NameCensus.

UK surname

Corser

An occupational surname derived from the French word "coursier" meaning a runner or messenger.

In the 1881 census there were 208 people recorded with the Corser surname, ranking it #12,511 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #12,511 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, St. Ninians and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hartlepool, Walsall and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corser is 347 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.0%.

1881 census count

208

Ranked #12,511

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

1999

347 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corser had 208 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,511 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 279 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Corser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corser surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corser 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 208 #12,511
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 249 #12,951
1997 modern 346 #12,273
1998 modern 341 #12,761
1999 modern 347 #12,696
2000 modern 345 #12,693
2001 modern 341 #12,588
2002 modern 345 #12,754
2003 modern 332 #12,914
2004 modern 343 #12,616
2005 modern 330 #12,939
2006 modern 313 #13,517
2007 modern 329 #13,168
2008 modern 334 #13,142
2009 modern 343 #13,168
2010 modern 345 #13,370
2011 modern 337 #13,463
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 343 #13,372
2014 modern 340 #13,554
2015 modern 344 #13,332
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Corsers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, St. Ninians, Manchester, Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen and Bellie. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hartlepool, Walsall, Solihull and Wirral. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 St. Ninians Stirling
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen Shropshire
5 Bellie Elgin

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hartlepool 009 Hartlepool
2 Walsall 027 Walsall
3 Solihull 009 Solihull
4 Hartlepool 005 Hartlepool
5 Wirral 004 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corser

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Corser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Corser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Corser 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

Corser is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corser 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 Corser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Corser

The surname Corser is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old French word "coursier," which means "a horse dealer" or "a horse trader." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who were involved in the buying and selling of horses.

The name can be traced back to the 12th century, with records showing variations such as Corsour and Corseour. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Willelmus Corsur is mentioned.

In the 13th century, the name Corser appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, which were administrative records compiled in 1273. This suggests that individuals with this surname were living in the area during that time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not appear to contain any direct references to the surname Corser. However, it does mention place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Courser's Green in Kent.

One notable individual with the surname Corser was John Corser, an English clergyman and antiquarian who lived from 1765 to 1853. He was known for his work on the history of Yorkshire and his contributions to the study of local antiquities.

Another important figure was Thomas Corser, a British bibliographer and book collector who lived from 1793 to 1876. He is renowned for his extensive collection of rare books and his contributions to the field of bibliography.

In the 17th century, Thomas Corser (1624-1700) was a prominent English merchant and landowner in Lancashire. He played a significant role in the local community and his family's influence can be traced through various records from that period.

The name Corser has also been associated with notable individuals in other countries. For example, Jean-Baptiste Corser (1768-1832) was a French military officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of general.

In the United States, William Corser (1805-1884) was a prominent lawyer and politician from New Hampshire. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and was also a judge on the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

While the surname Corser may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval times and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corser 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. Shropshire leads with 48 Corsers recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.52x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 48 27.52x
Lancashire 22 0.92x
Staffordshire 16 2.35x
Warwickshire 16 3.14x
Stirlingshire 15 20.14x
Derbyshire 10 3.16x
Devon 10 2.38x
Leicestershire 10 4.47x
Morayshire 10 31.88x
Kincardineshire 8 32.53x
Surrey 8 0.81x
Somerset 6 1.85x
Herefordshire 5 6.04x
Middlesex 5 0.25x
Wiltshire 5 2.80x
Sussex 4 1.17x
Yorkshire 3 0.15x
Durham 2 0.33x
Midlothian 2 0.74x
Worcestershire 2 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ninians in Stirlingshire leads with 15 Corsers recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.25x.

Place Total Index
St Ninians 15 203.25x
Aston 12 8.56x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 28.90x
Stapenhill 10 212.31x
Melton Mowbray 9 223.33x
Bellie 8 563.38x
Bervie 8 547.95x
Shrewsbury St Chad 8 130.72x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 7 353.54x
Dartmouth St Petrox 7 1147.54x
Reigate Foreign 7 65.73x
Ryton 6 4000.00x
Walcot 6 34.66x
Willenhall 6 46.99x
Hodnet 5 367.65x
Swindon 5 36.10x
Walsall Foreign 5 14.20x
Walton On Hill 5 38.52x
Bridgnorth St Mary 4 235.29x
Burrington 4 2857.14x
Neenton 4 4000.00x
Penkridge 4 227.27x
Shipton 4 3076.92x
Birmingham 3 1.77x
Chadderton 3 25.62x
Hastings St Mary 3 35.42x
Hunslet 3 9.62x
Wem 3 115.83x
Hampstead London 2 6.36x
Plymouth Charles The 2 10.80x
Salford 2 2.84x
Sheriff Hales 2 285.71x
Westminster St James 2 9.63x
Witton Le Wear 2 117.65x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.91x
Birlingham 1 416.67x
Brewood 1 50.76x
Brighton 1 1.46x
Duffus 1 36.23x
Edgbaston 1 6.33x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.92x
Edinburgh Trinity 1 114.94x
Elton 1 1111.11x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.83x
Monkleigh 1 270.27x
Northfield 1 20.00x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 14.53x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 1 103.09x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.81x
Stockton 1 270.27x
Stoke Upon Tern 1 156.25x
Whitchurch 1 29.50x
Wimbledon 1 9.05x
Wistanstow Cheney 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 10
John 9
Thomas 6
Henry 5
Charles 3
James 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Frederic 2
Harrington 2
Albert 1
Archibald 1
Col 1
Daniel 1
Douglas 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Haden 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Herbet 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Corser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 208 people were recorded with the Corser surname. That placed it at #12,511 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Corser a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Corser surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the French word "coursier" meaning a runner or messenger.

What does the Corser map show?

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