NameCensus.

UK surname

Core

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly referring to someone who lived near an apple core or seed.

In the 1881 census there were 431 people recorded with the Core surname, ranking it #7,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, down from #7,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Skipton, London parishes and Lanark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, South Northamptonshire and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Core is 499 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.

1881 census count

431

Ranked #7,555

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

1891

499 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Core had 431 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 499 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Core surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Core surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Core 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 281 #8,028
1861 historical 497 #5,262
1881 historical 431 #7,555
1891 historical 499 #7,446
1901 historical 455 #8,641
1911 historical 392 #9,421
1997 modern 417 #10,674
1998 modern 435 #10,678
1999 modern 427 #10,919
2000 modern 419 #11,028
2001 modern 404 #11,142
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 400 #11,189
2006 modern 404 #11,159
2007 modern 423 #10,888
2008 modern 444 #10,535
2009 modern 433 #11,031
2010 modern 442 #11,066
2011 modern 414 #11,533
2012 modern 401 #11,699
2013 modern 419 #11,511
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 416 #11,561
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

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Where Cores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Skipton, London parishes, Lanark, Manchester and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, South Northamptonshire, Calderdale, Sefton and Kettering. 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 Skipton Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lanark Lanark
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 003 West Lancashire
2 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
3 Calderdale 006 Calderdale
4 Sefton 006 Sefton
5 Kettering 011 Kettering

Forenames

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First names often paired with Core

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Core

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Core surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Core household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Core is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Core is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Core falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Core

The surname CORE is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cor", meaning "hill" or "mound". The name was initially given as a descriptive surname to individuals who lived near a prominent hill or mound.

CORE is believed to have originated in the county of Derbyshire, England, where several early references to the name can be found in medieval records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire from 1195, which mentions a person named "William de la Core".

In the 13th century, the surname CORE started to appear in other regions of England, particularly in the neighboring counties of Staffordshire and Cheshire. This suggests that individuals bearing the name likely migrated or relocated from the original area of Derbyshire.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England, includes entries for individuals with the surname CORE, such as "Robert de la Core" and "Hugh de la Core". These early spellings often incorporated the French preposition "de la" before the surname, indicating the place of origin.

During the late medieval period, the surname CORE was occasionally spelled with variations, such as "Corre" or "Corr". These alternative spellings can be found in various historical documents from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Notable individuals with the surname CORE throughout history include:

1. Sir John Core (c. 1490 - 1556), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Derbyshire in the 16th century. 2. Thomas Core (1570 - 1635), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stoke Prior in Worcestershire. 3. Tobias Core (1628 - 1697), an English academic and mathematician who was a fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge. 4. Elizabeth Core (1673 - 1748), an English landowner and heiress who inherited substantial estates in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. 5. William Core (1795 - 1867), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

While the surname CORE has been present in historical records for centuries, it is not as prevalent as some other English surnames. However, it continues to be associated with its origins in the county of Derbyshire and the descriptive meaning of "hill" or "mound".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Core families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Core 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. Lanarkshire leads with 130 Cores recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.72x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 130 9.72x
Lancashire 84 1.71x
Yorkshire 39 0.95x
Middlesex 18 0.44x
Northamptonshire 17 4.37x
Warwickshire 15 1.44x
Surrey 14 0.69x
Renfrewshire 12 3.74x
Rutland 10 32.93x
Gloucestershire 9 1.11x
Hampshire 9 1.06x
Midlothian 8 1.44x
Devon 6 0.70x
Sussex 6 0.86x
Cornwall 5 1.07x
Durham 5 0.41x
Glamorgan 5 0.69x
Peeblesshire 5 25.71x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.60x
Staffordshire 4 0.29x
Cheshire 2 0.22x
Dunbartonshire 2 1.80x
Kent 2 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.36x
Royal Navy 2 4.06x
Somerset 2 0.30x
Stirlingshire 2 1.31x
Essex 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.33x
Northumberland 1 0.16x
Wiltshire 1 0.27x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 48 Cores recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.18x.

Place Total Index
Barony 48 14.18x
Manchester 16 7.25x
Pettinain 13 2549.02x
Abbey 12 24.53x
Bury 12 21.41x
Carmichael 12 1081.08x
New Monkland 12 30.35x
Skipton 12 93.02x
Aston 9 3.13x
Bradford 9 9.07x
Horsley 9 250.70x
Biggar 8 264.90x
Braunston 7 1272.73x
Camberwell 7 2.65x
Maryhill 7 26.73x
Alton 6 93.90x
Birmingham 6 1.73x
Bothwell 6 16.54x
Brighton 6 4.26x
Carnwath 6 72.55x
Carrington 6 689.66x
Leyland 6 70.26x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 9.05x
Ardwick 5 11.29x
Bugbrooke 5 393.70x
Culter 5 617.28x
Landewednack 5 602.41x
Scarisbrick 5 87.72x
Thornthwaite Cum 5 1428.57x
Toxteth Park 5 3.01x
Yeadon 5 54.00x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.23x
Bradford 4 17.41x
Broughton In Salford 4 8.91x
Clerkenwell London 4 4.10x
Hamilton 4 10.72x
Iveston 4 70.55x
Kettering 4 25.41x
Little Bolton 4 6.34x
Peterborough 4 14.20x
Rusholme 4 30.56x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 4.81x
Wigan 4 5.83x
Eddleston 3 297.03x
Millbrook 3 14.05x
Nether Heyford 3 260.87x
Newton Nottage 3 151.52x
Oldham 3 1.89x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.13x
Penkridge 3 83.33x
Shipley 3 14.10x
Woughton On Green 3 909.09x
Cardiff St Mary 2 5.04x
Dolphinton 2 465.12x
Falkirk 2 5.60x
Govan 2 0.60x
Greenwich 2 3.04x
Ketton 2 126.58x
Newark Upon Trent 2 9.98x
Skirling 2 512.82x
St Luke London 2 3.01x
Thornton In Fylde 2 18.62x
Wiston Robertson 2 250.00x
Arrochar 1 136.99x
Blackburn 1 0.77x
Compton Bishop 1 128.21x
Covington 1 158.73x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.45x
Embsay Cum Eastby 1 60.24x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 1 66.67x
Kidderminster Borough 1 3.16x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.07x
Kirkintilloch 1 6.62x
Paddington London 1 0.66x
Paulerspury 1 61.73x
Preston 1 0.76x
Royal Navy 1 2.37x
Tong 1 12.63x
Wraysbury 1 107.53x
York St Michael Le 1 75.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Ada 3
Alice 3
Ann 3
Emma 3
Jane 3
Anna 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Daisy 1
Drucilla 1
Druscilla 1
Edith 1
Eloise 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
G. 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Lois 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Madalina 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nanny 1
Nellie 1
Rebbecca 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 17
Joseph 10
James 9
Thomas 9
George 8
Henry 6
Alfred 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Patrick 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Aurthur 1
Barnard 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Infant 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Miles 1
Montague 1
Peter 1
Rich. 1
Robert 1
Robt.Hy. 1
Soloman 1
Thompson 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Core surname: questions and answers

How common was the Core surname in 1881?

In 1881, 431 people were recorded with the Core surname. That placed it at #7,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Core surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Core a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Core surname mean?

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly referring to someone who lived near an apple core or seed.

What does the Core map show?

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