NameCensus.

UK surname

Cornford

An English locational surname originating from residing by a ford near a corn field.

In the 1881 census there were 674 people recorded with the Cornford surname, ranking it #5,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 944, ranked #6,077, down from #5,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Rotherfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eastbourne, Rother and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cornford is 1,074 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.1%.

1881 census count

674

Ranked #5,347

Modern count

944

2016, ranked #6,077

Peak year

1999

1,074 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cornford had 674 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 944 in 2016, ranked #6,077.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 999 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cornford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cornford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cornford 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 286 #7,933
1861 historical 327 #7,788
1881 historical 674 #5,347
1891 historical 641 #6,051
1901 historical 813 #5,549
1911 historical 999 #4,549
1997 modern 1,015 #5,427
1998 modern 1,034 #5,523
1999 modern 1,074 #5,384
2000 modern 1,032 #5,545
2001 modern 1,004 #5,565
2002 modern 1,053 #5,460
2003 modern 1,002 #5,587
2004 modern 1,007 #5,564
2005 modern 970 #5,671
2006 modern 975 #5,663
2007 modern 990 #5,651
2008 modern 982 #5,732
2009 modern 986 #5,835
2010 modern 1,014 #5,822
2011 modern 999 #5,831
2012 modern 973 #5,868
2013 modern 991 #5,870
2014 modern 975 #5,981
2015 modern 954 #6,054
2016 modern 944 #6,077

Geography

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Where Cornfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Rotherfield, Warbleton and Hurstmonceux, Wartling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eastbourne, Rother and Wealden. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Rotherfield Sussex
4 Warbleton Sussex
5 Hurstmonceux, Wartling Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eastbourne 007 Eastbourne
2 Eastbourne 006 Eastbourne
3 Rother 007 Rother
4 Wealden 018 Wealden
5 Eastbourne 010 Eastbourne

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cornford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cornford

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cornford is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Cornford 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

Cornford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cornford

The surname Cornford is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "corn" meaning grain and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing. It likely originated in the medieval period as a locational surname for someone who lived near a ford where corn or grain was transported across a river.

The earliest known records of the name Cornford date back to the late 12th century, with mentions found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195. Some of these early references may have been to places rather than people, such as the village of Cornford near Tewkesbury.

By the 13th century, the surname had spread to other parts of England, particularly the southwestern counties. In 1273, a Robert de Cornford is recorded in the Assize Rolls of Somerset. The "de" prefix indicates a locational association with a place called Cornford.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Cornford, born around 1320 in Wiltshire. He served as a member of parliament for Wiltshire in 1355 and 1357.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various spellings such as Cornforde, Cornforthe, and Cornfurth, reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography at the time.

A notable figure with the Cornford surname was John Cornford, an English poet and communist who fought and died in the Spanish Civil War in 1936 at the age of 21. He is remembered for his involvement in the conflict and his poetic works influenced by socialist ideals.

Another individual of note was Frances Cornford, born in 1886, an English poet and wife of the classical scholar Francis Macdonald Cornford. She was part of the Bloomsbury Group and her poetry often explored themes of family life and domestic experiences.

In the realm of academia, Francis Macdonald Cornford himself, born in 1874, was a renowned English classical scholar and philosopher. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek philosophy and religion.

Overall, the surname Cornford has a long history in England, originating as a locational name and later being adopted by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, poets, and scholars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cornford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cornford 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. Sussex leads with 362 Cornfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.61x.

County Total Index
Sussex 362 32.61x
Kent 129 5.74x
Surrey 67 2.09x
Middlesex 50 0.76x
Essex 10 0.77x
Gloucestershire 10 0.77x
Hampshire 8 0.59x
Norfolk 8 0.79x
Devon 6 0.44x
Warwickshire 6 0.36x
Worcestershire 6 0.70x
Lancashire 4 0.05x
Bedfordshire 3 0.88x
Brecknockshire 2 1.52x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 1.27x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 79 Cornfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.27x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 79 35.27x
Mayfield 48 730.59x
Faversham 25 116.71x
Herstmonceaux 23 688.62x
Rotherfield 19 194.27x
Warbleton 19 574.02x
Islington London 18 2.82x
Lambeth 16 2.79x
Bexhill 15 271.25x
Camberwell 15 3.57x
Hastings St Mary In The 13 54.90x
Maidstone 13 19.43x
Newington 13 5.34x
Heathfield 12 266.67x
Ore 12 145.28x
Burwash 10 194.17x
Hollington 10 253.16x
Kirdford 10 259.74x
Bromley London 9 6.21x
Chatham 9 14.56x
East Chiltington 9 967.74x
West Ham 9 3.14x
Cranbrook 8 84.03x
Dickleburgh 8 427.81x
Waldron 8 264.90x
Eynsford 7 181.82x
Canterbury St Mildred 6 112.57x
Chailey 6 174.42x
Cheltenham 6 6.02x
Iford 6 1463.41x
Leigh 6 204.08x
Minster In Sheppey 6 16.12x
St Marylebone London 6 1.71x
Stoke Damerel 6 6.25x
Stoke Newington London 6 11.70x
Stourbridge 6 27.12x
Studley 6 84.51x
Tonbridge 6 7.40x
Wartling 6 444.44x
Eastbourne 5 9.79x
Horley 5 92.94x
Kingston On Thames 5 6.49x
Lewisham 5 4.17x
Northfleet 5 25.27x
Peper Harow 5 1470.59x
Portsea 5 1.89x
Upchurch 5 197.63x
Gillingham 4 8.64x
Hailsham 4 59.52x
Hastings St Mary 4 14.48x
Iden 4 317.46x
Rainham 4 64.83x
Salford 4 1.74x
Westbury On Trym 4 9.14x
Wivelsfield 4 92.17x
Bearsted 3 222.22x
Crowhurst 3 315.79x
Dunstable 3 28.63x
Epsom 3 19.18x
Folkington 3 1000.00x
Hove 3 6.16x
Milton In Milton 3 31.41x
Patcham 3 150.75x
Pevensey 3 365.85x
Preston 3 15.47x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.59x
Barcombe 2 75.19x
Borden 2 70.18x
Croydon 2 1.12x
Hastings All Sts 2 19.12x
Kensington London 2 0.55x
Lewes St Ann 2 52.91x
St Faith Winchester 2 31.80x
Tudeley 2 161.29x
Wadhurst 2 27.43x
Westerham 2 38.61x
Hampstead London 1 0.98x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 14.31x
Springfield 1 17.54x
Wolverhampton 1 0.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 29
George 28
James 22
Henry 21
Thomas 16
Charles 14
Joseph 12
Samuel 12
Alfred 11
Edward 10
Arthur 9
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Walter 5
David 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frank 4
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Mark 3
Peter 3
Richard 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Godfrey 2
Horace 2
Leslie 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Bartwin 1
Chales 1
Charlotte 1
Conway 1
Cornelius 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Esli 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Infant 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Lillay 1
Luke 1

FAQ

Cornford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cornford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 674 people were recorded with the Cornford surname. That placed it at #5,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cornford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 944 in 2016. That gives Cornford a modern rank of #6,077.

What does the Cornford surname mean?

An English locational surname originating from residing by a ford near a corn field.

What does the Cornford map show?

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