Cort
A Scottish surname derived from the French place name "Courtes".
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,679 Americans carry the last name Cort. That puts it at #18,793 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.49 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 204,142 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Cort 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
1.7K
1 in 204,142
Census rank
#18,793
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.5K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,458 bearers of the surname Cort in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 18793rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Cort, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (22.6%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Cort
The surname Cort is of French origin, derived from the Old French word "cort," meaning "court" or "courtyard." It first emerged in the regions of Normandy and Brittany during the Middle Ages.
Cort was a common occupational name given to individuals who lived or worked in the courtyard of a manor or castle. It was sometimes used as a descriptive nickname for those who spent significant time in the court or had a connection to the nobility.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cort can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cort" and "Corte." This comprehensive survey of land ownership in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that period.
In the 13th century, the surname Cort was found in various forms, such as "de la Cort," "de Cort," and "de Courte," indicating a connection to a specific place or location. These variations often denoted the place of origin or residence of the family.
Notable individuals with the surname Cort throughout history include:
1. Robert Cort (c. 1350 - 1415), an English landowner and member of the gentry from Wiltshire.
2. Jean de Cort (c. 1480 - 1560), a French nobleman and military commander who served under King Francis I during the Italian Wars.
3. Cornelis Cort (1536 - 1578), a renowned Flemish engraver and printmaker who worked in Venice and Rome.
4. William Cort (1572 - 1635), an English ironmaster and inventor who pioneered the puddling process for refining pig iron.
5. Hendrick de Cort (1742 - 1810), a Dutch merchant and explorer who established trading posts in the East Indies.
The surname Cort has been associated with various place names throughout history, such as Cort-sur-Sarthe in France, Court in Belgium, and Courttown in Ireland. These place names often derived from the same root word as the surname, further emphasizing the connection between the name and its geographical origins.
While the surname Cort has undergone minor spelling variations over the centuries, it has maintained a distinct presence in various regions of Europe and has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Cort
Among Census respondents with the surname Cort, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (22.6%) and Hispanic (5.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Cort 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 Cort surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White68.0%
- Black or African American22.6%
- Hispanic or Latino5.9%
- Two or more races1.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Cort 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,793 | #18,793 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,458 | 1,458 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Cort bearers went from 1,458 to 1,458 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #18,793 to #18,793.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Cort
FAQ
Cort surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Cort?
The surname Cort holds position #18,793 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,679 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.49 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Cort surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Cort, the largest self-reported group is White at 68.0%. The next largest groups are Black (22.6%) and Hispanic (5.9%). 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.