NameCensus.

UK surname

Critchlow

From a place in Wiltshire, England, derived from Old English "cryce" meaning "cress" and "hlaw" meaning "hill."

In the 1881 census there were 777 people recorded with the Critchlow surname, ranking it #4,773 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,496, ranked #4,135, up from #4,773 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Leek and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Critchlow is 1,518 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.5%.

1881 census count

777

Ranked #4,773

Modern count

1,496

2016, ranked #4,135

Peak year

2014

1,518 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Critchlow had 777 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,773 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,496 in 2016, ranked #4,135.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,185 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Critchlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Critchlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Critchlow 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 439 #5,600
1861 historical 411 #6,248
1881 historical 777 #4,773
1891 historical 888 #4,636
1901 historical 1,127 #4,302
1911 historical 1,185 #3,958
1997 modern 1,329 #4,324
1998 modern 1,497 #4,060
1999 modern 1,502 #4,081
2000 modern 1,509 #4,040
2001 modern 1,477 #4,039
2002 modern 1,493 #4,090
2003 modern 1,446 #4,115
2004 modern 1,428 #4,158
2005 modern 1,416 #4,154
2006 modern 1,434 #4,118
2007 modern 1,438 #4,143
2008 modern 1,435 #4,173
2009 modern 1,470 #4,181
2010 modern 1,506 #4,172
2011 modern 1,503 #4,150
2012 modern 1,464 #4,165
2013 modern 1,503 #4,148
2014 modern 1,518 #4,137
2015 modern 1,499 #4,145
2016 modern 1,496 #4,135

Geography

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Where Critchlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Leek, Burslem, Manchester and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 007 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 High Peak 010 High Peak
3 High Peak 013 High Peak
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 High Peak 012 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Critchlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Critchlow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Critchlow, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Critchlow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Critchlow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Critchlow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Critchlow is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Critchlow falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Critchlow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Critchlow

The surname Critchlow is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Derbyshire during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cryce," meaning "crag" or "hill," and "hlaw," meaning "hill" or "mound," indicating that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a rocky hill or craggy terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Derbyshire Parish Records from the 16th century, where it appears as "Critchelow." This early spelling variation suggests that the name may have originated from a place name, possibly a hamlet or village in the area.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the Hearth Tax Records of 1662 for Derbyshire, which lists several households with the surname Critchlow, indicating that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

A notable mention of the name can be found in the diary of Samuel Pepys, the famous 17th-century naval administrator and member of Parliament. In his entry dated August 17, 1667, Pepys refers to a "Mr. Critchlow," suggesting that the name was present among the gentry class during that period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Critchlow was John Critchlow, born in Derbyshire in the late 16th century. Another prominent figure was William Critchlow (1789-1857), an English Methodist minister and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 19th century, the name appeared in various parts of England, with notable individuals including Joseph Critchlow (1819-1891), a prominent figure in the trade union movement in Manchester, and Thomas Critchlow (1827-1905), a civil engineer who worked on several railway projects.

Other individuals of note include Arthur Critchlow (1874-1942), an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire County Cricket Club, and Frederick Critchlow (1889-1967), a British Army officer who served in World War I and later became a Member of Parliament.

