NameCensus.

UK surname

Crosby

Derived from a place name meaning "village with a cross" in Old Norse.

In the 1881 census there were 3,543 people recorded with the Crosby surname, ranking it #1,280 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,736, ranked #1,171, up from #1,280 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crosby is 5,882 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.9%.

1881 census count

3,543

Ranked #1,280

Modern count

5,736

2016, ranked #1,171

Peak year

2010

5,882 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crosby had 3,543 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,280 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,736 in 2016, ranked #1,171.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,476 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crosby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crosby surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crosby 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 2,192 #1,333
1861 historical 2,054 #1,411
1881 historical 3,543 #1,280
1891 historical 3,626 #1,323
1901 historical 4,476 #1,271
1911 historical 4,359 #1,188
1997 modern 5,428 #1,198
1998 modern 5,637 #1,202
1999 modern 5,668 #1,204
2000 modern 5,647 #1,210
2001 modern 5,532 #1,201
2002 modern 5,697 #1,189
2003 modern 5,541 #1,192
2004 modern 5,555 #1,183
2005 modern 5,438 #1,191
2006 modern 5,483 #1,183
2007 modern 5,515 #1,185
2008 modern 5,539 #1,185
2009 modern 5,735 #1,169
2010 modern 5,882 #1,167
2011 modern 5,822 #1,167
2012 modern 5,703 #1,163
2013 modern 5,784 #1,166
2014 modern 5,829 #1,167
2015 modern 5,745 #1,169
2016 modern 5,736 #1,171

Geography

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Where Crosbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Sunderland, County Durham, Hambleton and Middlesbrough. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
2 Sunderland 003 Sunderland
3 County Durham 046 County Durham
4 Hambleton 001 Hambleton
5 Middlesbrough 011 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crosby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crosby

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Crosby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Crosby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Crosby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crosby is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crosby

The surname Crosby has its origins in England, specifically in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old Norse words "kross" meaning "cross" and "by" meaning "town" or "village." This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement near a cross or crossroads.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Crosby can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Crosbyvillam." This entry refers to a village in Lancashire, which later became known as Crosby.

In the 12th century, the name Crosby is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, which were records of financial transactions and tax collections. These rolls list individuals with the surname Crosby living in various areas of the county.

During the 13th century, the name Crosby appeared in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, which were records of legal proceedings and court cases. This suggests that the surname had spread to neighboring counties by this time.

One notable figure bearing the Crosby surname was Sir John Crosby (c. 1440-1475), a wealthy merchant and alderman of London. He was involved in the construction of Crosby Hall, a prestigious medieval building that still stands today.

Another prominent individual with the Crosby surname was Brass Crosby (1725-1793), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1770.

In the literary world, Fanny Crosby (1820-1915), a American writer and composer, is renowned for her prolific output of over 8,000 hymns and gospel songs, despite being blind from infancy.

Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby (1903-1977), an American singer, actor, and comedian, is perhaps one of the most famous individuals to bear the Crosby surname. He was a celebrated entertainer and one of the first multimedia stars, appearing in numerous films, radio shows, and television programs.

