The McCorkle Surname

The Recent McCorkles 

Edward Rouze McCorkle, son of Samuel Preston McCorkle and Alzinah Robinson, was born on 25 May 1868 in Monroe County, Iowa. He had several siblings including William Abe McCorkle, Laura C. McCorkle, Ida Mae McCorkle, and Edith McCorkle. In 1870, Edward age 2 lived in Cedar, Monroe County, Iowa with his parents Samuel age 54 and Alzina age 40 along with his siblings William age 12, Laura age 9, Ida age 5, and Edith 4 months old. Edward Rouze McCorkle married Drusilla Catherine Myers, daughter of Andrew Jackson Myers and Catherine Haugham, on 23 March 1892 in Williamsburg, Iowa. 

Edward and Drusilla had a horde of children including Emory W. McCorkle, Ivan John McCorkle, Linden Dallas McCorkle, Fonda Drusilla McCorkle, Lowell K. McCorkle, and Zola McCorkle. In 1900, Edward age 32 lived in Springdale, Cedar County, Iowa with his wife Drusilla age 29 and their children Emory age 7, Ivan age 5, Linden age 3, and Fonda age 1. Drusilla Catherine (Myers) McCorkle died young around age 38 or 39 in 1909. She is buried in Pilot Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa.

A widowed Edward age 41 lived in Van Buren, Jackson County, Iowa in 1910 with his children Emory age 16 and Fonda age 10. Edward Rouze McCorkle died on 25 February 1948 in Los Angeles, California. The McCorkle family line lived on through his sons, while his daughter and my second great grandmother Fonda Drusilla McCorkle went on the marry into the Magill family.

 

in back: Ivan John McCorkle, Emory W McCorkle, Linden Dallas McCorkle, & Lowell McCorkle 

in front: Zola McCorkle, Edward Rouze McCorkle, & Fonda Drusilla McCorkle 

family photo from FamilySearch by BoiceMonaL 

The McCorkle Surname Meaning 

McCorkle has a few different possible origins including:

1. Anglicized Irish form of Gaelic Mac Thorncaill "son of Thorcall" 
2. A Gaelic form of the Scandinavian personal name Thorketill "Thor's kettle" 
3. Scottish McCorquodale, an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Thorcadaill "son of Thorketill" 

I traced the McCorkle family line to Iowa, Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The McCorkles go back to Ireland and Scotland in the early 1700s. 

With love, 

Autumn Rose Surratt 

The Ancestor Witch 

Sources 

• McCorkle and McCorquodale surname searches on Ancestry app 
• "California Death Index, 1940-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPQB-CLB: 19 August 2025), Edward Rouze Mccorkle and Mccorkle, 25 February 1948. 
• "Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJBK-WFT: 19 August 2025), Eddie R. McCarkle, 1892. 
• "United States Census, 1870", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDVL-ZH4: 19 August 2025), Samuel McCorde and Alvina McCorde, 1870. 
• "Iowa County Marriages, 1838-1934", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJH4-VBD: 19 August 2025), Eddie R. McCarkle and S. P. McCarkle, 1892. 
• "United States Census, 1900", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M92H-BZQ: 19 August 2025), Edward R McCorkle and Drusilla C McCorkle, 1900. 
• "United States Census, 1910", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGM4-W45: 19 August 2025), E R McCorkle and Emery W McCorkle, 1910. 
• "Find a Grave Index", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVGK-49PB: 19 August 2025), Drusilla Catherine Myers McCorkle, death 1909, memorial ID # 126842500.