408 #11,272
2003 modern 396 #11,346
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 380 #11,639
2006 modern 378 #11,714
2007 modern 369 #12,098
2008 modern 379 #11,960
2009 modern 394 #11,859
2010 modern 396 #12,089
2011 modern 402 #11,828
2012 modern 396 #11,807
2013 modern 395 #12,035
2014 modern 388 #12,280
2015 modern 386 #12,237
2016 modern 382 #12,292

Geography

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Where Cordys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shipdham, Trevethin with Pontypool, Bedwelty and Hingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Norfolk, South Gloucestershire, North East Lincolnshire, Breckland and Norwich. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Shipdham Norfolk
3 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Hingham Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
2 South Gloucestershire 027 South Gloucestershire
3 North East Lincolnshire 010 North East Lincolnshire
4 Breckland 012 Breckland
5 Norwich 006 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cordy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cordy

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

Cordy is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cordy 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 Cordy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cordy

The surname Cordy is believed to have originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be a derivation of the Old French word "cordier," which referred to a maker or seller of ropes and cords. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by those involved in this trade.

The earliest known records of the Cordy name date back to the 13th century in the northern regions of France, particularly in Normandy and Picardy. Some variations in spelling included Cordey, Cordier, and Corder. These regional variations were common as surnames solidified over time.

In the late 13th century, a Jehan Cordier is mentioned in the records of the city of Rouen, suggesting the name's presence in this important Norman center. The Cordy name also appears in the 14th-century tax rolls of the French province of Champagne.

As the name spread across Europe, it took on various forms in different languages. In England, the name became Corder or Corder, while in Germany, it transformed into Korder or Korderer.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Cordy name was Jean Cordy, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Arras in northern France during the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Guillaume Cordy, a French soldier who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his bravery in 1415.

In the 16th century, the Cordy family established itself in the region of Burgundy, where they were part of the local nobility. Jacques Cordy (1520-1582) was a respected jurist and legal advisor to the Duke of Burgundy.

Moving into the 17th century, Pierre Cordy (1602-1678) was a renowned French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of St. Louis-en-l'Île.

During the 18th century, the Cordy name gained prominence in the arts, with Jean-Baptiste Cordy (1745-1825), a celebrated French painter and engraver, whose works are housed in museums across Europe.

As the surname spread throughout Europe and beyond, it continued to be associated with various trades and professions, reflecting its occupational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cordy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cordy 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. Gloucestershire leads with 153 Cordys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.46x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 153 22.46x
Norfolk 51 9.55x
Middlesex 26 0.75x
Suffolk 22 5.20x
Lincolnshire 19 3.42x
Monmouthshire 19 7.57x
Yorkshire 14 0.41x
Surrey 10 0.59x
Lancashire 9 0.22x
Somerset 5 0.89x
Wiltshire 5 1.63x
Glamorgan 4 0.66x
Warwickshire 4 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.64x
Hampshire 2 0.28x
Herefordshire 2 1.40x
Berkshire 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Durham 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.15x
Kent 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 2.42x
Sussex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire leads with 30 Cordys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1948.05x.

Place Total Index
Pucklechurch 30 1948.05x
Winterbourne 21 558.51x
Bristol St George 18 57.14x
Mangotsfield 15 220.91x
Westerleigh 13 849.67x
Little Ellingham 11 2894.74x
Bitton Oldland 9 129.31x
Lambeth 9 2.97x
Trimley St Mary 9 1800.00x
Walton 9 596.03x
Westbury On Severn East 9 58.44x
Shipdham 8 441.99x
Straggle Thorpe 8 7272.73x
St Luke London 7 12.57x
Thornhill 7 69.72x
Willesden 7 21.39x
Llanover 6 70.01x
Scarning 6 759.49x
Stapleton 6 46.44x
Swaffham 6 138.25x
Trevethin 6 25.31x
Malmesbury St Paul 5 189.39x
Stanfield 5 2380.95x
Aberdare 4 9.64x
Aberystruth 4 18.08x
Bedminster 4 7.61x
Broughton In Salford 4 10.62x
Fenton 4 952.38x
Frampton Cotterell 4 167.36x
Ratcliffe London 4 20.86x
Salford 4 3.30x
Westbury On Trym 4 17.34x
Berkeley Hamfallow 3 243.90x
Bristol St James In 3 29.94x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.68x
Bristol Temple 3 66.96x
Fishtoft 3 275.23x
Heigham 3 10.47x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 3 86.46x
Old Buckenham 3 218.98x
St Clement Danes London 3 41.72x
Aston 2 0.83x
Birmingham 2 0.69x
Bristol St Augustine 2 18.20x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.81x
Carlton Le Moorland 2 540.54x
Felixstow 2 194.17x
Fincham 2 212.77x
Kingstanley 2 79.37x
Little Birch 2 588.24x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.71x
Normanton 2 19.34x
Norwich St Stephen 2 40.82x
Skinningrove 2 94.79x
Wellow 2 454.55x
Abergavenny 1 10.64x
Bath St James 1 17.15x
Battersea 1 0.78x
Boston 1 5.93x
Bristol St Michael 1 17.12x
Bristol St Peter 1 40.98x
Chelsea London 1 0.96x
Chipping Sodbury 1 78.74x
Chislehurst 1 15.75x
Coaley 1 113.64x
Eling 1 13.87x
Falkenham 1 303.03x
Hingham 1 54.05x
Holywell 1 37.59x
Horsham 1 8.80x
Hound 1 20.70x
Ipswich St Helen 1 19.96x
Lower Bebington 1 21.98x
North Hamlet 1 163.93x
North Kyme 1 120.48x
Royal Navy 1 2.83x
Scarborough 1 3.20x
St Pancras London 1 0.36x
Tanshelf 1 36.36x
York St Mary 1 7.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 18
George 14
Charles 12
Henry 9
James 9
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Fred 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Patrick 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
Cardinall 1
Chas.Hy.Jas. 1
Darby 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Enos 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Florance 1
Fredc. 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
Graham 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Isace 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Leslie 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Pat. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Cordy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cordy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 355 people were recorded with the Cordy surname. That placed it at #8,679 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cordy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 382 in 2016. That gives Cordy a modern rank of #12,292.

What does the Cordy surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a French place name meaning "cord" or "rope."

What does the Cordy map show?

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