UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "crows' meadow" in Old English, likely referring to a person from that location.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Croley surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 40, ranked #35,434, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Broseley, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Croley is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.1%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
40
2016, ranked #35,434
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Croley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Croley surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 92 | #18,050 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 37 | #30,009 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 33 | #35,119 |
| 2006 | modern | 33 | #35,329 |
| 2007 | modern | 34 | #35,410 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 34 | #35,608 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 30 | #35,949 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 40 | #35,434 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Broseley, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broseley | Shropshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Croley surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Croley, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Croley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Croley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Croley is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Croley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Croley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Croley is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the region of Yorkshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "crog," which means "bent" or "crooked," possibly referring to someone who lived near a crooked or winding stream or path.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Croggelei," which is likely an early spelling variation of Croley.
In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Crogeleye, who was a landowner in Yorkshire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.
Another notable early bearer of the name was John Croley, a merchant and alderman in the city of York during the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's government and trade circles.
During the 16th century, the name Croley began to spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England. One person of significance was William Croley (c. 1520-1585), a clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Durham Cathedral.
In the 17th century, the surname Croley was found in various parts of England, including London, where a Thomas Croley (1632-1710) was a successful merchant and landowner.
As the name spread and evolved, other spelling variations emerged, such as Crowley, Crooley, and Crolie. One notable bearer of the Crowley variant was Aleister Crowley (1875-1947), an influential and controversial English occultist, writer, and ceremonial magician.
Throughout its history, the surname Croley has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including farmers, tradesmen, clergymen, and scholars, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and occupations of those who carried the name over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Croley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 24 Croleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 24 | 6.56x |
| Midlothian | 12 | 11.93x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 1.12x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 0.93x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 4.94x |
| Renfrewshire | 4 | 6.87x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.81x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 2.04x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.78x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 10.99x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.85x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.25x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.76x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.41x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.84x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.39x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 21 Croleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.07x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth | 21 | 32.07x |
| Manchester | 8 | 19.96x |
| Lasswade | 7 | 304.35x |
| Liberton | 5 | 322.58x |
| West Drayton | 5 | 25000.00x |
| Erskine | 4 | 952.38x |
| Westminster St John | 4 | 43.72x |
| Newington | 3 | 10.81x |
| Dudley | 2 | 16.78x |
| Runcorn | 2 | 52.36x |
| Stoke Newington London | 2 | 34.19x |
| Warrington | 2 | 18.92x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.63x |
| Chesterfield | 1 | 22.68x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 14.62x |
| Eston | 1 | 61.73x |
| Flaxley | 1 | 303.03x |
| Fogo | 1 | 833.33x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.37x |
| Kilmarnock | 1 | 14.95x |
| Latchford | 1 | 90.91x |
| Llandaff | 1 | 22.99x |
| Tamworth | 1 | 73.53x |
| Trelleck Grange | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Croley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Croley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Croley households.
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Croley surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 40 in 2016. That gives Croley a modern rank of #35,434.
Derived from a place name meaning "crows' meadow" in Old English, likely referring to a person from that location.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Croley bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.