NameCensus.

UK surname

Corson

A surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near a rocky or stony area.

In the 1881 census there were 310 people recorded with the Corson surname, ranking it #9,488 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, down from #9,488 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Morton, Durisdeer and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whisky Isles, Cumnock South and Craigens and Gatehouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Corson is 454 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.8%.

1881 census count

310

Ranked #9,488

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

1901

454 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Corson had 310 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,488 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 454 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Corson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Corson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Corson 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 298 #7,691
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 310 #9,488
1891 historical 399 #8,898
1901 historical 454 #8,657
1911 historical 244 #13,127
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 391 #11,539
1999 modern 381 #11,873
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 354 #12,319
2004 modern 366 #12,053
2005 modern 373 #11,794
2006 modern 366 #12,042
2007 modern 371 #12,053
2008 modern 374 #12,086
2009 modern 377 #12,269
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 381 #12,152
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 395 #12,125
2015 modern 391 #12,113
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Corsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Morton, Durisdeer, Edinburgh, Paisley Abbey and Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Whisky Isles, Cumnock South and Craigens, Gatehouse, Croydon and Dalbeattie. 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 Morton Dumfries
2 Durisdeer Dumfries
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Paisley Abbey Renfrew
5 Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whisky Isles Argyll and Bute
2 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire
3 Gatehouse Dumfries and Galloway
4 Croydon 024 Croydon
5 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Corson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Corson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Corson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Corson is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Corson 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 Corson 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 Corson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Corson

The surname Corson is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cresse" meaning "cress" or "watercress." It likely originated as a descriptive surname, given to someone who lived near a watercress bed or had an occupation related to the cultivation or sale of watercress.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the late 12th century in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, there is a reference to a "Willelmus filius Cors," which translates to "William, son of Cors."

During the medieval period, the surname appeared with various spellings, such as Corce, Cors, Corse, and Corsse, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. The standardized spelling of Corson emerged later.

One notable early record of the name is in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Corson. Additionally, the Corson family held lands in Lincolnshire as early as the 14th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Thomas Corson, who was born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1540. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in the county.

Another noteworthy figure was Sir John Corson (1588-1659), a wealthy merchant and member of the Virginia Company, which established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various places, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of Staffordshire in 1666, which listed a William Corson as a taxpayer.

During the 18th century, John Corson (1713-1787) was a successful merchant and shipowner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade.

In the literary world, Martha Corson (1832-1904) was a renowned American poet and author, known for her works such as "The Rhymes of a Homesteader" and "The Village Bride."

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir William Corson (1860-1938), a British military officer who served in the Boer War and later became a Conservative Member of Parliament.

While the Corson surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and can be traced back to its English origins and connections to watercress.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Corson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Corson 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. Kirkcudbrightshire leads with 63 Corsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.86x.

County Total Index
Kirkcudbrightshire 63 144.86x
Dumfriesshire 46 69.31x
Yorkshire 39 1.31x
Lancashire 27 0.76x
Midlothian 23 5.71x
Ayrshire 18 8.01x
Renfrewshire 11 4.72x
Hampshire 10 1.62x
Cumberland 9 3.48x
Gloucestershire 8 1.36x
Staffordshire 8 0.79x
Durham 7 0.78x
Cheshire 5 0.75x
Argyllshire 4 4.78x
Lanarkshire 4 0.41x
Leicestershire 4 1.20x
Middlesex 4 0.13x
Perthshire 4 2.97x
Somerset 3 0.62x
Wigtownshire 3 7.52x
Worcestershire 3 0.76x
Surrey 2 0.14x
Devon 1 0.16x
Kent 1 0.10x
West Lothian 1 2.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 23 Corsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.68x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 23 13.68x
Urr 13 229.68x
Everton 12 10.56x
North Leith 11 59.04x
Durrisdeer 10 877.19x
Morton 10 454.55x
Southampton All Sts 10 94.61x
Girvan 9 159.57x
Girthon 8 547.95x
West Derby 8 7.67x
Evenwood Barony 7 230.26x
Galston 7 113.82x
Kildwick 7 258.30x
Twynholm 7 1000.00x
Wolverhampton 7 8.98x
Caldewgate 6 42.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 3.71x
Irongray 6 740.74x
Sanquhar 6 257.51x
Tongland 6 705.88x
Dalry 5 490.20x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 48.83x
Gloucester St Catherine 5 301.20x
Renfrew 5 65.02x
Anwoth 4 533.33x
Callander 4 180.18x
Cummertrees 4 353.98x
Govan 4 1.66x
Kegworth 4 181.00x
Kilmore Kilbride 4 75.33x
Kirkmichael 4 454.55x
Tinwald 4 449.44x
Abbey 3 8.44x
Cheltenham 3 6.60x
Guiseley 3 78.74x
Halifax 3 6.86x
Inch 3 77.12x
Kirkmabreck 3 157.89x
Macclesfield 3 10.18x
Minnigaff 3 184.05x
St Mary Within 3 92.88x
Walcot 3 11.65x
Annan 2 35.09x
Chester St Mary On Hill 2 35.15x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.53x
Dumfries 2 30.53x
Halliwell 2 15.42x
Keir 2 259.74x
Kirkpatrick Durham 2 148.15x
Knaresborough 2 42.74x
Paisley Middle Church 2 14.75x
Parton 2 270.27x
Toxteth Park 2 1.66x
Whistones 2 70.42x
Ayr 1 9.43x
Bathgate 1 10.18x
Bletchingley 1 52.36x
Borgue 1 85.47x
Buittle 1 98.04x
Claines 1 9.29x
Crossmichael 1 72.99x
Devonport 1 13.91x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 12.79x
Harborne 1 3.08x
Holywood 1 90.09x
Islington London 1 0.34x
Kirkmahoe 1 77.52x
Lambeth 1 0.38x
Liverpool 1 0.46x
Paddington London 1 0.91x
Paisley Low Church 1 13.57x
Potter Newton 1 19.05x
Shoreditch London 1 0.77x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.89x
Stewarton 1 22.47x
Swanscombe 1 21.69x
Troqueer 1 17.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 7
Mary 7
Agnes 6
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Lucy 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Barbara 2
Edith 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Agness 1
Ann 1
Christina 1
Constance 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Louise 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 12
George 7
John 6
Robert 6
William 5
Alexander 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
David 2
Frank 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Joseph 1
Lindsey 1
Oliver 1
Percival 1
Wm. 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Corson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Corson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 310 people were recorded with the Corson surname. That placed it at #9,488 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Corson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Corson a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Corson surname mean?

A surname of French origin referring to someone who lived near a rocky or stony area.

What does the Corson map show?

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