Find out how popular the last name Cordray is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Cordray.

Cordray, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Cordray surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cordray in America

Cordray is the 14274th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cordray surname appeared 2,098 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Cordray.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cordray to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Cordray

The surname Cordray has its origins in France, where it likely emerged sometime during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be derived from the Old French words "corde" and "rai," which together translate to "cord maker" or "rope maker," suggesting the name's earliest bearers were involved in the production of ropes or cords.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cordray name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landholders in England following the Norman Conquest. The name appears as "Cordrei," a variation that reflects the linguistic evolution of the surname over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Jean Cordray was recorded in the historical records of the city of Rouen in Normandy, France. Unfortunately, little is known about his life or accomplishments, but his name serves as an early example of the surname's presence in France.

During the 16th century, the Cordray name began to spread more widely across Europe. In Germany, a merchant named Hans Cordray (1525-1592) is documented as having established a successful trading business in the city of Hamburg.

As the name spread, variations in spelling became more common. In England, the surname appeared as Cordrey, Cordray, and Cordery, among other variations, reflecting the challenges of consistent spelling in earlier eras.

One of the most prominent individuals with the Cordray surname was the French philosopher and writer, Jacques Cordray (1677-1745), who authored several influential works on ethics and moral philosophy.

Another notable figure was the English explorer and cartographer, William Cordray (1732-1810), who played a significant role in mapping the Pacific Northwest region of what is now the United States and Canada.

In the 19th century, the Cordray name gained further recognition with the birth of Marie Cordray (1854-1932), a French painter and sculptor celebrated for her works depicting rural life in her native Normandy region.

As the centuries passed, the Cordray name continued to spread across various parts of Europe and eventually to other continents, carried by migrants and travelers seeking new opportunities and experiences.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cordray

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Cordray.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Cordray was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Cordray has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Cordray was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Cordray, please contact us.

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