While the surname Critchlow is not among the most common English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to its origins in the county of Derbyshire, where the name likely derived from a geographical feature or place name associated with rocky hills or crags.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Critchlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Critchlow 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. Staffordshire leads with 356 Critchlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.91x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 356 13.91x
Derbyshire 160 13.48x
Lancashire 138 1.53x
Yorkshire 49 0.65x
Cheshire 27 1.61x
Warwickshire 14 0.73x
Somerset 9 0.74x
Leicestershire 8 0.95x
Devon 4 0.25x
Middlesex 4 0.05x
Surrey 3 0.08x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Dorset 1 0.20x
Sussex 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 56 Critchlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.64x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 56 20.64x
Leek Lowe 45 132.20x
Burslem 35 47.76x
Hulme 25 13.31x
Uttoxeter 22 167.94x
Monyash 21 2019.23x
Nether Hallam 20 19.68x
Buxton 19 189.24x
Sheen 17 1574.07x
Manchester 16 3.96x
Hartington Upper 15 265.02x
Titteworth 15 381.68x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 14 179.26x
Cheddleton 14 261.19x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 9.16x
Hartington Middle 13 1494.25x
Norton In Moors 13 96.01x
Cotton 12 705.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 5.09x
Farley 10 813.01x
Gorton 10 11.83x
Wolstanton 10 12.87x
Bakewell 9 138.67x
Salford 9 3.40x
Warslow Elkstone 9 596.03x
Eckington 8 27.75x
Hindley 8 20.86x
Horton 8 255.59x
Leicester St Mary 8 11.78x
Tipton 8 10.21x
Brightside Bierlow 7 4.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 4.90x
Kingsley 7 146.75x
Normanton 7 69.86x
Butterton 6 1000.00x
Cheadle 6 48.82x
Eccleston In Prescot 6 13.29x
Glossop Dale 6 10.80x
Handsworth 6 30.21x
Heaton Norris 6 11.72x
Maer 6 588.24x
Shrewley 6 631.58x
Ardwick 5 6.16x
Cauldon 5 588.24x
Chapel En Le Frith 5 46.17x
Cheetham 5 7.45x
Peak Forest 5 387.60x
Pemberton 5 13.94x
Taddington 5 471.70x
Twerton 5 39.75x
Bradnop Cawdry 4 347.83x
Bushbury 4 87.15x
Chelmorton 4 655.74x
Chester St Oswald 4 13.20x
Heathylee 4 366.97x
Heaton 4 470.59x
Ipstones 4 108.70x
Newchurch 4 5.44x
Newton In Ashton Under 4 24.23x
Walcot 4 6.16x
Windle 4 7.90x
Ashover 3 50.76x
Audley 3 11.85x
Blackley 3 19.02x
Burton Upon Trent 3 5.01x
Chesterfield 3 6.74x
Dukinfield 3 3.88x
Edale 3 344.83x
Foleshill 3 14.92x
Holloway 3 205.48x
Monks Coppenhall 3 4.75x
Newton 3 4.33x
Newton Abbot St Mary 3 22.68x
Oldham 3 1.03x
Rushton Spencer 3 340.91x
Seighford 3 147.06x
Stanton 3 365.85x
Werneth 3 57.25x
Willenhall 3 6.26x
Doveridge 2 110.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 42
Sarah 33
Hannah 28
Ann 19
Martha 18
Annie 14
Ellen 12
Alice 10
Emma 10
Maria 10
Charlotte 9
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Harriet 8
Lucy 6
Catherine 5
Esther 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Edith 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Selina 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Olive 2
Pheobe 2
Phoebe 2
Beatrice 1
Dorethy 1
Dorothy 1
F.S. 1
Grace 1
Gurtrude 1
H.M. 1
Lilley 1
Lizzie 1
Lousia 1
Lydia 1
Maggie 1
Vodella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 51
William 42
John 41
Thomas 36
James 24
Samuel 16
Henry 15
Ralph 13
Joseph 12
Charles 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Isaac 7
Philip 7
Albert 6
Richard 5
Robert 4
Edward 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Mark 3
Phillip 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Thos. 2
Amson 1
Archibald 1
Brandon 1
Charley 1
Collin 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Henry 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Georgy 1
Harold 1
Johnathan 1
Johnathen 1
Jonathon 1
Josiah 1

FAQ

Critchlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Critchlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 777 people were recorded with the Critchlow surname. That placed it at #4,773 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Critchlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,496 in 2016. That gives Critchlow a modern rank of #4,135.

What does the Critchlow surname mean?

From a place in Wiltshire, England, derived from Old English "cryce" meaning "cress" and "hlaw" meaning "hill."

What does the Critchlow map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Critchlow 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.