Corker
A surname referring to someone who made or sold corks.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,782 Americans carry the last name Corker. That puts it at #18,218 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.52 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 192,343 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Corker surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.8K
1 in 192,343
Census rank
#18,218
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,527 bearers of the surname Corker in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.52 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18218th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Corker, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.8%. The next largest groups are Black (28.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Corker
The surname "CORKER" is of English origin, derived from an occupational name for a maker or seller of corks. It is first recorded in the early 14th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1313 as "William le Corkere".
The name is derived from the Old English word "corc" meaning "bark", specifically the bark used to make bottle stoppers or corks. This suggests that early bearers of this surname were likely involved in the cork-making trade or worked with bark in some capacity.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a "John le Corker" is listed. This indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by the early 14th century.
In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire in 1332, a "Richard le Corker" is mentioned, providing another early example of the surname in a different region of England. This suggests that the name was becoming more widely distributed throughout the country during this time period.
By the 16th century, the surname had evolved to its modern spelling of "CORKER". One notable bearer of this name was William Corker, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich, who lived from 1532 to 1604.
Another historical figure with the surname "CORKER" was John Corker, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who was born in 1628 and served as the rector of Mancetter in Warwickshire.
In the 18th century, the name can be found in various records, including the marriage of Thomas Corker to Mary Pickering in Rotherham, Yorkshire, in 1743. This highlights the continued presence of the surname in its traditional strongholds in the north of England.
One of the most notable figures with the surname "CORKER" was James Corker, an English architect who lived from 1783 to 1849. He was responsible for the design of several important buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the Church of St. George's in Bloomsbury.
Another individual of note was William Corker, a 19th-century English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club between 1849 and 1853. He was born in 1822 and played as a right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Corker
Among Census respondents with the surname Corker, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.8%. The next largest groups are Black (28.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Corker bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Corker surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White67.8%
- Black or African American28.0%
- Two or more races1.6%
- Hispanic or Latino1.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Corker surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,111 | #18,218 | 9.4% |
| Count | 1,233 | 1,527 | 23.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.46 | 0.52 | 13.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Corker bearers went from 1,233 to 1,527 (+23.8% change). The surname moved up 1,893 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,111 to #18,218.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Corker
FAQ
Corker surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Corker?
The surname Corker holds position #18,218 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,782 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.52 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Corker surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Corker, the largest self-reported group is White at 67.8%. The next largest groups are Black (28.0%) and Two or More Races (1.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.