NameCensus.

UK surname

Croke

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "croc" meaning saffron or yellow-colored.

In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Croke surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 375, ranked #12,457, up from #23,371 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gelligaer, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Bolton and Swindon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Croke is 414 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 420.8%.

1881 census count

72

Ranked #23,371

Modern count

375

2016, ranked #12,457

Peak year

1999

414 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Croke had 72 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,371 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 375 in 2016, ranked #12,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 176 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Croke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Croke surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Croke 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 72 #23,371
1891 historical 110 #22,557
1901 historical 131 #19,552
1911 historical 176 #16,185
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 391 #11,539
1999 modern 414 #11,156
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 400 #11,229
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 374 #11,828
2004 modern 369 #11,967
2005 modern 376 #11,730
2006 modern 370 #11,940
2007 modern 375 #11,955
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 397 #12,068
2011 modern 387 #12,142
2012 modern 366 #12,520
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 376 #12,553
2015 modern 373 #12,519
2016 modern 375 #12,457

Geography

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Where Crokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gelligaer, London parishes, St Pancras, Wimbledon and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Bolton, Swindon, Huntingdonshire and Ryedale. 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 Gelligaer Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Wimbledon Surrey
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 010 Cheshire East
2 Bolton 034 Bolton
3 Swindon 006 Swindon
4 Huntingdonshire 015 Huntingdonshire
5 Ryedale 002 Ryedale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Croke

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Croke

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Croke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Croke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Croke 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.

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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

Croke is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Croke falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Croke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Croke

The surname Croke is of Irish origin and emerged in the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "cróc," which means a hook or a crook. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a crooked stream or had a crooked physical feature.

The Croke surname is found predominantly in County Cork and surrounding areas of Munster, Ireland. It is believed to have originated in the village of Crookstown, near the town of Bandon in West Cork. The name first appeared in historical records in the late 1500s, with references to families bearing the name in the parish of Inishannon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Croke surname is in the Census of Ireland from 1659, where several Croke families are listed in the parish of Kilbrogan, County Cork. The name is also found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, a collection of Irish public records from the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 18th century, the Croke family established themselves as a prominent landowning family in County Cork. Notable members include Sir John Croke (1705-1784), a member of the Irish Parliament and High Sheriff of County Cork in 1744.

Another prominent figure was Sir Alexander Croke (1758-1842), an Irish politician and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland from 1801 to 1805. He was also the first Catholic to hold the position of Master of the Rolls in Ireland.

In the 19th century, Thomas William Croke (1824-1902), known as the "Patriot Prelate," was a prominent Catholic Archbishop of Cashel and Emly. He played a significant role in the Irish nationalist movement and was a strong advocate for Irish independence.

Reverend Thomas Croke (1798-1858), born in County Cork, was an Anglican priest and a renowned antiquarian and historian. He authored several works on the history and antiquities of Ireland, including "An Essay on the Ancient History of Ireland" and "The Antiquities of Ferns."

Nora Croke (1868-1932), born in County Cork, was a notable Irish politician and suffragist. She was one of the first women elected to the Dublin Corporation in 1912 and played a significant role in the Irish women's suffrage movement.

While the Croke surname has its roots in Ireland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration. However, its historical origins and connections to County Cork and the Munster region remain a significant part of its heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Croke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Croke 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. Middlesex leads with 31 Crokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 4.41x
Lancashire 18 2.16x
Durham 6 2.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.72x
Glamorgan 4 3.27x
Surrey 4 1.17x
Essex 1 0.72x
Kent 1 0.42x
Monmouthshire 1 1.97x
Somerset 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Crokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.98x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 8 30.98x
St Pancras London 8 14.15x
Heaton Norris 7 147.68x
Manchester 6 16.01x
Monkwearmouth 6 300.00x
Islington London 4 5.88x
St Anne Soho London 4 99.75x
Gelligaer 3 107.53x
Kensington London 3 7.68x
Lambeth 3 4.90x
Middlesbrough 3 33.11x
Liverpool 2 3.95x
St George Hanover Square 2 16.17x
Toxteth Park 2 7.09x
Aberystruth 1 22.32x
Colchester St Martin 1 400.00x
Ealing 1 15.92x
Garston 1 40.65x
Hythe St Leonard 1 117.65x
Kirkham 1 10000.00x
Llantwit Vairdre 1 72.99x
Putney 1 31.25x
Sculcoates 1 9.07x
Walcot 1 16.61x
Westminster St James 1 13.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Annie 2
Margaret 2
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Diana 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Hester 1
M.M. 1
Margreat 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Croke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Croke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Croke surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Croke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 375 in 2016. That gives Croke a modern rank of #12,457.

What does the Croke surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Gaelic "croc" meaning saffron or yellow-colored.

What does the Croke map show?

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