NameCensus.

UK surname

Cropp

A surname derived from an English locational name referring to someone who lived near a crop or cornfield.

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Cropp surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to South Stoneham, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Low Waters and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cropp is 266 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.8%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

1998

266 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cropp had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 261 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cropp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cropp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cropp 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 244 #12,983
1901 historical 246 #13,269
1911 historical 261 #12,526
1997 modern 264 #14,734
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 255 #15,599
2000 modern 257 #15,468
2001 modern 247 #15,637
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 227 #16,730
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 211 #17,997
2009 modern 219 #17,960
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 207 #19,155
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Cropps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around South Stoneham, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Low Waters, Isle of Wight, Southampton and Croydon. 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 South Stoneham Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 003 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Low Waters South Lanarkshire
3 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
4 Southampton 012 Southampton
5 Croydon 032 Croydon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cropp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cropp

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cropp 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

Cropp 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cropp

The surname Cropp has its origins in England, arising in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cropp," which referred to the top or highest part of something, such as the crop of a plant or the crest of a hill. This suggests that the name may have originally been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived on or near a prominent hilltop or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a Robert Croppe is mentioned. The varying spellings found in historical records, such as Croppe, Crope, and Croppes, reflect the evolving nature of surnames during that time.

The Cropp surname is also documented in the Domesday Book of 1086, although the exact entries are unclear due to the inconsistent spellings used in those early records. However, the presence of the name in this significant medieval census suggests that the surname had already established itself in parts of England by the late 11th century.

Notably, the name Cropp has been associated with several place names throughout history. For instance, there is a hamlet called Cropp in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the adoption of the surname by families residing in or near that area.

Among the earliest known bearers of the Cropp surname are William Cropp, born in 1492 in Gloucestershire, and John Cropp, born in 1521 in Somerset. Another notable individual was Thomas Cropp, a merchant and landowner from Berkshire who lived from 1543 to 1621.

In the 17th century, the Cropp family had a presence in various parts of England, including Cornwall, where Richard Cropp (1623-1701) was a prominent figure. He served as the Mayor of Truro and was involved in local politics and trade.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Cropp surname in America dates back to 1635, when John Cropp arrived in Virginia from England. His descendants went on to establish themselves in various parts of the American colonies and later the United States.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Cropp surname. These include Sir Henry Cropp (1768-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and William Cropp (1805-1871), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and maritime scenes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cropp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cropp 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. Hampshire leads with 82 Cropps recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.41x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 82 24.41x
Berkshire 18 14.63x
Middlesex 16 0.98x
Herefordshire 15 22.32x
Surrey 10 1.25x
Norfolk 6 2.38x
Channel Islands 4 8.24x
Cornwall 4 2.16x
Lancashire 3 0.15x
Shropshire 3 2.12x
Northumberland 2 0.82x
Kent 1 0.18x
Northamptonshire 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 5.12x
Sussex 1 0.36x
Warwickshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Millbrook in Hampshire leads with 21 Cropps recorded in 1881 and an index of 248.23x.

Place Total Index
Millbrook 21 248.23x
Reading St Lawrence 11 418.25x
Islington London 10 6.30x
Alverstoke 9 74.01x
Portsea 9 13.67x
South Stoneham 9 123.46x
Southampton St Mary 8 37.88x
Croydon 7 15.79x
Hope Under Dinmore 6 2142.86x
Binfield 5 531.91x
Heigham 4 29.59x
Hereford St Martin 4 493.83x
Ladock 4 754.72x
Leominster 4 143.88x
Mattingley 4 1379.31x
Romsey Extra 4 200.00x
North Baddesley 3 1500.00x
Allendale 2 88.50x
Chiswick 2 22.35x
Kensington London 2 2.20x
Northwood 2 41.84x
Oswestry Town 2 44.15x
St Helier 2 12.65x
St Thomas Winchester 2 84.39x
Streatham 2 16.45x
West Swallowfield 2 344.83x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 6.83x
Betchworth 1 102.04x
Bodenham 1 204.08x
Crondall 1 55.56x
Edgbaston 1 7.81x
Godshill 1 128.21x
Greenwich 1 3.83x
Hawley 1 158.73x
Hove 1 8.25x
Hursley 1 128.21x
Irthlingborough 1 66.23x
Newton 1 6.67x
Norwich St Martin At 1 232.56x
Nursling 1 185.19x
Portsmouth 1 12.94x
Royal Navy 1 5.99x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 17.89x
Southampton All Sts 1 17.36x
Southampton St John 1 294.12x
Southwick 1 270.27x
St Anne Soho London 1 10.68x
St Clement 1 135.14x
St Helens 1 40.98x
St Pancras London 1 0.76x
St Peter Colebrook 1 212.77x
Stretford 1 9.35x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 37.45x
Trinity 1 89.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Alice 7
Emma 6
Mary 6
Sarah 6
Emily 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Helena 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Ada 1
B.E.A. 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Elsie 1
Emiley 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Jane 1
Jennie 1
Johanna 1
Leila 1
Lily 1
Luley 1
Marianne 1
Roshannah 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 9
John 9
Charles 5
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Henry 3
Josiah 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
James 2
Wm. 2
Edward 1
Frederic 1
H.Y.E. 1
Jno. 1
Lionel 1
Richard 1
Ruben 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Cropp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cropp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Cropp surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cropp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Cropp a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Cropp surname mean?

A surname derived from an English locational name referring to someone who lived near a crop or cornfield.

What does the Cropp map show?

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