NameCensus.

UK surname

Korn

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of grain, derived from Middle High German.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Korn surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 203, ranked #19,396, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Salford and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Korn is 230 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 434.2%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

203

2016, ranked #19,396

Peak year

2010

230 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Korn had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016, ranked #19,396.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 97 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Korn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Korn surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Korn 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 43 #30,933
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 183 #19,248
2000 modern 207 #17,833
2001 modern 193 #18,334
2002 modern 194 #18,651
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 176 #19,787
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 192 #19,143
2009 modern 205 #18,722
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 209 #18,984
2014 modern 208 #19,194
2015 modern 203 #19,381
2016 modern 203 #19,396

Geography

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Where Korns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Salford, Kensington and Chelsea and City of London. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 032 Barnet
2 Salford 010 Salford
3 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea
4 City of London 001 City of London
5 Barnet 014 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Korn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Korn

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Korn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Korn 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Korn is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Korn is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Korn 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 Korn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Korn

The surname Korn is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word "korn" meaning "grain" or "corn." This suggests that the name likely originated from an area known for its agricultural production or from an occupation related to the grain trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Korn can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany. In the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a medieval document from Brandenburg, the name "Henricus Korn" is mentioned in 1292. Similarly, the name "Johannes Korn" appears in a record from Saxony in 1311.

During the late Middle Ages and Early Modern period, the Korn surname was prevalent in various German territories, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Silesia. It was often associated with landowners, farmers, and merchants involved in the grain trade.

One notable historical figure with the surname Korn was Johann Korn (1487-1542), a Lutheran theologian and reformer from Lich, Hesse. He was a prominent figure in the Protestant Reformation and played a significant role in the spread of Lutheran teachings in central Germany.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of German immigrants to North America. For instance, Johannes Korn, born in 1635 in Ebersbach, Germany, arrived in Pennsylvania in 1709 and was among the earliest settlers of Germantown.

Another historical figure of note was Friedrich Korn (1828-1904), a German industrialist and inventor from Karlsruhe. He is credited with developing the first successful dry-cleaning machine, revolutionizing the textile industry.

The surname Korn has also been associated with several notable academics and intellectuals throughout history. One example is Alexis Korn (1804-1847), a French mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of elasticity theory.

In the realm of art, the name Korn is represented by the German painter and printmaker Franz Korn (1865-1926), known for his landscapes and cityscapes depicting life in Munich and other Bavarian cities.

While the surname Korn is more common in Germany and among German-speaking populations, it has also been found in other European countries, likely due to migration and intermarriage over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Korn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Korn 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Korns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 15 3.41x
Surrey 12 6.65x
Middlesex 8 2.16x
Durham 2 1.81x
Berkshire 1 3.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 10 Korns recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.27x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 10 42.27x
Toxteth Park 9 60.48x
Everton 6 42.83x
Hackney London 4 19.26x
St Marylebone London 2 10.11x
Westoe 2 32.00x
Aston Tirrold 1 2500.00x
Battersea 1 7.34x
Lambeth 1 3.10x
St George In East London 1 28.74x
St Pancras London 1 3.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Florence 3
Elizabeth 2
Josephiner 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Mary 1
Mina 1
Ugnrta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 2
Joseph 2
William 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
George 1
Harry 1
James 1
John 1
Karl 1
Raymond 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Korn households.

FAQ

Korn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Korn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Korn surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Korn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 203 in 2016. That gives Korn a modern rank of #19,396.

What does the Korn surname mean?

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a grower or seller of grain, derived from Middle High German.

What does the Korn map show?

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