NameCensus.

UK surname

Corney

An English surname derived from the Old French word "cor," meaning horn or horn-player.

In the 1881 census there were 995 people recorded with the Corney surname, ranking it #3,918 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,197, ranked #4,976, down from #3,918 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corney is 1,398 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

995

Ranked #3,918

Modern count

1,197

2016, ranked #4,976

Peak year

1998

1,398 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corney had 995 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,918 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,197 in 2016, ranked #4,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,370 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Corney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corney surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corney 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 687 #3,787
1861 historical 853 #3,248
1881 historical 995 #3,918
1891 historical 1,131 #3,759
1901 historical 1,291 #3,857
1911 historical 1,370 #3,510
1997 modern 1,341 #4,290
1998 modern 1,398 #4,286
1999 modern 1,373 #4,378
2000 modern 1,343 #4,442
2001 modern 1,320 #4,432
2002 modern 1,320 #4,509
2003 modern 1,291 #4,514
2004 modern 1,271 #4,577
2005 modern 1,240 #4,629
2006 modern 1,225 #4,692
2007 modern 1,230 #4,728
2008 modern 1,229 #4,754
2009 modern 1,235 #4,824
2010 modern 1,252 #4,868
2011 modern 1,227 #4,889
2012 modern 1,208 #4,885
2013 modern 1,226 #4,905
2014 modern 1,221 #4,944
2015 modern 1,196 #4,986
2016 modern 1,197 #4,976

Geography

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Where Corneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, Halifax and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 007 Isle of Wight
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
4 Isle of Wight 004 Isle of Wight
5 Isle of Wight 015 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corney

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Corney 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

Corney is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corney falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Corney

The surname CORNEY is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, specifically the region of Gloucestershire. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "corn" and "ey," which together signify "corn island" or "island suitable for growing corn."

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Cornay, Cornei, and Cornaye, reflecting the regional dialects and inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the 13th century Gloucestershire Assize Rolls, where a Robert Cornay is mentioned.

The name CORNEY also appears in the renowned Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. In this historical record, a landowner named William Cornei is listed as holding estates in Gloucestershire.

Throughout the centuries, the CORNEY surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One such figure was Richard Corney, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1554 and played a significant role in the city's governance.

In the literary world, William Corney (1763-1833) was an English author and antiquarian who contributed to the study of local history and antiquities. His works include "The Itinerary of John Leland the Antiquary" and "The Curiosities of Literature."

Another notable bearer of the CORNEY surname was Sir William Corney (1785-1880), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He later became an accomplished hydrographer and surveyor, contributing significantly to the mapping of various regions.

The name CORNEY can also be found in connection with place names, such as Corney Bury, a historic manor house in Gloucestershire, and Corney Reach, a stretch of the River Thames near Oxford, both of which likely derive from individuals bearing the surname.

While the CORNEY surname may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its origins remain firmly rooted in the agricultural heritage of the English countryside, reflecting the significance of corn cultivation and the geographic features of the regions where it was born.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corney 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. Yorkshire leads with 150 Corneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.55x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 150 1.55x
Middlesex 108 1.11x
Sussex 106 6.45x
Hampshire 99 4.96x
Devon 74 3.65x
Lancashire 70 0.61x
Surrey 66 1.39x
Huntingdonshire 56 28.94x
Lincolnshire 40 2.57x
Durham 38 1.31x
Kent 29 0.87x
Cambridgeshire 24 3.89x
Gloucestershire 24 1.26x
Northumberland 22 1.52x
Westmorland 12 5.60x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.84x
Bedfordshire 10 1.98x
Renfrewshire 10 1.32x
Suffolk 8 0.67x
Staffordshire 7 0.21x
Hertfordshire 5 0.74x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 3.54x
Royal Navy 5 4.31x
Berkshire 4 0.55x
Essex 3 0.16x
Lanarkshire 2 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.65x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.27x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Herefordshire 1 0.25x
Perthshire 1 0.23x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsey in Huntingdonshire leads with 49 Corneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 316.33x.

Place Total Index
Ramsey 49 316.33x
Brighton 40 12.07x
Brading 20 75.33x
Camberwell 20 3.21x
Whitby 18 55.32x
Hackney London 17 3.11x
Littlehampton 17 129.57x
Preston 17 59.25x
St Marylebone London 17 3.27x
Croydon 16 6.07x
Newcastle On Tyne St 16 21.29x
Heanton Punchardon 14 945.95x
Portsea 14 3.58x
Stockton On Tees 14 10.02x
Bourn 13 103.26x
Shoreditch London 13 3.08x
Whippingham 13 85.98x
Kendal 12 30.60x
Westoe 12 7.30x
Aislaby In Whitby 11 982.14x
Halifax 11 7.76x
Hove 11 15.26x
Nottingham St Mary 11 3.24x
West Derby 11 3.25x
Toxteth Park 10 2.55x
Berrynarbor 9 389.61x
Braunton 9 130.81x
Clifton 9 9.31x
Deptford St Paul 9 3.51x
East Greenock 9 12.62x
Osgodby In Selby 9 1200.00x
Skircoat 9 23.63x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 4.59x
Alverstoke 8 11.07x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.89x
Dorrington 8 601.50x
East Cottingwith 8 930.23x
East Preston 8 571.43x
Garston 8 23.44x
St Helens 8 55.10x
Stainland Cum Old 8 48.40x
Stranton 8 8.20x
Whittlesey St Mary St 8 37.11x
Arrington 7 864.20x
Broughton 7 160.55x
Eskdaleside 7 147.37x
Gloucester St Owen 7 333.33x
Kensington London 7 1.29x
Leominster 7 132.33x
Luton 7 8.01x
Newchurch 7 7.40x
Pendleton In Salford 7 5.08x
Snodland 7 74.23x
Aylburton 6 276.50x
Denaby 6 109.89x
Hammersmith London 6 2.50x
Leeds 6 1.10x
Manchester 6 1.15x
March 6 29.03x
Marwood 6 222.22x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 6 6.93x
Paignton 6 38.89x
Rotherhithe 6 4.98x
Ruswarp 6 55.87x
Westminster St John 6 5.06x
York St George 6 78.84x
Armley 5 11.74x
Ashreigney 5 222.22x
Bushey 5 31.27x
Castle Leavington 5 3333.33x
Dent 5 123.76x
Farnborough 5 23.83x
Ilfracombe 5 23.95x
Lambeth 5 0.59x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.41x
Northwood 5 17.58x
Ruskington 5 125.94x
Ryde 5 11.65x
Troqueer 5 27.01x
Ventnor 5 26.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 55
George 32
Thomas 30
James 28
Charles 26
Robert 21
Arthur 17
Henry 17
Alfred 14
Edward 12
Joseph 11
Richard 10
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Ernest 6
Walter 6
Fred 5
Harry 5
Daniel 4
David 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Patrick 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Michael 3
Andrew 2
Bernard 2
Cornelius 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Matthew 2
Norman 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Samuel 2
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
Eli 1
Elizabeth 1
Ely 1
Ezra 1
Jos. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Corney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 995 people were recorded with the Corney surname. That placed it at #3,918 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,197 in 2016. That gives Corney a modern rank of #4,976.

What does the Corney surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "cor," meaning horn or horn-player.

What does the Corney map show?

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