NameCensus.

UK surname

Cornforth

A locational surname referring to someone from any of various places named 'Cornforth'.

In the 1881 census there were 683 people recorded with the Cornforth surname, ranking it #5,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 978, ranked #5,905, down from #5,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Hambleton and Ryedale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cornforth is 1,030 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.2%.

1881 census count

683

Ranked #5,281

Modern count

978

2016, ranked #5,905

Peak year

2010

1,030 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cornforth had 683 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 978 in 2016, ranked #5,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 909 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cornforth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cornforth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cornforth 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 466 #5,325
1861 historical 511 #5,121
1881 historical 683 #5,281
1891 historical 752 #5,296
1901 historical 827 #5,471
1911 historical 909 #4,909
1997 modern 904 #5,945
1998 modern 958 #5,866
1999 modern 985 #5,782
2000 modern 997 #5,700
2001 modern 988 #5,626
2002 modern 988 #5,755
2003 modern 930 #5,935
2004 modern 927 #5,940
2005 modern 947 #5,799
2006 modern 945 #5,817
2007 modern 961 #5,790
2008 modern 976 #5,757
2009 modern 1,005 #5,741
2010 modern 1,030 #5,735
2011 modern 1,012 #5,762
2012 modern 984 #5,818
2013 modern 1,003 #5,808
2014 modern 1,002 #5,850
2015 modern 988 #5,866
2016 modern 978 #5,905

Geography

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Where Cornforths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Darlington, Hawnby and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Hambleton, Ryedale, Hastings and Harrogate. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Darlington Durham
4 Hawnby Yorkshire, North Riding
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
2 Hambleton 003 Hambleton
3 Ryedale 003 Ryedale
4 Hastings 006 Hastings
5 Harrogate 012 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cornforth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cornforth

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

Cornforth is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cornforth falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cornforth

The surname Cornforth is of English origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "corn" meaning grain and "ford" meaning a shallow river crossing, suggesting that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a ford where grain was transported or traded.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Willelmus de Cornforth is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the Yorkshire area at that time.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Corneforth and Cornfurth, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in that era. Several Cornforth families were recorded as landowners in Yorkshire during this period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name Cornforth. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Cornbrough and Cornbury, which may have contributed to the development of the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Cornforth include:

1. John Cornforth (1917-2013), an Australian-born British chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1975 for his work on the stereochemistry of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

2. William Cornforth (1554-1644), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1628 until his death.

3. Marian Cornforth (1886-1971), a British artist known for her landscape paintings and portraits, particularly those depicting life in rural England.

4. Richard Cornforth (1937-2021), an Australian actor and director who appeared in numerous television shows and films, including the popular series "Neighbours."

5. James Cornforth (1786-1862), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and railroad technology.

While the name Cornforth has roots in northern England, particularly Yorkshire, it has since spread to other parts of the country and even abroad, as families migrated and settled in new areas over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cornforth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cornforth 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 281 Cornforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.24x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 281 4.24x
Durham 122 6.14x
Warwickshire 89 5.28x
Lancashire 71 0.90x
Staffordshire 34 1.51x
Northumberland 27 2.72x
Cheshire 15 1.02x
Middlesex 9 0.13x
Suffolk 7 0.86x
Surrey 5 0.15x
Bedfordshire 4 1.16x
Essex 4 0.30x
Derbyshire 3 0.29x
Kent 3 0.13x
Norfolk 3 0.29x
Channel Islands 2 1.01x
Hampshire 2 0.15x
Somerset 2 0.19x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 42 Cornforths recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.05x.

Place Total Index
Aston 42 9.05x
Birmingham 42 7.48x
Hawnby 24 4528.30x
Bilston 22 50.33x
Darlington 22 28.66x
Bradford 17 10.61x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 16 727.27x
North Shields 16 80.65x
Brompton In 15 506.76x
Hartlepool 14 49.56x
Bilsdale Midcable 12 774.19x
Elvet 12 83.62x
Kingswinford 12 14.65x
Edmondsley 11 516.43x
Hinderwell 11 194.69x
Osmotherley 11 521.33x
Salford 11 4.72x
Thornaby 11 44.46x
Bradford 10 26.95x
Lancaster 9 19.08x
West Derby 9 3.88x
Danby 8 298.51x
Shildon 8 50.09x
Burnley 7 10.48x
Cowesby 7 3181.82x
Leiston 7 125.22x
Pontefract 7 49.09x
Seaton Delaval 7 80.18x
Sunderland 7 19.94x
Coxwold 6 833.33x
Ellerbeck 6 3750.00x
Kildale 6 937.50x
Leeds 6 1.60x
Macclesfield 6 9.15x
Ruswarp 6 81.41x
Skipton 6 28.79x
Stranton 6 8.97x
Tanshelf 6 113.42x
Wortley In Bramley 6 11.44x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.93x
Conside Knitsley 5 32.34x
Crossgate 5 57.54x
Everton 5 1.98x
Stockton On Tees 5 5.22x
Timperley 5 97.47x
Westoe 5 4.44x
Wyke In Bradford 5 42.23x
Bedford St Paul 4 16.86x
Borrowby In 4 540.54x
Brotton 4 46.30x
Doncaster 4 8.27x
Edgbaston 4 7.66x
Glaisdale 4 158.10x
Helmsley 4 112.68x
Kirkleatham 4 44.74x
Manchester 4 1.12x
Middlesbrough 4 4.64x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 22.33x
Tynemouth 4 7.51x
Willesden 4 6.35x
Beswick 3 14.79x
Bilsdale West Side 3 882.35x
Breadsall 3 247.93x
Dringhoe Upton Brough 3 833.33x
East Ham 3 12.25x
Hilderthorpe 3 89.82x
Holy Trinity 3 1.88x
Liverpool 3 0.62x
Lofthouse 3 30.33x
Manfield 3 476.19x
Morley 3 8.71x
Nether Silton 3 750.00x
Newington 3 1.22x
Penshaw 3 50.25x
Tanfield 3 12.69x
Thirsk 3 39.27x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 8.83x
Oldham 2 0.78x
Ratcliffe London 2 5.42x
St Helier 2 3.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 59
William 43
Thomas 31
George 28
James 23
Charles 15
Joseph 15
Robert 14
David 9
Henry 7
Samuel 6
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Harry 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Bailey 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Jno. 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Christopher 2
Gilbert 2
Harrison 2
Herbert 2
Alexander 1
Athelstone 1
Birks 1
Boz 1
Christ 1
Edmond 1
Edum 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Jona 1
Jonah 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Mcneil 1
Nathan 1
Peter 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Cornforth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cornforth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 683 people were recorded with the Cornforth surname. That placed it at #5,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cornforth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 978 in 2016. That gives Cornforth a modern rank of #5,905.

What does the Cornforth surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of various places named 'Cornforth'.

What does the Cornforth map show?

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