NameCensus.

UK surname

Cronshaw

A locational surname originating from a place named Cronshaw.

In the 1881 census there were 745 people recorded with the Cronshaw surname, ranking it #4,925 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, down from #4,925 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cronshaw is 884 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.8%.

1881 census count

745

Ranked #4,925

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

1901

884 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cronshaw had 745 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,925 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 884 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cronshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cronshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cronshaw 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 146 #13,157
1861 historical 415 #6,187
1881 historical 745 #4,925
1891 historical 721 #5,469
1901 historical 884 #5,206
1911 historical 872 #5,098
1997 modern 640 #7,750
1998 modern 649 #7,923
1999 modern 655 #7,905
2000 modern 640 #8,031
2001 modern 610 #8,193
2002 modern 635 #8,120
2003 modern 589 #8,444
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 583 #8,442
2006 modern 580 #8,497
2007 modern 578 #8,595
2008 modern 578 #8,650
2009 modern 590 #8,699
2010 modern 600 #8,787
2011 modern 583 #8,880
2012 modern 558 #9,071
2013 modern 581 #8,945
2014 modern 585 #8,966
2015 modern 565 #9,108
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Cronshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Whalley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn and Ribble Valley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Whalley Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
2 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
3 Hyndburn 008 Hyndburn
4 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
5 Ribble Valley 008 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cronshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cronshaw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cronshaw, 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 Cronshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cronshaw 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cronshaw 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

Cronshaw is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cronshaw 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 Cronshaw 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 Cronshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cronshaw

The surname Cronshaw is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words "cron" meaning "crane" and "sceaga" meaning "small wood or grove". It is believed to have originated in the region of Yorkshire, England, in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Cronshaw can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Cranhsceaga", indicating the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England.

The name Cronshaw is thought to have been initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a small wood or grove frequented by cranes. Over time, it evolved into its current spelling as people migrated and the name was passed down through generations.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named Richard Cronshaw was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, indicating the name's presence in the area during that time period.

During the 16th century, a notable individual named John Cronshaw (1535-1612) was a renowned herbalist and apothecary in London, contributing to the field of medicine and herbal remedies.

Another noteworthy person with the surname Cronshaw was William Cronshaw (1662-1743), a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire, who played a significant role in the local economy and community.

In the 19th century, the artist and poet Hartley Coleridge (1796-1849) had a close friendship with a woman named Sarah Cronshaw, to whom he dedicated several of his poems, further cementing the name's place in literary history.

Throughout the centuries, the Cronshaw surname has been associated with various places and regions, such as Cronshaw Hill in Lancashire and Cronshaw Fold in Yorkshire, reflecting the name's geographical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cronshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cronshaw 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 720 Cronshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 720 8.36x
Cheshire 21 1.31x
Westmorland 2 1.25x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 141 Cronshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.54x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 141 61.54x
Accrington 121 154.53x
Clayton Le Moors 34 203.47x
Padiham 32 153.77x
Oswaldtwistle 31 101.87x
Witton 31 286.24x
Manchester 25 6.46x
Chadderton 19 45.13x
Burnley 18 24.82x
Livesey 15 99.27x
Over Darwen 14 20.35x
Altham 12 1224.49x
Haslingden 12 33.65x
Little Bolton 12 10.84x
North Meols 12 14.23x
Hulme 11 6.12x
Pendleton In Salford 11 10.72x
Rishton 11 108.91x
Heap 10 21.89x
Salford 10 3.95x
Ardwick 9 11.59x
Huncoat 9 389.61x
Little Lever 8 72.66x
Stockport Etchells 8 234.60x
Broughton In Salford 7 8.89x
Habergham Eaves 7 8.89x
Turton 7 49.65x
Great Bolton 6 5.26x
Handforth 6 327.87x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 7.71x
Elton 5 16.81x
Great Little Marsden 5 12.67x
Liverpool 5 0.96x
Spotland 5 5.22x
Whalley 5 39.84x
Bury 4 4.07x
Preston 4 1.74x
Wigan 4 3.32x
Beswick 3 13.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 2.19x
Denton 3 15.72x
Great Harwood 3 19.27x
Hardhorn With Newton 3 285.71x
Heaton Norris 3 6.12x
Ightenhill Park 3 588.24x
Lea Ashton Ingol 3 52.45x
Runcorn 3 8.12x
Blackley 2 13.25x
Casterton 2 138.89x
Darcy Lever 2 40.32x
Oldham 2 0.72x
Simonstone 2 190.48x
Whittle Le Woods 2 70.18x
Altrincham 1 3.57x
Ashton On Mersey 1 12.08x
Bedford 1 5.55x
Blatchinworth 1 5.10x
Great Lever 1 10.94x
Layton With Warbreck 1 3.16x
Leek Lowe 1 3.07x
Lower Booths 1 6.48x
Monks Coppenhall 1 1.65x
Newton 1 1.51x
Osbaldeston 1 263.16x
Tintwistle 1 11.68x
Todmorden Walsden 1 4.33x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 5.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Elizabeth 43
Alice 32
Jane 28
Sarah 28
Ellen 18
Ann 14
Margaret 13
Agnes 9
Eliza 7
Martha 7
Isabella 6
Emma 5
Susannah 5
Ada 4
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Nancy 4
Rachel 4
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Hannah 3
Maria 3
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Deborah 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Grace 2
Lucy 2
Maggie 2
Margreat 2
Margt. 2
Millicent 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Angeliza 1
Catharine 1
Elizabette 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Elsie 1
Isabela 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Tabitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 57
James 49
William 31
Joseph 22
Thomas 20
George 15
Henry 14
Richard 14
Robert 11
Christopher 6
David 6
Moses 6
Samuel 5
Edward 4
Jackson 4
Jacob 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Aaron 2
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Herbert 2
Hy. 2
Jonathan 2
Miles 2
Thos. 2
Betram 1
Christr. 1
Clement 1
Doctor 1
Egbert 1
Ernest 1
Foulds 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Giles 1
Grimshaw 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Law 1
Lawence 1
Louis 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Nathan 1
Nelson 1
Peter 1
Philip 1

FAQ

Cronshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cronshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 745 people were recorded with the Cronshaw surname. That placed it at #4,925 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cronshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Cronshaw a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Cronshaw surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place named Cronshaw.

What does the Cronshaw map show?

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