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Cork Family History

Cork Surname Meaning

Irish English: habitational name from Cork (Ireland).

English: nickname from Middle English cork ‘cork’ (of Celtic origin).

Perhaps metonymic for a supplier of red or purple dye made from cork or for a dyer of cloth;

compare Corker.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Cork family from?

You can see how Cork families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Cork family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Cork families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 567 Cork families living in London. This was about 20% of all the recorded Cork's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Cork families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Cork surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Cork ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Cork. 16% of Cork men worked as a General Labourer and 69% of Cork women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Cork were Colliery Hewer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Cork | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    16%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Cotton Weaver
    5%
  • Colliery Hewer
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Cork family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 69,000 census records available for the last name Cork. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Cork census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Cork

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Cork. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Cork immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Cork. For the veterans among your Cork ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Cork military records

You've only scratched the surface of Cork family history

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What is the average Cork lifespan?

Between 1944 and 2004, in the United States, Cork life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1963. The average life expectancy for Cork in 1944 was 20, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Cork

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Cork ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Cork family tree

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