NameCensus.

UK surname

Cromar

A locational surname referring to someone from Cromar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Cromar surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 357, ranked #12,953, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cromar and Kildrummy, Carlisle and Brechin West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cromar is 389 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.3%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

357

2016, ranked #12,953

Peak year

1999

389 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cromar had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016, ranked #12,953.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 256 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cromar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cromar surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cromar 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 169 #11,832
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 227 #13,970
1911 historical 105 #22,064
1997 modern 355 #12,040
1998 modern 379 #11,851
1999 modern 389 #11,678
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 376 #11,753
2002 modern 386 #11,740
2003 modern 358 #12,208
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 371 #11,842
2006 modern 367 #12,016
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 364 #12,584
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 377 #12,392
2012 modern 360 #12,673
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 350 #13,263
2015 modern 366 #12,717
2016 modern 357 #12,953

Geography

Back to top

Where Cromars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Coull and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cromar and Kildrummy, Carlisle, Brechin West, New Forest and George Street. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Coull Aberdeen
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cromar and Kildrummy Aberdeenshire
2 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
3 Brechin West Angus
4 New Forest 014 New Forest
5 George Street Aberdeen City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cromar

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cromar

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cromar is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cromar is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cromar falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cromar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cromar

The surname Cromar is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the village of Cromar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "cromadh" meaning "a bend" and "mor" meaning "large," which could refer to the bend in the River Dee that flows through the area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cromar can be found in the records of the Parish of Cluny in Aberdeenshire, where a William Cromar is mentioned in the late 16th century. The name also appears in the Registers of the Privy Council of Scotland in the 17th century, referring to individuals from the Cromar area.

The Cromar family played a significant role in the history of Aberdeenshire, with several notable individuals bearing the surname. One of the most prominent was Alexander Cromar (1699-1781), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of Cullen from 1729 until his death. His works included a treatise on the Book of Revelation and a collection of sermons.

Another notable figure was James Cromar (1778-1860), a Scottish merchant and landowner who made his fortune in the West Indies and later acquired extensive estates in Aberdeenshire. He was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the establishment of a school and a library in the village of Cromar.

In the 19th century, the Cromar surname gained wider recognition with the success of Sir William Cromar (1818-1891), a Scottish businessman and banker who co-founded the Union Bank of Scotland. He was also involved in various philanthropic endeavors and served as the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1873 to 1876.

Another notable individual with the Cromar surname was John Cromar (1844-1920), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Aberdeen, including the Music Hall and the Marischal College Library. His works contributed significantly to the architectural heritage of the city.

While the surname Cromar is predominantly associated with Scotland, it has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the village of Cromar in Aberdeenshire, where the name has been deeply rooted for centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cromar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cromar 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 108 Cromars recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.67x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 108 52.67x
Lanarkshire 27 3.77x
Angus 14 6.83x
Middlesex 14 0.63x
Northumberland 14 4.25x
Flintshire 9 15.12x
Kincardineshire 8 29.67x
Midlothian 8 2.70x
Denbighshire 7 8.37x
Surrey 5 0.46x
Renfrewshire 4 2.33x
Hampshire 3 0.66x
Essex 2 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.22x
Sutherland 1 5.87x
Warwickshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 25 Cromars recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.40x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 25 58.40x
Lumphanan 22 2558.14x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 21 54.73x
Coull 13 2166.67x
Newhills 12 285.71x
Barony 10 5.52x
Chelsea London 10 14.99x
Burton 7 1296.30x
Westgate 7 34.31x
Alnwick 6 106.01x
Dalziel 6 77.92x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 5.03x
Hope 6 202.70x
Montrose 6 48.27x
Glasgow 5 3.93x
Birse 4 481.93x
Dundee 4 5.22x
Garvock 4 1250.00x
Newington 4 4.89x
West Greenock 4 12.99x
Brechin 3 37.22x
Govan 3 1.69x
Mold Hartsheath 3 2000.00x
Old Monkland 3 10.56x
Southampton All Sts 3 38.51x
Tarland 3 337.08x
Banchory Devenick 2 79.37x
Benholm 2 172.41x
Dyce 2 227.27x
Maldon St Peter 2 89.69x
Tough 2 384.62x
Westminster St Margaret 2 18.73x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.91x
Duddingston 1 16.81x
Elswick 1 3.80x
Glenmuick Tullich 1 67.57x
Higher Bebington 1 31.95x
Kensington London 1 0.81x
Kildonan 1 68.03x
Lambeth 1 0.52x
Lasswade 1 14.75x
Leochel Cushnie 1 108.70x
Logie Coldstone 1 144.93x
Maryton 1 344.83x
Nuneaton 1 15.46x
Tormoham 1 5.13x
Towie 1 172.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Jane 3
Eleanor 2
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Sophia 1
Williamine 1

Top male names

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

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 Cromar households.

FAQ

Cromar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cromar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Cromar surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cromar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 357 in 2016. That gives Cromar a modern rank of #12,953.

What does the Cromar surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Cromar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

What does the Cromar map show?

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