NameCensus.

UK surname

Crookston

A habitational name referring to someone from Crookston, a town in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Crookston surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, up from #14,496 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, West Calder and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Calder and Polbeth, Blackburn and Bonnyrigg North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crookston is 403 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.1%.

1881 census count

166

Ranked #14,496

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

2010

403 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crookston had 166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,496 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 275 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Crookston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crookston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crookston 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 57 #23,092
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 166 #14,496
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 275 #12,332
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 348 #12,229
1998 modern 353 #12,470
1999 modern 360 #12,371
2000 modern 363 #12,237
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 354 #12,490
2003 modern 352 #12,365
2004 modern 353 #12,377
2005 modern 355 #12,243
2006 modern 363 #12,123
2007 modern 376 #11,925
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 402 #11,682
2010 modern 403 #11,925
2011 modern 400 #11,865
2012 modern 392 #11,898
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 378 #12,512
2015 modern 385 #12,256
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Crookstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, West Calder, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Lasswade. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Calder and Polbeth, Blackburn, Bonnyrigg North, Stockton-on-Tees and Balmullo and Gauldry. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 West Calder Edinburgh
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Lasswade Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Calder and Polbeth West Lothian
2 Blackburn West Lothian
3 Bonnyrigg North Midlothian
4 Stockton-on-Tees 001 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Balmullo and Gauldry Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crookston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crookston

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Crookston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Crookston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Crookston 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

Crookston is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crookston falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Crookston

The surname Crookston originated in Scotland during the Medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the parish of Crookston in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "croc" meaning "brook" or "crooked stream," and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

In the 12th century, records show the name being spelled as "Crukiston" and "Crukistown." This suggests that the name was initially associated with a settlement or farm located near a crooked stream or brook. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to a charter from the reign of King William the Lion of Scotland (1165-1214), where it is documented as "Crukiston."

The Crookston family played a significant role in the history of Renfrewshire. One notable figure was Sir Robert Crookston, who was granted the lands of Crookston in the 14th century. He was a prominent knight and landowner, and his descendants continued to hold the estate for several generations.

In the 16th century, the Crookston family was involved in the Scottish Reformation. John Crookston, born in 1520, was a supporter of the Protestant movement and played a role in the spread of the new religious doctrines in Renfrewshire.

During the 17th century, the name appeared in various historical records, including the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. One such record from 1643 mentions a James Crookston, who was granted lands in Renfrewshire.

Another notable figure was Sir William Crookston (1670-1742), a Scottish merchant and landowner. He was involved in the trade with the American colonies and acquired significant wealth, which he used to purchase estates in Scotland.

In the 18th century, the Crookston family continued to be prominent landowners in Renfrewshire. One member, Robert Crookston (1720-1795), was a respected lawyer and served as a judge in the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

As the Crookston family expanded and migrated, the name spread to various parts of the world, including England, Ireland, and North America. However, its roots can be traced back to the parish of Crookston in Renfrewshire, Scotland, where the name originated from the descriptive location near a crooked stream or brook.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crookston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crookston 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. Midlothian leads with 61 Crookstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.29x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 61 28.29x
Lanarkshire 41 7.88x
Durham 27 5.64x
Ayrshire 12 9.96x
Renfrewshire 9 7.22x
East Lothian 6 28.14x
Hampshire 3 0.91x
Argyllshire 2 4.46x
Fife 1 1.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.36x
Peeblesshire 1 13.21x
Stirlingshire 1 1.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lasswade in Midlothian leads with 30 Crookstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 608.52x.

Place Total Index
Lasswade 30 608.52x
Bishopwearmouth 19 46.23x
Liberton 15 450.45x
Glasgow 10 10.82x
Kilwinning 10 257.07x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 38.57x
Dalziel 6 107.14x
East Greenock 6 50.93x
Tranent 6 208.33x
Blantyre 5 92.25x
Govan 5 3.88x
Maryhill 5 49.07x
Temple 5 581.40x
West Calder 5 117.65x
Barony 4 3.04x
Bothwell 4 28.33x
Borthwick 3 312.50x
Cathcart 3 44.44x
Southampton St Mary 3 14.46x
Carnwath 2 62.11x
Dalry 2 35.27x
Dunoon Kilmun 2 57.31x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 36.43x
Briton Ferry 1 29.94x
Crichton 1 166.67x
Dunfermline 1 6.83x
Innerleithen 1 49.75x
Larbert 1 28.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 3
Agnes 2
Helen 2
Mary 2
Cathrine 1
Christina 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Isab. 1
Isabella 1
Jeannie 1
Margt. 1
Robine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
George 2
Robt. 2
Alexr. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
James 1
Peter 1
Robert 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 Crookston households.

FAQ

Crookston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crookston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Crookston surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crookston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Crookston a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Crookston surname mean?

A habitational name referring to someone from Crookston, a town in Scotland.

What does the Crookston map show?

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