NameCensus.

UK surname

Croney

An English nickname or surname derived from "crone" meaning an old woman or gossip.

In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Croney surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 281, ranked #15,449, up from #15,489 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St George in the East and Willesden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, Rochdale and Sutton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Croney is 308 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.3%.

1881 census count

150

Ranked #15,489

Modern count

281

2016, ranked #15,449

Peak year

2010

308 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Croney had 150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,489 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 281 in 2016, ranked #15,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 182 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Croney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Croney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Croney 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 150 #15,489
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 136 #19,110
1911 historical 182 #15,859
1997 modern 275 #14,335
1998 modern 293 #14,094
1999 modern 301 #13,926
2000 modern 294 #14,105
2001 modern 282 #14,294
2002 modern 294 #14,180
2003 modern 304 #13,685
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 290 #14,140
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 286 #14,496
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 294 #14,628
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 305 #14,439
2012 modern 293 #14,742
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 285 #15,307
2016 modern 281 #15,449

Geography

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Where Croneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St George in the East, Willesden, Newcastle All Saints and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, Rochdale, Sutton and North Tyneside. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 002 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 Rochdale 017 Rochdale
3 Rochdale 010 Rochdale
4 Sutton 022 Sutton
5 North Tyneside 030 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Croney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Croney

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Croney is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Croney is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Croney falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Croney

The surname Croney is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "crone," which means "old man" or "old woman." It is believed to have originated as a nickname given to an elderly person or as a term of endearment for someone who appeared old beyond their years.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Croni" in the county of Shropshire, England. This suggests that the name has been in use for over nine centuries.

During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or places of origin. The surname Croney may have been given to someone who exhibited the characteristics of an elderly person, either in appearance or behavior.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Crony," "Cronny," and "Cronie," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common during that time period.

One notable bearer of the surname was John Croney, a English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed in 1598 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs.

In the 17th century, the name Croney appears in several parish records and legal documents, indicating its continued use throughout England.

During the 18th century, the surname Croney was found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, where a family by the name of Croney owned a successful brewery business.

In the 19th century, the name Croney gained some prominence with individuals such as William Croney (1802-1879), an English architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Robert Croney (1841-1917), a British politician and Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of Holborn in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Croney has maintained its presence in various regions of England, with bearers contributing to various fields, including religion, architecture, politics, and business.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Croney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Croney 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 Croneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.14x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 46 3.14x
Surrey 16 2.24x
Wigtownshire 16 82.35x
Essex 15 5.19x
Kent 15 3.00x
Durham 11 2.53x
Northumberland 7 3.22x
Yorkshire 6 0.41x
Cheshire 4 1.24x
Glamorgan 4 1.57x
Lancashire 3 0.17x
Monmouthshire 2 1.89x
Ayrshire 1 0.91x
Brecknockshire 1 3.42x
Hampshire 1 0.33x
Somerset 1 0.42x
Wiltshire 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 13 Croneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.39x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 13 20.39x
Old Luce 9 731.71x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 53.85x
Ratcliffe London 7 86.63x
Rochester St Nicholas 6 387.10x
Shadwell London 6 146.70x
St Giles In Fields London 6 83.57x
St Marylebone London 6 7.68x
Huddersfield 5 23.67x
Chatham 4 29.13x
Greenwich 4 17.17x
Iveston 4 199.01x
Southwark St Olave 4 357.14x
Southwark St Saviour 4 53.19x
St George Bloomsbury 4 47.68x
St Pancras London 4 3.40x
Streatham 4 36.87x
Sutton 4 77.52x
Whitechapel London 4 27.74x
Aberdare 3 17.15x
Gateshead 3 9.21x
Kirkcowan 3 461.54x
Wigtown 3 270.27x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.15x
Birkenhead 2 7.77x
Chorley In Macclesfield 2 204.08x
Ealing 2 15.30x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 23.53x
Poplar London 2 7.24x
Trevethin 2 20.02x
Aldershot 1 9.95x
Beswick 1 22.52x
Bradford 1 2.85x
Cheetham 1 7.72x
Colchester Holy Trinity 1 156.25x
Girvan 1 36.36x
Llanelly 1 28.57x
Llantrisant 1 15.58x
Medomsley 1 49.26x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.21x
Minster In Sheppey 1 12.09x
New Luce 1 277.78x
Norwood 1 29.85x
Orell Ford 1 312.50x
Peldon 1 434.78x
South Shields 1 25.77x
Stoke Newington London 1 8.77x
Walcot 1 7.97x
Wootton Bassett 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 7
Alice 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henereta 1
Henrietta 1
Hettey 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lauretta 1
Letitia 1
Lizzey 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Phoebe 1
Prissalia 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 7
George 5
James 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Patrick 3
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Bertram 1
Cornelieus 1
Daniel 1
E.F. 1
Edward 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Chas. 1
Vincent 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Croney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Croney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Croney surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Croney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 281 in 2016. That gives Croney a modern rank of #15,449.

What does the Croney surname mean?

An English nickname or surname derived from "crone" meaning an old woman or gossip.

What does the Croney map show?

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