NameCensus.

UK surname

Cornell

Transferred use of a place name, derived from a landholding in Cornwall, England, or from Cornouaille, Brittany, France.

In the 1881 census there were 2,007 people recorded with the Cornell surname, ranking it #2,194 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,226, ranked #2,915, down from #2,194 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wimbish with Thunderley, London parishes and Walthamstow, Low Leyton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Braintree and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cornell is 2,674 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.9%.

1881 census count

2,007

Ranked #2,194

Modern count

2,226

2016, ranked #2,915

Peak year

1911

2,674 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cornell had 2,007 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,194 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,226 in 2016, ranked #2,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,674 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cornell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cornell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cornell 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 1,213 #2,352
1861 historical 1,334 #2,146
1881 historical 2,007 #2,194
1891 historical 2,037 #2,267
1901 historical 2,431 #2,236
1911 historical 2,674 #1,930
1997 modern 2,381 #2,627
1998 modern 2,466 #2,650
1999 modern 2,495 #2,640
2000 modern 2,483 #2,634
2001 modern 2,416 #2,643
2002 modern 2,464 #2,654
2003 modern 2,403 #2,656
2004 modern 2,359 #2,702
2005 modern 2,287 #2,734
2006 modern 2,271 #2,753
2007 modern 2,316 #2,737
2008 modern 2,332 #2,735
2009 modern 2,369 #2,764
2010 modern 2,375 #2,816
2011 modern 2,348 #2,810
2012 modern 2,278 #2,831
2013 modern 2,347 #2,802
2014 modern 2,351 #2,818
2015 modern 2,259 #2,887
2016 modern 2,226 #2,915

Geography

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Where Cornells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wimbish with Thunderley, London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Braintree, County Durham and Waverley. 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 Wimbish with Thunderley Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
2 Braintree 014 Braintree
3 County Durham 015 County Durham
4 Waverley 012 Waverley
5 Braintree 012 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cornell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cornell

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cornell is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cornell is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cornell falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cornell

The surname Cornell originates from England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "cornouaille," meaning "of Cornwall," suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name hailed from the county of Cornwall in the southwestern part of England.

In early records, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Cornhyll, Cornhill, and Cornhull, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, which mention a Robert de Cornhull.

The Cornell surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Cornell in Lincolnshire and Cornell in Bedfordshire. These locations likely served as residences or estates for early bearers of the name, contributing to its widespread adoption.

Notably, the Cornell family played a significant role in the history of England. Sir John Cornell (c. 1508-1594) was a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His son, Sir Thomas Cornell (c. 1540-1608), also served as a Member of Parliament and was involved in various legal disputes over land ownership.

Another notable figure was Thomas Cornell (1616-1694), an early settler in colonial America who migrated from England to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638. He later became one of the founders of Westchester County, New York, and established the town of Cornell, which bears his surname.

In the realm of literature, Ezra Cornell (1807-1874) was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, in 1865. The university was named in his honor, solidifying the Cornell name's association with education and intellectual pursuits.

Other prominent individuals with the Cornell surname include Joseph Cornell (1903-1972), an American artist and sculptor known for his innovative box assemblages, and Katharine Cornell (1893-1974), a renowned American actress who achieved great success on the stage during the 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cornell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cornell 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. Essex leads with 541 Cornells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.04x.

County Total Index
Essex 541 14.04x
Middlesex 393 2.01x
Suffolk 227 9.55x
Cambridgeshire 206 16.66x
Surrey 162 1.70x
Kent 83 1.25x
Norfolk 60 2.00x
Durham 36 0.62x
Yorkshire 33 0.17x
Hertfordshire 24 1.78x
Nottinghamshire 22 0.84x
Devon 20 0.49x
Lancashire 19 0.08x
Warwickshire 19 0.39x
Hampshire 18 0.45x
Lincolnshire 18 0.58x
Gloucestershire 14 0.37x
Glamorgan 13 0.38x
Staffordshire 12 0.18x
Sussex 9 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 8 1.53x
Leicestershire 7 0.32x
Worcestershire 7 0.27x
Cheshire 6 0.14x
Lanarkshire 6 0.10x
Somerset 6 0.19x
Northamptonshire 5 0.27x
Northumberland 5 0.17x
Monmouthshire 3 0.21x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.17x
Cornwall 2 0.09x
Herefordshire 2 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.52x
Royal Navy 2 0.86x
Ayrshire 1 0.07x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Berwickshire 1 0.42x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Flintshire 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. Saffron Walden in Essex leads with 83 Cornells recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.88x.

