NameCensus.

UK surname

Cory

From the Old Norse byname Kori, derived from the word "kórr," meaning "curly" or "curly-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 1,031 people recorded with the Cory surname, ranking it #3,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 930, ranked #6,144, down from #3,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, South Northamptonshire and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cory is 1,347 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.8%.

1881 census count

1,031

Ranked #3,808

Modern count

930

2016, ranked #6,144

Peak year

1911

1,347 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cory had 1,031 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016, ranked #6,144.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,347 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cory surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cory surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cory 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 850 #3,199
1861 historical 653 #4,109
1881 historical 1,031 #3,808
1891 historical 993 #4,176
1901 historical 1,172 #4,169
1911 historical 1,347 #3,558
1997 modern 1,047 #5,283
1998 modern 1,046 #5,459
1999 modern 1,010 #5,670
2000 modern 1,032 #5,545
2001 modern 999 #5,582
2002 modern 995 #5,714
2003 modern 962 #5,784
2004 modern 959 #5,803
2005 modern 907 #5,991
2006 modern 924 #5,916
2007 modern 939 #5,898
2008 modern 940 #5,930
2009 modern 966 #5,924
2010 modern 978 #5,978
2011 modern 975 #5,925
2012 modern 952 #5,968
2013 modern 942 #6,125
2014 modern 940 #6,178
2015 modern 922 #6,215
2016 modern 930 #6,144

Geography

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Where Corys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Harpole. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, South Northamptonshire, Dover, Rhondda Cynon Taf and East Hampshire. 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 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Harpole Northamptonshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 005 Torridge
2 South Northamptonshire 001 South Northamptonshire
3 Dover 007 Dover
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 020 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 East Hampshire 007 East Hampshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cory

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cory

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Cory is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cory 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

Cory falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cory

The surname Cory originated in England and has its roots in the Old English word "cor," which meant a small dwelling or hut. It is believed that the name first emerged as a descriptive name for someone who lived in a small hut or cottage.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with one of the earliest known bearers being Walter le Cory, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272. Another early reference to the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a Thomas Cory was listed in 1296.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Cori, Coree, and Corry. It is also believed that the name may have been derived from certain place names, such as Cory in Somerset or Corby in Northamptonshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Cory (c. 1520 - 1597), an English politician and Member of Parliament who served during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Cory (1791 - 1873), a British engineer and inventor who contributed significantly to the development of early steam engines and railways.

In the literary world, William Johnson Cory (1823 - 1892) was an English educator, poet, and author best known for his lyrical poetry and his influence on the Aesthetic Movement. Giles Cory (c. 1619 - 1692) was a notable figure in the Salem Witch Trials, where he was accused of witchcraft but refused to enter a plea, leading to his tragic death by being pressed with heavy stones.

The surname Cory has also been associated with various places and locations throughout history. For example, the Cory family was once prominent landowners in the village of Cory in Somerset, while the Cory Trow, a famous boat used for transporting goods along the River Parrett in Somerset, was named after the family.

