UK surname
A locational surname referring to a person from Cromer, a town in Norfolk, England.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Cromer surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cromer is 132 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.2%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1901
132 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cromer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cromer surname density by area, 1881 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 65 | #25,618 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 74 | #27,538 |
| 1901 | historical | 132 | #19,469 |
| 1911 | historical | 53 | #27,508 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 69 | #31,098 |
| 2002 | modern | 65 | #31,903 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 71 | #33,717 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and St Marylebone. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cromer 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 Cromer, 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 Cromer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cromer 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, Cromer 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 Cromer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cromer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cromer is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the town of Cromer in Norfolk, England, which was recorded as early as the 11th century in the Domesday Book as "Craumere" and "Crowemera." The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "crawan" meaning "crow" and "mere" meaning "lake" or "pool."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Cromer can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record from 1273, where a John de Craumere is mentioned. This suggests that the surname had already been adopted by some families living in or near the town of Cromer by the 13th century.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Norfolk from 1349, which mentions a William de Cromer. Additionally, the Lay Subsidy Rolls for Norfolk in 1381 list a John Cromer and a Robert Cromer, indicating the name's continued use in the region.
One notable figure with the surname Cromer was Sir James Cromer (c. 1545-1613), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Norfolk during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent individual was Martin Cromer (c. 1637-1720), a German historian and philosopher who served as the Rector of the University of Marburg.
In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Cromer, Crommer, and Cromere, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that period. The variant spelling "Cromere" is found in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Cromer, Norfolk, from the 1500s.
Other notable bearers of the surname Cromer include John Cromer (c. 1778-1848), an English antiquarian and topographer who wrote extensively about Norfolk, and George Cromer (1840-1909), an American politician who served as the 13th Governor of Maryland from 1908 to 1912.
While the surname Cromer has its roots in England, particularly in the county of Norfolk, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its historical origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the town of Cromer in Norfolk, where the name is believed to have originated from the local geographical features.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cromer 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Cromers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 32 | 2.76x |
| Surrey | 14 | 2.48x |
| Cheshire | 13 | 5.07x |
| Caernarfonshire | 11 | 23.44x |
| Lanarkshire | 10 | 2.66x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 6.51x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 2.20x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 2.10x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 5.56x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 1.74x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.26x |
| Isle of Man | 2 | 9.28x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.51x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.15x |
| Selkirkshire | 2 | 19.05x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.44x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 1.92x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.00x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bangor in Caernarfonshire leads with 11 Cromers recorded in 1881 and an index of 242.83x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor | 11 | 242.83x |
| Doddington | 11 | 55000.00x |
| Hackney London | 10 | 15.37x |
| Lambeth | 7 | 6.92x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 6 | 29.84x |
| Fulham London | 6 | 35.65x |
| Glasgow | 6 | 9.00x |
| Bristol St Paul In | 5 | 82.51x |
| Southampton St Mary | 5 | 33.42x |
| West Greenock | 5 | 30.96x |
| Barony | 4 | 4.21x |
| Penge | 4 | 53.98x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 4.28x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 8.58x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 4.84x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 3.97x |
| Maughold | 2 | 120.48x |
| Selkirk | 2 | 67.57x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 4.46x |
| Alnwick | 1 | 33.67x |
| Bishops Castle Out | 1 | 476.19x |
| Callander | 1 | 116.28x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.35x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 4.57x |
| Clapham | 1 | 6.89x |
| Friern Barnet | 1 | 39.06x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 5.41x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.55x |
| Leftwich | 1 | 87.72x |
| Lingfield | 1 | 90.91x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.20x |
| Marske In Guisbrough | 1 | 49.02x |
| North Shields | 1 | 28.99x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 9.57x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 2.73x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 41.67x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 5.41x |
| Tranmere | 1 | 10.62x |
| Waltham Holy Cross | 1 | 46.73x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 6.84x |
| Wylam | 1 | 263.16x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cromer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Jane | 6 |
| Mary | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Matilda | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Amy | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Cristian | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Rebeca | 1 |
| Rosaline | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cromer 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 Cromer households.
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Cromer surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Cromer a modern rank of #33,700.
A locational surname referring to a person from Cromer, a town in Norfolk, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cromer 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.