NameCensus.

UK surname

Corey

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Kori," meaning "ravine," "dell," or "cauldron-shaped hollow."

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Corey surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 253, ranked #16,671, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Rowley Regis and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Preston and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corey is 269 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.8%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

253

2016, ranked #16,671

Peak year

1891

269 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corey had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016, ranked #16,671.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Corey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corey 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 269 #12,060
1901 historical 253 #13,045
1911 historical 213 #14,379
1997 modern 225 #16,352
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 256 #15,565
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 225 #16,831
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 237 #16,571
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 257 #16,476
2011 modern 256 #16,383
2012 modern 251 #16,467
2013 modern 251 #16,734
2014 modern 246 #17,079
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 253 #16,671

Geography

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Where Coreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Rowley Regis, Kings Norton, Rhuddlan and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Preston, Rossendale, Birmingham and Cornwall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Rhuddlan Denbighshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 025 Kirklees
2 Preston 013 Preston
3 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
4 Birmingham 106 Birmingham
5 Cornwall 013 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Corey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Corey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Corey 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

Corey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corey falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Corey 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Corey

The surname Corey has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "coree," meaning "settlement" or "small village." This name was likely given to someone who lived in or near a small hamlet or rural area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Corey appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus de Coreia, whose name suggests a connection to a place called Corey or a similar spelling.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Corey was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon. Variations in spelling were common, including Cory, Corie, and Corye, reflecting the diverse dialects and writing conventions of the time.

One notable bearer of the Corey surname was Sir John Corey, a 14th-century English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. Records indicate that he participated in the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another significant individual with the Corey surname was William Corey (c. 1580-1670), an English colonist who arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in the early 17th century. He was among the first settlers of the town of Roxbury and played a crucial role in the establishment of the community.

In the 18th century, the Corey surname gained prominence with the birth of Elijah Corey (1737-1808), an American farmer and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He is renowned for his participation in the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.

The surname Corey also has connections to various place names in England, such as Cory Rivell in Somerset and Cory Farm in Devon. These locations may have influenced the development and geographical distribution of the surname.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Corey surname, including Robert Corey (1738-1823), an American politician and judge who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, and Giles Corey (c. 1611-1692), a farmer from Salem, Massachusetts, who was pressed to death during the Salem Witch Trials for refusing to enter a plea.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corey 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. Middlesex leads with 37 Coreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 2.48x
Surrey 25 3.44x
Cornwall 13 7.70x
Devon 8 2.58x
Flintshire 8 19.95x
Norfolk 8 3.49x
Worcestershire 8 4.11x
Warwickshire 7 1.86x
Glamorgan 5 1.92x
Durham 4 0.90x
Lancashire 4 0.23x
Lincolnshire 4 1.68x
Northamptonshire 4 2.85x
Channel Islands 3 6.78x
Hampshire 2 0.65x
Hertfordshire 2 1.94x
Huntingdonshire 2 6.75x
Lanarkshire 2 0.41x
Suffolk 2 1.10x
Yorkshire 2 0.14x
Cumberland 1 0.78x
Dorset 1 1.02x
Isle of Man 1 3.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 9 Coreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.76x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 9 10.76x
Kings Norton 8 45.79x
Newington 8 14.51x
Rhuddlan 8 226.63x
Crowan 7 522.39x
Islington London 7 4.84x
St George Hanover Square 7 26.63x
Aston 6 5.79x
Camberwell 6 6.29x
Hampstead London 6 25.82x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 20.02x
Lambeth 4 3.07x
Penge 4 41.97x
Spalding 4 84.39x
Frithelstock 3 1034.48x
Fulham London 3 13.86x
Hatherleigh 3 389.61x
St Clement 3 170.45x
St Helier 3 20.83x
St Marylebone London 3 3.77x
Thorpe Next Norwich 3 123.46x
Acle 2 425.53x
Bishop Stortford 2 58.14x
Egham 2 44.84x
Glasgow 2 2.33x
Huntingdon St John 2 232.56x
Iveston 2 97.56x
Liverpool 2 1.86x
Lowestoft 2 23.28x
Shildon 2 56.02x
Sywell 2 1666.67x
Barnstaple 1 20.49x
Caldbeck 1 166.67x
Croydon 1 2.48x
Eccleshill 1 27.78x
Everton 1 1.77x
Gresham 1 526.32x
Hartshill 1 357.14x
Horsey 1 1000.00x
Linkinhorne 1 84.75x
Mears Ashby 1 384.62x
Norwich St Augustine 1 107.53x
Onchan 1 12.53x
Portsmouth 1 14.20x
Ravensthorpe 1 400.00x
Ryme Instrinsica 1 1000.00x
Sculcoates 1 4.27x
Shoreditch London 1 1.55x
St Blazey 1 67.57x
St George In East London 1 7.12x
St Mary Kalendar 1 156.25x
St Stephens By Saltash 1 136.99x
Tavistock 1 28.25x
Warrington 1 4.76x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Corey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Corey surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 253 in 2016. That gives Corey a modern rank of #16,671.

What does the Corey surname mean?

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Kori," meaning "ravine," "dell," or "cauldron-shaped hollow."

What does the Corey map show?

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