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

Cory, 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 Cory surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cory in America

Cory is the 5867th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cory surname appeared 5,879 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Cory.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cory 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 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.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cory

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

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 Cory 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 Cory 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 Cory was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!