I am descended from the Cord family of Fleming Co., Ky who originally migrated from Baltimore Co., Md. c. 1800 Some of those in Ky moved on to Illinois and Indiana and some from Md. moved on to Illinois without going through Ky. There is a Cord family out there that originated in Germany apparently but many of the other Cords are descended from the original Thomas Cord first seen in Baltimore Co. in 1676. I have 3 Charles Cords listed in my family. So it is a family name.