UK surname
An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a ferryboat or crossed between territories.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Crosser surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Dalziel and Dover St James, Dover St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crosser is 100 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 78.3%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
100 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Crosser surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Crosser surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 43 | #29,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 43 | #28,581 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 10 | #37,446 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Dalziel, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Dalserf and Cambusnethan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamilton | Lanark |
| 2 | Dalziel | Lanark |
| 3 | Dover St James, Dover St Mary | Kent |
| 4 | Dalserf | Lanark |
| 5 | Cambusnethan | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Crosser surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crosser, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Crosser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Crosser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Crosser is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crosser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Crosser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Crosser has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "crosse," meaning a crucifix or cross. The name may have been given to someone who lived near a crossroads or worked as a maker of crosses or crucifixes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name comes from the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a William le Crosser in Suffolk. The Hundred Rolls were a survey of landholders in England during the reign of King Edward I.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Crosyer, Crosere, and Croysser. These variations suggest that the name was likely pronounced differently in different regions of England.
One notable historical figure with the surname Crosser was Sir John Crosser, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 16th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1599.
Another prominent individual was Reverend William Crosser, an English clergyman and scholar who lived from 1635 to 1712. He was a fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, and published several works on theology and philosophy.
In the 18th century, the name Crosser was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Gloucestershire. One example is Thomas Crosser, born in 1742 in Yorkshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor of several horological innovations.
The name Crosser has also been associated with place names, such as Crosser's Green in Buckinghamshire and Crosser's Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Crosser who lived or owned land in those areas.
Other notable individuals with the surname include Sir John Crosser (1820-1897), a British soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, and Mary Crosser (1865-1935), an American artist and painter known for her landscape and portrait works.
While the surname Crosser is not among the most common surnames in English-speaking countries today, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crosser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 39 Crossers recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.87x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lanarkshire | 39 | 26.87x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.11x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.32x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalserf in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Crossers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1103.45x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dalserf | 16 | 1103.45x |
| Old Monkland | 8 | 138.89x |
| Hamilton | 7 | 172.84x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 24.24x |
| Barony | 3 | 8.17x |
| Govan | 2 | 5.57x |
| Stonehouse | 2 | 408.16x |
| Brighton | 1 | 6.55x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 3.88x |
| Lancaster | 1 | 31.55x |
| Ratcliffe London | 1 | 40.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Crosser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Crosser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Crosser households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Barrister At Law In Practice | 1 |
| House Keeper (Dom St) | 1 |
| Manager | 1 |
| None | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Crosser surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Crosser a modern rank of #37,599.
An occupational surname referring to someone who operated a ferryboat or crossed between territories.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Crosser bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.