Place Total Index
Saffron Walden 83 203.88x
Lambeth 75 4.41x
Walthamstow 43 31.01x
St Pancras London 42 2.67x
Islington London 40 2.11x
Histon 32 493.83x
Shoreditch London 32 3.78x
West Ham 31 3.64x
Wimbish 29 509.67x
Hackney London 26 2.38x
Thaxted 26 203.28x
Cherry Hinton 25 430.29x
Hundon 23 387.86x
St Andrewthe Less 23 16.28x
Tottenham 23 7.40x
Bassingbourn 22 121.08x
Romford 22 36.12x
Camberwell 20 1.60x
Kensington London 20 1.84x
Maidstone 20 10.08x
Felstead 19 143.94x
Fordham 19 238.10x
Great Wratting 19 725.19x
Lewisham 19 5.35x
Withersfield 19 494.79x
Rainham 18 214.54x
Shalford 16 327.87x
Icklingham 15 526.32x
Bethnal Green London 14 1.65x
Bocking 14 60.42x
Clerkenwell London 14 3.04x
Diss 14 54.43x
Newington 14 1.94x
Thetford St Cuthbert 14 129.03x
Mile End Old Town London 13 3.13x
St George Hanover Square 13 3.78x
Wethersfield 13 133.74x
Ashdon 12 213.90x
Helion Bumpstead 12 231.21x
Holy Trinity 12 2.58x
Hornsey 12 4.86x
Poplar London 12 3.26x
Great Shelford 11 169.49x
Haverhill 11 52.08x
St Clement Danes London 11 27.23x
Deptford St Paul 10 1.95x
Linton 10 85.11x
Stow Upland 10 127.88x
Walsham Le Willows 10 125.94x
Aston 9 0.66x
Barking 9 7.98x
Bermondsey 9 1.55x
Great Thurlow 9 347.49x
South Stoneham 9 10.37x
Stamford St Michael 9 101.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 1.29x
Upminster 9 112.50x
Battersea 8 1.11x
Beaumont 8 279.72x
Bromley London 8 1.86x
Chelmsford 8 12.10x
Great Dunmow 8 39.84x
Little Sampford 8 349.35x
Medomsley 8 29.53x
Row 8 11.79x
Wolsingham 8 15.12x
Bishop Stortford 7 15.58x
Braintree 7 20.23x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 5.48x
Broxted 7 150.21x
Cardiff St Mary 7 3.74x
Freckenham 7 282.26x
Garboldisham 7 163.17x
Gislingham 7 189.70x
Impington 7 263.16x
Radwinter 7 124.11x
Snailwell 7 564.52x
St George Bloomsbury 7 6.25x
St Marylebone London 7 0.67x
Isleworth 6 6.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 107
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 65
Eliza 53
Emma 45
Alice 43
Jane 43
Ellen 41
Ann 30
Annie 27
Emily 25
Susan 21
Hannah 19
Harriet 19
Ada 17
Martha 16
Louisa 15
Maria 15
Amelia 13
Charlotte 12
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Fanny 11
Florence 11
Harriett 11
Kate 11
Lucy 11
Catherine 10
Matilda 10
Margaret 9
Susannah 9
Anne 8
Clara 8
Frances 8
Isabella 6
Lydia 6
Minnie 6
Agnes 5
Esther 5
Ethel 5
Rachel 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Elizth. 4
Francis 4
Jessie 4
Julia 4
Rosetta 4
Ruth 4
Maryann 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 129
George 80
John 80
James 63
Charles 53
Thomas 41
Henry 40
Alfred 36
Frederick 36
Arthur 29
Joseph 26
Edward 25
Walter 20
Robert 15
Richard 13
Samuel 12
Albert 11
Ernest 10
Harry 10
Herbert 10
Benjamin 7
David 7
Daniel 6
Frank 6
Isaac 6
Stephen 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Wm. 5
Fred 4
Fredk. 4
Bertie 3
Christopher 3
Frederic 3
Fredrick 3
Michael 3
Phillip 3
Abraham 2
Ambrose 2
E. 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Elijah 2
Henery 2
Jas. 2
Lewis 2
Montague 2
Philip 2
Thos. 2
Benjn. 1

FAQ

Cornell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cornell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,007 people were recorded with the Cornell surname. That placed it at #2,194 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cornell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,226 in 2016. That gives Cornell a modern rank of #2,915.

What does the Cornell surname mean?

Transferred use of a place name, derived from a landholding in Cornwall, England, or from Cornouaille, Brittany, France.

What does the Cornell map show?

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