NameCensus.

UK surname

Cron

A surname derived from the Irish Ó Cróin, meaning "descendant of Crón," a nickname meaning "saffron-colored" or "swarthy."

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Cron surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Appleby St Lawrence, Durisdeer and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Berwickshire East and Carrick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cron is 230 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.1%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1891

230 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cron had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 230 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cron surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cron 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 83 #19,181
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 230 #13,494
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 71 #25,742
1997 modern 110 #25,529
1998 modern 121 #24,677
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 122 #25,010
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 141 #24,294
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 134 #25,525
2014 modern 139 #25,093
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Crons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Appleby St Lawrence, Durisdeer, London parishes, Manchester and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Berwickshire East and Carrick South. 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 Appleby St Lawrence Westmorland
2 Durisdeer Dumfries
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Giles-in-the-Fields London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 006 New Forest
2 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
3 Carrick South South Ayrshire
4 New Forest 004 New Forest
5 New Forest 002 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cron

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cron, 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 Cron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cron 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cron 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

Cron is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cron falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cron

The surname CRON is believed to have originated in Scotland, with its roots tracing back to the 14th century. It is thought to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "cron," meaning "swarthy" or "dark-complexioned," suggesting that it may have been a descriptive nickname initially used to identify someone with a darker skin tone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1367, where a person named William Cron is mentioned. This entry provides evidence that the surname was already in use during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland from 1545, which mentions a John Cron. This suggests that the surname had spread and become more established within Scottish communities by this time.

The CRON surname is also associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was William Cron (1738-1820), a Scottish poet and songwriter known for his contributions to the literary tradition of the Scottish Lowlands. His works, including "The Maid of Callender" and "The Miller's Daughter," gained popularity during his lifetime and helped preserve the cultural heritage of his region.

Another figure of note was John Cron (1793-1867), a Scottish architect who designed several important buildings in Glasgow, including the Hutchesons' Hospital and the Royal Infirmary. His architectural legacy can still be appreciated in the city's skyline today.

In the 19th century, the CRON surname found its way to North America, with Alexander Cron (1820-1892) being one of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name in the United States. He was a Scottish immigrant who settled in Ohio and worked as a farmer, contributing to the agricultural development of the region.

Furthermore, the CRON surname has been associated with several place names, including Cronhill in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and Cronberry Hill in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. These locations may have had some connection to individuals bearing the surname in the past, although the exact origins of the place names are uncertain.

While the CRON surname has a rich history rooted in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals of Scottish descent and others who have adopted the name over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cron 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 28 Crons recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.68x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 28 128.68x
Middlesex 15 1.52x
Cumberland 13 15.33x
Ayrshire 10 13.56x
Kent 7 2.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 42.08x
Lancashire 5 0.43x
Westmorland 4 18.48x
Lanarkshire 3 0.94x
Stirlingshire 3 8.26x
Surrey 2 0.42x
Argyllshire 1 3.65x
Durham 1 0.34x
East Lothian 1 7.66x
Pembrokeshire 1 3.19x
Perthshire 1 2.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleator in Cumberland leads with 12 Crons recorded in 1881 and an index of 339.94x.

Place Total Index
Cleator 12 339.94x
Dalmellington 10 460.83x
Middlebie 9 1384.62x
Kirkconnell 8 2352.94x
Whitechapel London 6 61.79x
Buittle 5 1515.15x
Deptford St Paul 5 19.29x
St Giles In Fields London 5 103.52x
Appleby St Lawrence 4 816.33x
Broughton In Salford 4 37.42x
Airth 3 652.17x
Carluke 3 103.81x
Langholm 3 192.31x
Annan 2 106.95x
Durrisdeer 2 540.54x
Hackney London 2 3.62x
Hutton 2 740.74x
Lambeth 2 2.33x
Maidstone 2 19.98x
Allerton 1 357.14x
Crieff 1 60.98x
Darlington 1 8.83x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 46.73x
Irongray 1 384.62x
Islington London 1 1.05x
Mile End Old Town London 1 4.77x
Penpont 1 250.00x
St Cuthbert W O 1 24.21x
Torthorwald 1 303.03x
Tranent 1 56.82x
Yerbeston 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 3
Hans 2
Abraham 1
Barnett 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edgar 1
George 1
Jacob 1
James 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Richd.A. 1
William 1

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 Cron households.

FAQ

Cron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Cron surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Cron a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Cron surname mean?

A surname derived from the Irish Ó Cróin, meaning "descendant of Crón," a nickname meaning "saffron-colored" or "swarthy."

What does the Cron map show?

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