NameCensus.

UK surname

Cromarty

A locational surname derived from the town of Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands.

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Cromarty surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 315, ranked #14,258, down from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to South Ronaldsay and Burray, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isles, Northumberland and East Mainland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cromarty is 409 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.2%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

315

2016, ranked #14,258

Peak year

1901

409 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cromarty had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016, ranked #14,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 409 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cromarty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cromarty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cromarty 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 331 #7,706
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 394 #8,982
1901 historical 409 #9,338
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 327 #12,784
1998 modern 340 #12,784
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 346 #12,670
2001 modern 351 #12,349
2002 modern 337 #12,965
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 311 #13,490
2006 modern 313 #13,517
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 309 #13,860
2009 modern 320 #13,796
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 310 #14,403
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 315 #14,258

Geography

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Where Cromartys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around South Ronaldsay and Burray, London parishes, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isles, Northumberland, East Mainland and West Kirkwall. 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 South Ronaldsay and Burray Orkney
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Kyloe, Holy Island, Ancroft Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isles Orkney Islands
2 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
3 East Mainland Orkney Islands
4 West Kirkwall Orkney Islands
5 Northumberland 002 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cromarty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cromarty

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cromarty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cromarty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cromarty 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

Cromarty 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

Cromarty falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cromarty 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 Cromarty, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cromarty

The surname Cromarty originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic words "cromaidh" meaning "crooked" and "ard" meaning "height" or "promontory," referring to the town of Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands. The town itself lies on a crooked headland that juts out into the Cromarty Firth.

The earliest recorded mention of the name Cromarty can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which date back to 1264. These rolls were financial records maintained by the royal government, suggesting that the name was already well-established by this time. The name was also mentioned in various charters and land grants issued by Scottish monarchs throughout the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Cromarty was a prominent Scottish nobleman and landowner who held significant estates in the region. He played a key role in the political and military affairs of the time and is recorded as having participated in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.

Another notable figure was William Cromarty, a Scottish merchant and explorer who lived in the late 17th century. He is best known for his voyages to the West Indies and his writings on the indigenous peoples and natural resources of the Caribbean region.

In the 18th century, George Cromarty (1734-1811) was a renowned Scottish engineer and inventor. He is credited with several innovations in the field of steam engine design and was instrumental in the development of early industrial machinery.

During the Victorian era, John Cromarty (1826-1892) was a celebrated Scottish poet and author. His works, which often drew inspiration from the rugged landscapes and rich history of the Highlands, were widely acclaimed and influential in the literary circles of the time.

Throughout its history, the name Cromarty has maintained strong ties to its Scottish roots and the picturesque town from which it originated. While not among the most common surnames, it has been borne by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cromarty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cromarty 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. Orkney leads with 160 Cromartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.66x.

County Total Index
Orkney 160 434.66x
Northumberland 70 14.06x
Middlesex 28 0.84x
Midlothian 22 4.91x
Aberdeenshire 12 3.87x
Caithness 9 19.65x
Kent 8 0.70x
Lanarkshire 8 0.74x
Lancashire 7 0.18x
Durham 6 0.60x
Gloucestershire 4 0.61x
Angus 3 0.97x
Hampshire 3 0.44x
Renfrewshire 2 0.77x
Suffolk 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Ronaldshay in Orkney leads with 87 Cromartys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2283.46x.

Place Total Index
South Ronaldshay 87 2283.46x
Holy Island 44 6984.13x
St Andrews Deerness 24 1237.11x
Walls Flotta 18 1046.51x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 8.32x
Bow London 11 25.83x
Peterhead 10 61.01x
Stromness 10 362.32x
Cross Burness N 9 468.75x
Tweedmouth 9 144.93x
Govan 8 2.99x
Wick 8 54.05x
Berwick Upon Tweed 7 66.35x
Deptford St Nicholas 7 77.26x
Mile End Old Town London 7 9.83x
North Leith 5 24.11x
Toxteth Park 5 3.72x
Cheltenham 4 7.90x
Hartlepool 4 28.27x
Lesbury 4 363.64x
Shoreditch London 4 2.76x
Holm 3 243.90x
Kirkwall St Ola 3 54.45x
Preston In Tynemouth 3 153.06x
Shadwell London 3 32.05x
Stronsay Eday 3 124.48x
Dawdon 2 16.34x
East Greenock 2 8.17x
Fraserburgh 2 22.94x
South Leith 2 3.97x
St Pancras London 2 0.74x
St Vigeans 2 11.95x
Alverstoke 1 4.03x
Arbroath 1 9.74x
Birsay Harray 1 37.45x
Everton 1 0.79x
Firth Stenness 1 63.29x
Holdenhurst 1 5.56x
Lady 1 91.74x
Liverpool 1 0.41x
Milford 1 50.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.36x
Norham 1 90.09x
North Shields 1 10.07x
Orford 1 76.34x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 26.04x
Swanscombe 1 19.49x
Thurso 1 13.99x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
James 8
William 8
Robert 7
Thomas 6
Henry 4
Matthew 4
Richard 4
David 3
Edward 3
George 3
Ralph 3
Frederick 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Joseph 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cromarty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cromarty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Cromarty surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cromarty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016. That gives Cromarty a modern rank of #14,258.

What does the Cromarty surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands.

What does the Cromarty map show?

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