NameCensus.

UK surname

Corless

Of English origin, meaning one who lives in a place without a border or fence.

In the 1881 census there were 843 people recorded with the Corless surname, ranking it #4,475 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,183, ranked #5,024, down from #4,475 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Winwick and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corless is 1,373 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

843

Ranked #4,475

Modern count

1,183

2016, ranked #5,024

Peak year

1911

1,373 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corless had 843 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,475 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,183 in 2016, ranked #5,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,373 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Corless surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corless surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Corless 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 430 #5,692
1861 historical 424 #6,061
1881 historical 843 #4,475
1891 historical 934 #4,431
1901 historical 1,276 #3,893
1911 historical 1,373 #3,501
1997 modern 1,236 #4,595
1998 modern 1,229 #4,784
1999 modern 1,262 #4,719
2000 modern 1,263 #4,702
2001 modern 1,236 #4,689
2002 modern 1,243 #4,747
2003 modern 1,232 #4,706
2004 modern 1,208 #4,789
2005 modern 1,192 #4,786
2006 modern 1,182 #4,835
2007 modern 1,179 #4,888
2008 modern 1,172 #4,928
2009 modern 1,216 #4,886
2010 modern 1,259 #4,850
2011 modern 1,226 #4,891
2012 modern 1,179 #4,983
2013 modern 1,191 #5,019
2014 modern 1,209 #4,983
2015 modern 1,197 #4,982
2016 modern 1,183 #5,024

Geography

Back to top

Where Corless' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Winwick, Toxteth Park, Preston and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster and Wigan. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Winwick Lancashire
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
2 Lancaster 019 Lancaster
3 Wigan 014 Wigan
4 Lancaster 017 Lancaster
5 Lancaster 020 Lancaster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Corless

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Corless

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

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Corless surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Corless 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Corless is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Corless is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corless 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 Corless is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Corless

The surname Corless is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Corless or a similar variation. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "corf" or "corfe," meaning a small valley or hollow, combined with "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Corless can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from the year 1332, where a certain William de Corleys is mentioned. This indicates that the name was present in the region during that time period.

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various records, such as the Parish Registers of Standish, Lancashire, where the christening of John Corless was recorded in 1586. Similarly, the records of Winwick, Lancashire, mention the marriage of James Corless in 1615.

The Corless surname has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Corless (1772-1840), an English minister and author who published several works, including "The Gamester's Life" and "The Philosopher's Ramble."

Another notable bearer of the Corless name was William Corless (1834-1904), a British architect responsible for designing several buildings in Manchester, including St. Patrick's Church and the former British Prudential Assurance Company offices.

In the realm of sports, James Corless (1888-1966) was a professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for several English clubs, including Preston North End and Oldham Athletic, in the early 20th century.

The name Corless has also been linked to military service. For instance, Henry Corless (1855-1924) was a British Army officer who served in the Second Boer War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery.

Additionally, the Corless surname has connections to the literary world. Elizabeth Corless (1842-1924) was a British writer and poet who published several works, including "Echoes from the Woods" and "Leaves from the Cypress and Laurel."

While the Corless surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Corless families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corless 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 741 Corless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.59x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 741 7.59x
Yorkshire 33 0.40x
Cheshire 20 1.10x
Derbyshire 15 1.17x
Westmorland 6 3.32x
Middlesex 5 0.06x
Essex 4 0.25x
Staffordshire 4 0.14x
Hampshire 3 0.18x
Worcestershire 3 0.28x
Durham 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Flintshire 1 0.45x
Kent 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Somerset 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton In Makerfield in Lancashire leads with 68 Corless' recorded in 1881 and an index of 244.69x.

Place Total Index
Ashton In Makerfield 68 244.69x
Lancaster 65 111.95x
Liverpool 58 9.79x
Blackburn 38 14.64x
Manchester 38 8.66x
Toxteth Park 25 7.57x
Upholland 22 176.00x
Warrington 21 18.15x
Barrow In Furness 20 15.07x
Wigan 19 13.93x
West Derby 18 6.31x
Windle 16 29.14x
Glossop Dale 15 24.88x
Pemberton 15 38.55x
Broughton In Preston 14 838.32x
Little Bolton 14 11.16x
Bowling 13 16.11x
Ellel 13 258.45x
Preston 13 4.98x
Salford 12 4.18x
Nether Wyresdale 11 643.27x
Billinge Chapel End 10 182.82x
Hulme 10 4.91x
Orrell 10 82.44x
Barnacre With Bonds 9 348.84x
Burrow With Burrow 9 1500.00x
Everton 9 2.89x
Farleton 9 2647.06x
Leck 9 1184.21x
Catterall 8 462.43x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 8 38.31x
Sutton 8 24.44x
Wortley In Bramley 8 12.40x
Bleasdale 7 608.70x
Bradford 7 3.55x
Haughton 7 49.19x
Burton 6 315.79x
Clitheroe 6 20.89x
Pilling 6 131.00x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 6.81x
Chorley 5 9.13x
Denton 5 23.13x
Fulwood 5 47.44x
Great Bolton 5 3.87x
Newchurch 5 6.26x
Oldham 5 1.59x
Romiley 5 97.66x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 17.80x
Cockerham 4 160.64x
Coppull 4 76.92x
Hale 4 63.90x
Leyton 4 14.31x
Middleton In Oldham 4 13.67x
Parr 4 11.46x
Poulton Barre 4 36.04x
Tatham 4 266.67x
Tottington Lower End 4 8.63x
Wolverhampton 4 1.87x
Bury 3 2.69x
Hackney London 3 0.65x
Kearsley 3 14.61x
Kidderminster Borough 3 4.77x
Leyland 3 17.67x
Portsea 3 0.91x
Prescot 3 17.00x
Aston 2 0.35x
Barton 2 137.93x
Chadderton 2 4.19x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 4.08x
Golborne 2 15.72x
Heap 2 3.86x
Ince In Makerfield 2 4.41x
Over Wyresdale 2 138.89x
Rusholme 2 7.68x
Stockport 2 2.14x
Walton On Hill 2 3.78x
Wardleworth 2 3.59x
Claughton In Lunesdale 1 357.14x
Islington London 1 0.13x
Nether Kellet 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Elizabeth 42
Margaret 39
Sarah 34
Ellen 26
Jane 22
Ann 20
Alice 17
Annie 16
Hannah 8
Isabella 8
Martha 8
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Bridget 6
Emily 5
Kate 4
Margt. 4
Ada 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Frances 3
Lucy 3
Adelaide 2
Beatrice 2
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Christina 2
Deborah 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Maggie 2
Matilda 2
Betsy 1
Carol. 1
Caroline 1
Dora 1
Edith 1
Eliza. 1
Elizabth 1
Elizh 1
Elizh. 1
Elizt. 1
Harriot 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Imelda 1
Isab. 1
Tibatha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 63
William 61
John 60
James 46
Joseph 20
Henry 14
Robert 14
Richard 12
George 8
Edward 7
Francis 6
Michael 6
Patrick 6
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Mark 4
Martin 4
Albert 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Ellis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Josiah 2
Levi 2
Rich. 2
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hiram 1
Michal 1
Natham 1
Nathan 1
Ralph 1
Robut 1
Samuel 1
Seth 1
Sidney 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Corless surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corless surname in 1881?

In 1881, 843 people were recorded with the Corless surname. That placed it at #4,475 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corless surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,183 in 2016. That gives Corless a modern rank of #5,024.

What does the Corless surname mean?

Of English origin, meaning one who lives in a place without a border or fence.

What does the Corless map show?

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