NameCensus.

UK surname

Cathro

A name of Scottish origin referring to a Roman Catholic priest or cleric.

In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Cathro surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 292, ranked #15,022, down from #13,322 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Mains and Strathmartine. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broughty Ferry West, Garelochhead and Morningside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cathro is 293 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.5%.

1881 census count

189

Ranked #13,322

Modern count

292

2016, ranked #15,022

Peak year

2005

293 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cathro had 189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,322 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016, ranked #15,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 254 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Cathro surname distribution map

The map shows where the Cathro surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Cathro surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cathro over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 124 #14,792
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 189 #13,322
1891 historical 213 #14,269
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 256 #15,034
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 284 #14,474
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 259 #15,151
2002 modern 269 #15,044
2003 modern 267 #14,950
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 293 #14,030
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 283 #15,020
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 275 #15,517
2012 modern 269 #15,706
2013 modern 278 #15,618
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 292 #15,022

Geography

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Where Cathros are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Mains and Strathmartine, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Alyth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broughty Ferry West, Garelochhead, Morningside, Logie and Blackness and Douglas West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Forfar Forfar
2 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
3 Mains and Strathmartine Forfar
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Alyth Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broughty Ferry West Dundee City
2 Garelochhead Argyll and Bute
3 Morningside City of Edinburgh
4 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
5 Douglas West Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cathro

These lists show first names that appear often with the Cathro surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cathro

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cathro, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Cathro surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cathro household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cathro is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cathro is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cathro falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cathro is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cathro, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cathro

The surname Cathro is believed to have its origins in Scotland, with historical references dating back to the medieval period. The name is particularly associated with the counties of Angus and Perthshire, regions in the eastern central Lowlands of Scotland. The name's etymology suggests a possible connection to the Gaelic or Old English languages, though a definite derivation remains speculative.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname Cathro appear in the form of old manuscripts and parish records from the 16th and 17th centuries. One of the earliest mentions is in the Angus region, suggesting that the family may have held land or had some status in the local community. Early records from parish registers indicate that the name was relatively uncommon, which has contributed to its distinctiveness.

The name Cathro may have variations in spelling, such as Cathrow, but the core name has remained consistent over centuries. These variations are often found in handwritten records where standardized spelling was less common. J. W. Cathro, born in 1856, was a notable figure, known for his contributions to literature and writing during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He contributed extensively to Scottish periodicals and is remembered for his literary works.

Another historical figure with the surname Cathro is James Cathro, who in the mid-1800s played a vital role in local community governance in Angus. He was involved in agrarian improvements and community leadership, reflecting a family tradition of local engagement. Elizabeth Cathro, born in the late 1700s, was known in Perthshire for her involvement in local parish activities, indicating the surname's deep roots in Scottish community life.

William Cathro, another prominent historical figure from the 19th century, was known for his architectural work in Edinburgh. His designs contributed to the urban development of the city during the Victorian era, and some of his buildings still stand today. Additionally, Robert Cathro, who lived during the late 1800s, was noted for his contributions to the field of education in Dundee. He was a schoolmaster whose efforts helped shape the educational framework of the region.

Historical references to the surname also appear in various records of land transactions and legal documents, indicating that individuals with the surname Cathro were often landowners or otherwise notable within their localities. The persistence of the surname over the centuries demonstrates its strong ties to specific Scottish regions and its endurance through various historical epochs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cathro families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cathro surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Angus leads with 147 Cathros recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.99x.

County Total Index
Angus 147 86.99x
Perthshire 22 26.87x
Kincardineshire 7 31.52x
Lanarkshire 6 1.02x
Surrey 3 0.34x
Fife 1 0.93x
Midlothian 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 49 Cathros recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.67x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 49 77.67x
Liff Benvie 32 124.76x
St Vigeans 14 153.51x
Alyth 11 500.00x
Kirriemuir 9 215.83x
Auchterarder 7 305.68x
Brechin 7 105.42x
Edzell 7 1346.15x
Murroes 7 1489.36x
St Cyrus 7 752.69x
Tannadice 5 632.91x
Blair Athole 3 275.23x
Monifieth 3 50.25x
Newington 3 4.45x
Shettleston 3 56.82x
Forfar 2 21.86x
Glamis 2 196.08x
Glasgow 2 1.91x
Kinnettles 2 833.33x
Menmuir 2 425.53x
Strathmartine 2 266.67x
Craig 1 61.35x
Farnell 1 256.41x
Govan 1 0.69x
Kirkcaldy 1 18.66x
Logie Pert 1 161.29x
Longforgan 1 86.21x
Montrose 1 9.77x
South Leith 1 3.64x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cathro surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Alice 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cathro surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Charles 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Cathro households.

Occupation Count
Secretary (Clerk) 1
Stationer 1

FAQ

Cathro surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cathro surname in 1881?

In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Cathro surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cathro surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 292 in 2016. That gives Cathro a modern rank of #15,022.

What does the Cathro surname mean?

A name of Scottish origin referring to a Roman Catholic priest or cleric.

What does the Cathro map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cathro bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.