Overall, the surname Cory has a rich history rooted in the English language and culture, with its origins stretching back to the Middle Ages and its bearers leaving their mark across various fields, from politics and engineering to literature and even the infamous Salem Witch Trials.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cory families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cory 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. Cornwall leads with 209 Corys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.49x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 209 17.49x
Devon 176 8.01x
Northamptonshire 132 13.30x
Middlesex 118 1.12x
Norfolk 77 4.74x
Surrey 54 1.05x
Kent 50 1.39x
Channel Islands 49 15.67x
Glamorgan 24 1.31x
Lancashire 22 0.18x
Yorkshire 22 0.21x
Gloucestershire 19 0.92x
Hampshire 16 0.74x
Durham 13 0.41x
Leicestershire 11 0.94x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.50x
Essex 10 0.48x
Suffolk 10 0.78x
Somerset 9 0.53x
Cheshire 8 0.34x
Warwickshire 8 0.30x
Sussex 6 0.34x
Monmouthshire 5 0.66x
Cumberland 4 0.44x
Merionethshire 4 2.07x
Staffordshire 4 0.11x
Shropshire 3 0.33x
Derbyshire 2 0.12x
Royal Navy 2 1.59x
Ayrshire 1 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Isle of Man 1 0.51x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 49 Corys recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.12x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 49 48.12x
Harpole 38 1266.67x
Plymouth St Andrew 34 20.09x
St Pancras London 26 3.06x
Deal 24 78.13x
Camberwell 23 3.41x
St Teath 21 291.67x
Mile End Old Town London 17 7.57x
Plymouth Charles The 17 17.56x
Calstock 16 68.29x
Islington London 16 1.56x
Northampton St Giles 16 42.31x
Northampton St Sepulchre 16 31.68x
Liskeard 14 70.04x
Tywardreath 14 182.53x
Great Dunham 12 839.16x
Lifton 12 226.84x
St Gennys 12 674.16x
Tavistock 12 47.94x
Woolfardisworthy 11 345.91x
Eydon 10 617.28x
Kensington London 10 1.70x
North Petherwyn 10 322.58x
Clifton 9 8.60x
Dalton In Furness 9 18.62x
Deptford St Paul 9 3.24x
Lambeth 9 0.98x
Northampton St Peter 9 149.25x
Tintagel 9 276.92x
Tottenham 9 5.35x
Tresmeer 9 1451.61x
Bromley London 8 3.45x
Jacobstow 8 516.13x
Lanlivery 8 159.36x
Stranton 8 7.57x
Tormoham 8 8.61x
Upton 8 307.69x
Wellingborough 8 16.03x
Bradford 7 514.71x
Caistor St Edmund 7 1346.15x
Camborne 7 14.22x
Cardiff St John 7 11.66x
Davidstow 7 476.19x
Gresham 7 507.25x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 10.40x
Holsworthy 7 112.90x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 14.37x
Milborne Port 7 102.94x
Millbrook 7 12.85x
Northam 7 43.72x
Norwich St Peter 7 65.73x
Roath 7 8.39x
St Austell 7 17.14x
Bradford 6 2.37x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 3.08x
Chigwell 6 30.50x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.41x
Freethorpe 6 413.79x
Meldreth 6 231.66x
Northampton Priory St 6 10.07x
Poundstock 6 317.46x
Southill 6 327.87x
St Juliot 6 740.74x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 13.98x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 5 87.57x
Eynsford 5 81.04x
Hackney London 5 0.85x
Hainford 5 220.26x
Mautby 5 980.39x
Milton In Milton 5 32.66x
Misterton 5 284.09x
Monks Coppenhall 5 5.69x
North Meols 5 4.08x
Poplar London 5 2.51x
Rugby 5 13.89x
Shebbear 5 151.52x
St Mary Magdalene 5 56.95x
St Mellons 5 231.48x
Stoke Damerel 5 3.25x
Bermondsey 4 1.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 78
William 62
Thomas 37
James 29
Richard 24
Charles 22
Henry 21
Robert 21
George 18
Samuel 15
Frederick 13
Edward 12
Arthur 11
Albert 9
Harry 8
Joseph 8
Wm. 8
Alfred 7
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Herbert 6
Percy 5
Walter 5
Ernest 3
Harold 3
Moses 3
Philip 3
Richd. 3
Robt. 3
Saml. 3
Sydney 3
Alexander 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
J. 2
Michael 2
Sampson 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Cecil 1
Christmass 1
Donald 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmond 1
Eli 1
Ellen 1

FAQ

Cory surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cory surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,031 people were recorded with the Cory surname. That placed it at #3,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cory surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016. That gives Cory a modern rank of #6,144.

What does the Cory surname mean?

From the Old Norse byname Kori, derived from the word "kórr," meaning "curly" or "curly-haired."

What does the Cory map show?

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