NameCensus.

UK surname

Cross

An English locational surname referring to someone who lived near a cross or crucifix.

In the 1881 census there were 20,585 people recorded with the Cross surname, ranking it #178 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26,737, ranked #209, down from #178 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Ely Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, East Cambridgeshire and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cross is 28,460 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.9%.

1881 census count

20,585

Ranked #178

Modern count

26,737

2016, ranked #209

Peak year

1999

28,460 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cross had 20,585 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #178 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 26,737 in 2016, ranked #209.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 27,098 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cross surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cross surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cross 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 13,563 #174
1861 historical 12,633 #192
1881 historical 20,585 #178
1891 historical 22,056 #175
1901 historical 25,561 #180
1911 historical 27,098 #150
1997 modern 27,332 #198
1998 modern 28,314 #198
1999 modern 28,460 #199
2000 modern 28,142 #199
2001 modern 27,439 #199
2002 modern 27,871 #201
2003 modern 27,221 #201
2004 modern 27,207 #201
2005 modern 26,775 #201
2006 modern 26,654 #202
2007 modern 26,698 #203
2008 modern 26,690 #204
2009 modern 27,243 #205
2010 modern 27,685 #206
2011 modern 27,229 #206
2012 modern 26,591 #206
2013 modern 27,146 #206
2014 modern 27,211 #208
2015 modern 26,951 #208
2016 modern 26,737 #209

Geography

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Where Cross' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Ely Trinity and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, East Cambridgeshire and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Ely Trinity Cambridgeshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 007 Wyre
2 Wyre 004 Wyre
3 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
4 Wyre 009 Wyre
5 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cross

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cross

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cross 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

Cross 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cross

The surname Cross originated in England and derives from the Old English word "cros" which means "cross" or "crucifix." It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a cross or crucifix, or as a nickname for a person who frequently made the sign of the cross.

The name is found in various early records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Crois" and "Croiz." It is also recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191 as "de Cruce" and in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279 as "atte Crous."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Walter Croys, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1197. Another early bearer of the name was Robert de la Croyz, who is recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1240.

The Cross surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including Ralph Cross (c. 1395 - c. 1463), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire. Another prominent figure was Jonathan Cross (1655 - 1712), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Raphoe in Ireland.

In the 17th century, Samuel Cross (1622 - 1700) was a Puritan minister and author in New England. He played a significant role in the Salem Witch Trials and published a book titled "The Sou-Guards of Mercy" in 1683.

Among the more recent historical figures with the Cross surname is Wilbur Lucius Cross (1862 - 1948), an American educator and author who served as the president of Yale University from 1930 to 1937.

Another notable individual was Sir Ronald Cross (1896 - 1968), a British businessman and politician who served as the Governor of Tasmania from 1951 to 1958 and was later knighted for his services to the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Cross surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cross surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20,585 people were recorded with the Cross surname. That placed it at #178 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cross surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 26,737 in 2016. That gives Cross a modern rank of #209.

What does the Cross surname mean?

An English locational surname referring to someone who lived near a cross or crucifix.

What does the Cross map show?

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