NameCensus.

UK surname

Crompton

From a place name meaning "crooked settlement" in Old English, likely referring to a bent or curved town.

In the 1881 census there were 5,035 people recorded with the Crompton surname, ranking it #886 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,450, ranked #1,228, down from #886 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Manchester and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crompton is 6,697 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.2%.

1881 census count

5,035

Ranked #886

Modern count

5,450

2016, ranked #1,228

Peak year

1911

6,697 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crompton had 5,035 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #886 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,450 in 2016, ranked #1,228.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,697 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Crompton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crompton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crompton 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 3,400 #841
1861 historical 3,901 #719
1881 historical 5,035 #886
1891 historical 5,633 #834
1901 historical 6,158 #903
1911 historical 6,697 #775
1997 modern 5,720 #1,141
1998 modern 5,828 #1,160
1999 modern 5,918 #1,147
2000 modern 5,860 #1,154
2001 modern 5,835 #1,137
2002 modern 5,872 #1,150
2003 modern 5,696 #1,156
2004 modern 5,615 #1,167
2005 modern 5,540 #1,166
2006 modern 5,505 #1,178
2007 modern 5,516 #1,184
2008 modern 5,565 #1,179
2009 modern 5,680 #1,188
2010 modern 5,749 #1,202
2011 modern 5,641 #1,207
2012 modern 5,471 #1,221
2013 modern 5,565 #1,223
2014 modern 5,558 #1,230
2015 modern 5,529 #1,219
2016 modern 5,450 #1,228

Geography

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Where Cromptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Manchester, Dean, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan and Bolton. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 010 Wigan
2 Bolton 012 Bolton
3 Bolton 029 Bolton
4 Bolton 028 Bolton
5 Bolton 034 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crompton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crompton

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Crompton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crompton is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crompton falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crompton 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Crompton

The surname Crompton originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Crompton, a township in the parish of Oldham, Lancashire. The name Crompton itself is thought to have stemmed from the Old English words "crumb" meaning "crooked" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure," suggesting the name may have referred to a crooked or curved farm settlement.

One of the earliest known references to the name Crompton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Crumpton." This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames and place names across England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Crumpton" and "Crompeton." These variations highlight the fluidity of surname spellings in medieval times, often influenced by local dialects and scribal conventions.

Notable individuals with the surname Crompton include:

1. Samuel Crompton (1753-1827), an English inventor and pioneer of the spinning industry, credited with developing the spinning mule, a machine that revolutionized the cotton industry.

2. William Crompton (1599-1642), an English Puritan clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Barnwell St Andrew in Northamptonshire.

3. Richard Crompton (1535-1599), an English lawyer and legal writer, best known for his work "L'Authoritie et Jurisdiction des Courts" published in 1594.

4. Henry Crompton (1836-1904), an English architect and designer, known for his contributions to the Gothic Revival architectural style.

5. John Crompton (1753-1837), an English Quaker minister and writer, who published several works on religious subjects.

The surname Crompton has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Crompton Fold, a hamlet in the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham, and Crompton Way, a road in the town of Bolton.

