NameCensus.

UK surname

Cromwell

From a place meaning "well of the crows" or "well of the cranes" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 289 people recorded with the Cromwell surname, ranking it #9,968 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 744, ranked #7,340, up from #9,968 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Feltham, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, Newport and Tewkesbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cromwell is 756 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 157.4%.

1881 census count

289

Ranked #9,968

Modern count

744

2016, ranked #7,340

Peak year

2014

756 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cromwell had 289 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,968 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 744 in 2016, ranked #7,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 359 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cromwell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cromwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cromwell 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 154 #12,668
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 289 #9,968
1891 historical 309 #10,848
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 359 #10,084
1997 modern 633 #7,827
1998 modern 650 #7,904
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 647 #7,961
2001 modern 643 #7,864
2002 modern 662 #7,839
2003 modern 635 #7,970
2004 modern 656 #7,780
2005 modern 636 #7,906
2006 modern 646 #7,844
2007 modern 659 #7,784
2008 modern 670 #7,731
2009 modern 702 #7,626
2010 modern 718 #7,631
2011 modern 690 #7,773
2012 modern 719 #7,460
2013 modern 737 #7,445
2014 modern 756 #7,326
2015 modern 746 #7,334
2016 modern 744 #7,340

Geography

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Where Cromwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Feltham, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sefton, Newport, Tewkesbury, Swansea and North Somerset. 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 Feltham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sefton 010 Sefton
2 Newport 005 Newport
3 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
4 Swansea 001 Swansea
5 North Somerset 022 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cromwell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cromwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cromwell, 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 Cromwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cromwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cromwell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cromwell is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cromwell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cromwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cromwell

The surname Cromwell originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "crum" meaning "crooked" and "well" meaning "stream" or "spring". The name likely referred to someone who lived near a winding stream or river.

One of the earliest records of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Crumawelle" in Suffolk. Similar early spellings include "Cromewell", "Crumwelle", and "Cromwelle". The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Huntingdonshire.

A notable early bearer of the name was Ralph de Cromwell, a 13th-century Baron who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another early figure was John Cromwell, a 14th-century Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire.

The name gained significant prominence in the 16th and 17th centuries with Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658), the English military and political leader who served as Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. His descendants, including his son Richard Cromwell (1626-1712), also played important roles in English history.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cromwell include Thomas Cromwell (c. 1485-1540), an influential minister in the court of King Henry VIII, and James Cromwell (born 1940), the American actor known for roles in films such as "Babe" and "L.A. Confidential".

The name Cromwell has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Cromwell in Nottinghamshire and Cromwell Bottom in West Yorkshire, further reflecting its long-standing presence in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cromwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cromwell 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. Middlesex leads with 46 Cromwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 1.58x
Yorkshire 44 1.52x
Surrey 38 2.67x
Lancashire 22 0.64x
Gloucestershire 18 3.15x
Somerset 12 2.56x
Cumberland 11 4.38x
Isle of Man 10 18.46x
Monmouthshire 10 4.74x
Renfrewshire 10 4.42x
Warwickshire 10 1.36x
Hampshire 9 1.51x
Essex 8 1.39x
Northumberland 6 1.38x
Staffordshire 6 0.61x
Kent 5 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 4 3.39x
Devon 4 0.66x
Sussex 4 0.81x
Cheshire 3 0.47x
Dorset 3 1.57x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.13x
Nairnshire 2 22.47x
Norfolk 2 0.45x
Angus 1 0.37x
Berkshire 1 0.46x
Berwickshire 1 2.83x
Buteshire 1 5.66x
Cornwall 1 0.30x
Durham 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 1.28x
Glamorgan 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.11x
Ross-shire 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Feltham in Middlesex leads with 25 Cromwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 859.11x.

Place Total Index
Feltham 25 859.11x
Newington 12 11.14x
Penge 12 64.41x
Bowling 11 38.42x
Horton In Bradford 10 22.15x
West Greenock 10 24.65x
Aston 9 4.44x
Bath St Michael 8 337.55x
Garston 8 78.35x
Newent 8 274.91x
Onchan 8 51.28x
Camberwell 7 3.76x
Cleator 7 66.99x
Hunslet 7 15.53x
Portsea 7 5.97x
Hampton London 6 125.26x
Oldham 6 5.37x
Byker 5 23.31x
Lambeth 5 1.97x
Brightside Bierlow 4 7.06x
Chingford 4 287.77x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 41.54x
Gloucester St Michael 4 305.34x
Handsworth 4 16.48x
Llanbeblig 4 33.42x
Manningham 4 11.23x
St Woollos 4 17.00x
Cheetham 3 11.62x
Gloucester St John Baptist 3 81.30x
Leeds 3 1.84x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 3 74.63x
St George Bloomsbury 3 17.93x
West Ham 3 2.36x
Alverstoke 2 9.24x
Brighton 2 2.02x
Chelsea London 2 2.28x
Hampton Wick London 2 93.46x
Horfield 2 34.72x
Llanover 2 27.78x
Nairn 2 37.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.28x
Salford 2 1.96x
Sculcoates 2 4.36x
Tong 2 35.84x
Westminster St James 2 6.67x
Weymouth 2 55.10x
Whitehaven 2 14.95x
Beckington 1 107.53x
Bedminster 1 2.27x
Bermondsey 1 1.15x
Birkenhead 1 1.95x
Birmingham 1 0.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.86x
Caldewgate 1 7.27x
Christchurch 1 15.34x
Cockburnspath 1 88.50x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.30x
Drigg Carleton 1 175.44x
Dundee 1 0.99x
Eton 1 25.00x
Exeter St George The 1 149.25x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.69x
Hastings St Leonards 1 13.83x
Hollingworth 1 37.74x
Holy Trinity Less London 1 135.14x
Lexden 1 43.29x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.86x
Northop 1 35.97x
Portland 1 9.72x
Reading St Mary 1 5.70x
Rosskeen 1 26.53x
Rothesay 1 11.68x
St Marylebone London 1 0.64x
St Pancras London 1 0.43x
Tottenham 1 2.15x
Toxteth Park 1 0.85x
West Derby 1 0.99x
Willenhall 1 5.42x
Wimbledon 1 6.27x
Ystradyfodwg 1 2.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 8
Emma 8
Annie 6
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Emily 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Ellen 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Cathrine 1
Celina 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
E. 1
Elanor 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth.Sarah 1
F.A. 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
M. 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
May 1
Philedelphia 1
Ruth 1
Zilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 15
Oliver 15
James 10
Edward 7
George 7
Henry 6
Arthur 5
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Charles 2
Patrick 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Douglas 1
Eloi 1
Erasmus 1
Eri 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Frek.Saml. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
J.W. 1
Jms. 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Olver 1
Paul 1
Percival 1
Sidney 1
Ths. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Cromwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cromwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 289 people were recorded with the Cromwell surname. That placed it at #9,968 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cromwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 744 in 2016. That gives Cromwell a modern rank of #7,340.

What does the Cromwell surname mean?

From a place meaning "well of the crows" or "well of the cranes" in Old English.

What does the Cromwell map show?

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