The Crosby surname can also be found in various place names across England, such as Crosby, Merseyside; Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria; and Crosby-on-Eden, Cumbria, further reinforcing its geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crosby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crosby 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. Yorkshire leads with 708 Crosbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.07x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 708 2.07x
Lancashire 656 1.60x
Durham 307 2.98x
Middlesex 245 0.71x
Lincolnshire 200 3.62x
Cheshire 139 1.82x
Surrey 139 0.83x
Essex 137 2.01x
Northumberland 131 2.55x
Staffordshire 105 0.90x
Suffolk 103 2.45x
Warwickshire 98 1.12x
Cumberland 69 2.32x
Nottinghamshire 66 1.42x
Hampshire 50 0.71x
Lanarkshire 40 0.36x
Kent 24 0.20x
Devon 20 0.28x
Oxfordshire 20 0.94x
Westmorland 20 2.63x
Somerset 19 0.34x
Midlothian 17 0.37x
Sussex 17 0.29x
Gloucestershire 15 0.22x
Northamptonshire 15 0.46x
Glamorgan 14 0.23x
Dorset 13 0.57x
Norfolk 12 0.23x
Roxburghshire 10 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 9 1.31x
Angus 8 0.25x
Monmouthshire 8 0.32x
Worcestershire 8 0.18x
Bedfordshire 7 0.39x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.50x
Cornwall 7 0.18x
Leicestershire 7 0.18x
Renfrewshire 7 0.26x
Stirlingshire 7 0.55x
Derbyshire 6 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.65x
Shropshire 6 0.20x
Channel Islands 5 0.49x
Flintshire 4 0.43x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.39x
Hertfordshire 3 0.13x
Peeblesshire 3 1.84x
Wiltshire 3 0.10x
Anglesey 2 0.33x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.14x
Isle of Man 2 0.31x
Rutland 2 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.24x
Selkirkshire 1 0.32x
West Lothian 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 66 Crosbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 66 2.65x
Bishopwearmouth 52 5.89x
Birmingham 51 1.76x
Manchester 50 2.71x
Pendleton In Salford 46 9.41x
West Derby 41 3.42x
Everton 40 3.06x
Islington London 39 1.16x
Halewood 37 168.33x
Leeds 35 1.81x
Middlesbrough 33 7.40x
Cowpen 32 27.02x
Toxteth Park 32 2.30x
Scarborough 30 9.64x
Lambeth 28 0.93x
Salford 27 2.24x
Stafford St Mary 27 16.34x
Farnham 26 19.85x
Hulme 25 2.92x
Hunslet 25 4.68x
Brompton In Scarborough 24 294.48x
Holy Trinity 23 2.79x
Shoreditch London 23 1.53x
Ixworth 22 185.19x
St Luke London 22 3.97x
Gosberton 21 85.50x
Wavertree 21 15.99x
Barrow In Furness 20 3.58x
Portsea 20 1.44x
Butley 19 428.89x
East Ham 19 15.00x
Penrith 19 17.28x
Bermondsey 18 1.75x
Billingham 18 101.69x
Longbenton 18 8.26x
Stockton On Tees 18 3.63x
West Ham 18 1.19x
Bishop Auckland 17 12.32x
Bradford 17 2.05x
Norton 17 44.96x
Sculcoates 17 3.13x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 17 21.87x
Alne 16 274.91x
Easingwold 16 66.14x
Fingrinhoe 16 414.51x
Gainsborough 16 12.28x
Great Driffield 16 22.76x
Sheffield 16 1.47x
St Pancras London 16 0.58x
Stanningfield 16 504.73x
Aston Cum Aughton 15 53.53x
Camberwell 15 0.68x
Fylingdales 15 87.82x
Poplar London 15 2.30x
Runcorn 15 8.53x
Stoke Upon Trent 15 1.21x
Stranton 15 4.33x
Westoe 15 2.57x
Aston 14 0.58x
Battersea 14 1.10x
Broughton In Salford 14 3.73x
Epworth 14 54.33x
Kimberworth 14 7.36x
Neithrop 14 19.51x
Birkenhead 13 2.14x
Bromley London 13 1.71x
Newington 13 1.02x
Nottingham St Mary 13 1.08x
Stockport 13 3.31x
Warrington 13 2.67x
Whitehaven 13 8.19x
Audley 12 10.39x
Darlington 12 3.02x
Garston 12 9.91x
Hartlepool 12 8.21x
Howsham 12 585.37x
Leamington Priors 12 5.59x
Nantwich 12 13.53x
Sunderland 12 6.61x
Sutton St Mary 12 22.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 252
Elizabeth 145
Sarah 124
Jane 84
Ann 72
Eliza 67
Margaret 60
Annie 55
Alice 54
Hannah 51
Emma 45
Ellen 43
Catherine 29
Emily 29
Martha 25
Florence 22
Maria 21
Kate 20
Edith 19
Isabella 18
Anne 15
Esther 14
Harriet 14
Louisa 14
Charlotte 12
Frances 12
Ada 11
Clara 11
Grace 11
Jessie 11
Lucy 11
Rachel 11
Agnes 10
Anna 10
Eleanor 10
Matilda 10
Susan 10
Caroline 9
Minnie 9
Bridget 8
Fanny 8
Harriett 8
Lizzie 8
Amelia 7
Betsy 7
Ethel 7
Gertrude 7
Amy 6
Bertha 6
Julia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 247
William 230
George 118
Thomas 110
James 95
Charles 64
Robert 60
Joseph 57
Henry 43
Arthur 37
Richard 37
Edward 34
Frederick 25
Samuel 23
Walter 21
Benjamin 20
Harry 20
Alfred 19
Albert 17
Herbert 13
Thos. 13
Wm. 13
David 12
Ernest 12
Michael 10
Edwin 9
Fred 9
Anthony 8
Christopher 8
Frank 8
Peter 8
Stephen 8
Francis 7
Martin 6
Daniel 5
Geo. 5
Reuben 5
Tom 5
Horace 4
Isaac 4
Jas. 4
Jonathan 4
Josiah 4
Mark 4
Matthew 4
Noah 4
Patrick 4
Ralph 4
Mathew 3
Timothy 3

FAQ

Crosby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crosby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,543 people were recorded with the Crosby surname. That placed it at #1,280 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crosby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,736 in 2016. That gives Crosby a modern rank of #1,171.

What does the Crosby surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "village with a cross" in Old Norse.

What does the Crosby map show?

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