While the origins of the Crompton surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration, carrying with it the rich history and heritage of its English roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crompton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crompton 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. Lancashire leads with 3,718 Cromptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,718 6.37x
Cheshire 298 2.75x
Yorkshire 173 0.36x
Warwickshire 117 0.94x
Middlesex 102 0.21x
Staffordshire 92 0.55x
Surrey 84 0.35x
Worcestershire 54 0.84x
Nottinghamshire 42 0.63x
Herefordshire 37 1.84x
Lincolnshire 34 0.43x
Durham 30 0.21x
Kent 29 0.17x
Derbyshire 28 0.36x
Devon 28 0.27x
Denbighshire 18 0.97x
Lanarkshire 18 0.11x
Berkshire 12 0.33x
Essex 12 0.12x
Hampshire 9 0.09x
Brecknockshire 7 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 7 0.22x
Dorset 7 0.22x
Flintshire 7 0.53x
Leicestershire 7 0.13x
Norfolk 7 0.09x
Shropshire 7 0.16x
Sussex 7 0.08x
Cumberland 6 0.14x
Gloucestershire 6 0.06x
Monmouthshire 6 0.17x
Suffolk 5 0.08x
Hertfordshire 4 0.12x
Isle of Man 4 0.44x
Somerset 4 0.05x
Morayshire 3 0.39x
Northamptonshire 3 0.06x
Glamorgan 2 0.02x
Northumberland 2 0.03x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 282 Cromptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.60x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 282 37.60x
Great Bolton 195 25.24x
Farnworth 194 55.50x
Salford 149 8.68x
Manchester 139 5.30x
Oldham 134 7.12x
Blackburn 120 7.73x
Bury 114 17.11x
Wigan 109 13.37x
Radcliffe 100 35.56x
Halliwell 84 39.56x
Westhoughton 79 50.74x
Rumworth 75 89.96x
Barton Upon Irwell 64 14.57x
Pilkington 63 28.43x
Hyde 62 19.36x
Worsley 57 15.85x
Aston 56 1.64x
Tottington Lower End 53 19.12x
Ormskirk 49 43.90x
Ashton In Makerfield 48 28.89x
Hulme 47 3.86x
Kearsley 47 38.29x
Ashton Under Lyne 45 3.53x
Middle Hulton 42 121.56x
Over Darwen 42 9.01x
Little Hulton 39 40.37x
Chadderton 38 13.32x
Pendleton In Salford 37 5.32x
Dukinfield 35 6.98x
Preston 32 2.05x
Ardwick 30 5.70x
Aspull 30 21.86x
Birmingham 30 0.73x
Cheetham 29 6.66x
Stockport 28 5.01x
Broughton In Salford 27 5.06x
Hindley 27 10.85x
Newton In Ashton Under 27 25.21x
Eccleston In Prescot 26 8.88x
Everton 25 1.34x
Layton With Warbreck 25 11.68x
Turton 25 26.17x
Lostock 24 182.37x
Tonge With Haulgh 24 21.13x
North Meols 23 4.03x
Lambeth 22 0.51x
Little Lever 22 29.49x
Spotland 22 3.39x
Biddulph 21 22.43x
Gorton 21 3.83x
Islington London 21 0.44x
Newton 21 4.67x
Warrington 21 3.04x
Atherton 20 9.42x
Eccleshill 20 157.23x
Birkenhead 19 2.20x
Elton 19 9.43x
Chorley 18 5.50x
Golborne 18 23.67x
Toxteth Park 18 0.91x
Widnes 18 4.28x
Darcy Lever 17 50.61x
Newchurch 17 3.56x
Runcorn 17 6.79x
Ince In Makerfield 16 5.89x
Rochdale 16 37.61x
Westleigh 16 12.08x
Withington 16 8.51x
Bedford 15 12.29x
Blyth 15 144.23x
Camberwell 15 0.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 1.62x
Pendlebury 15 12.18x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 15 8.93x
Wolstanton 15 2.98x
Lower Darwen 14 18.28x
Blackley 13 12.71x
Croydon 13 0.98x
Exminster 13 35.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 385
Sarah 196
Elizabeth 195
Alice 136
Ellen 129
Ann 127
Margaret 93
Jane 92
Martha 74
Hannah 67
Emma 63
Annie 57
Eliza 54
Emily 35
Catherine 31
Betsy 26
Florence 25
Fanny 22
Maria 22
Esther 21
Harriet 21
Ada 20
Betty 20
Elizth. 19
Caroline 18
Clara 18
Susannah 17
Amelia 16
Charlotte 16
Matilda 16
Agnes 15
Nancy 15
Rachel 15
Bertha 14
Lucy 14
Louisa 12
Ruth 12
Edith 11
Rebecca 11
Kate 10
Lydia 10
Anne 9
Frances 9
Isabella 9
Margt. 8
Beatrice 7
Leah 7
Margret 7
Selina 7
Susan 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 376
William 283
James 280
Thomas 197
Joseph 131
George 97
Robert 93
Henry 81
Richard 54
Edward 49
Charles 44
Samuel 44
Alfred 43
Ellis 30
Arthur 27
Peter 26
Walter 25
Thos. 21
Albert 20
Frederick 18
David 17
Edwin 17
Benjamin 16
Ernest 15
Herbert 15
Abraham 14
Harry 14
Wm. 14
Francis 13
Ralph 13
Harold 10
Jas. 10
Robt. 10
Fred 9
Jno. 9
Elias 8
Abel 7
Frank 7
Roger 7
Edmund 6
Reginald 6
Alexander 5
Geo. 5
Isaac 5
Jonathan 5
Nathan 5
Richd. 5
Willm. 5
Nathaniel 4
Sam 4

FAQ

Crompton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crompton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,035 people were recorded with the Crompton surname. That placed it at #886 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crompton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,450 in 2016. That gives Crompton a modern rank of #1,228.

What does the Crompton surname mean?

From a place name meaning "crooked settlement" in Old English, likely referring to a bent or curved town.

What does the Crompton map show?

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