NameCensus.

UK surname

Crosthwaite

From a small clearing or crossing in a road or path.

In the 1881 census there were 482 people recorded with the Crosthwaite surname, ranking it #6,956 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 573, ranked #9,014, down from #6,956 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arlecdon, Windermere and Whitkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Stockport and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crosthwaite is 581 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.9%.

1881 census count

482

Ranked #6,956

Modern count

573

2016, ranked #9,014

Peak year

1999

581 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crosthwaite had 482 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,956 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016, ranked #9,014.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 575 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crosthwaite surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crosthwaite surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crosthwaite 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 341 #6,892
1861 historical 368 #6,935
1881 historical 482 #6,956
1891 historical 517 #7,225
1901 historical 531 #7,717
1911 historical 575 #7,063
1997 modern 549 #8,668
1998 modern 562 #8,765
1999 modern 581 #8,622
2000 modern 574 #8,662
2001 modern 572 #8,561
2002 modern 569 #8,751
2003 modern 552 #8,814
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 543 #8,873
2006 modern 544 #8,890
2007 modern 553 #8,870
2008 modern 553 #8,924
2009 modern 556 #9,093
2010 modern 557 #9,270
2011 modern 543 #9,373
2012 modern 541 #9,294
2013 modern 565 #9,124
2014 modern 567 #9,161
2015 modern 561 #9,153
2016 modern 573 #9,014

Geography

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Where Crosthwaites are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arlecdon, Windermere, Whitkirk, West Derby and Crosthwaite. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Stockport, Lewes and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Arlecdon Cumberland
2 Windermere Westmorland
3 Whitkirk Yorkshire, West Riding
4 West Derby Lancashire
5 Crosthwaite Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 Stockport 011 Stockport
3 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
4 Lewes 009 Lewes
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 002 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crosthwaite

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crosthwaite

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

Crosthwaite is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crosthwaite

The surname Crosthwaite has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Cumberland (now part of Cumbria). The name is derived from a place name, referring to the valley known as Crosthwaite near Keswick in the Lake District.

The earliest recorded spelling of the place name was "Crosthwait" in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland in 1195. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norse words "kross" meaning "cross" and "thveit" meaning "a piece of land cleared from brushwood."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Crosthwaite can be found in the 13th century, with mention of a Philip de Crosthwaite appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Cumberland in 1273. This suggests that the name was already well-established by this time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York, with the entry of Thomas de Crosthwayte in 1379. This indicates that the surname had spread beyond its original geographic location by this point.

A notable figure bearing the Crosthwaite name was Sir John Crosthwaite (1566-1623), a member of Parliament for Cumberland during the reign of King James I. He was also the Sheriff of Cumberland in 1613.

Another prominent individual was Robert Crosthwaite (1742-1808), a renowned English watchmaker who worked in London and was known for his innovative timepiece designs.

The surname Crosthwaite also has a connection to the arts, with the English painter and illustrator John Crosthwaite (1902-1993) being a well-known figure. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and he was a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.

In the field of literature, the name is associated with Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Baron Crosthwaite (1848-1918), a prominent English composer and music historian who was ennobled as Baron Crosthwaite in 1902.

The Crosthwaite family also had a presence in the United States, with John Crosthwaite (1737-1818) being one of the earliest recorded individuals to bear the name in America. He was a merchant and landowner in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crosthwaite families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crosthwaite 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. Cumberland leads with 165 Crosthwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.59x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 165 40.59x
Lancashire 111 1.98x
Yorkshire 81 1.73x
Westmorland 56 53.97x
Kent 12 0.74x
Surrey 12 0.52x
Cheshire 10 0.96x
Durham 10 0.71x
Middlesex 7 0.15x
Essex 6 0.64x
Fife 5 1.79x
Northumberland 4 0.57x
Sussex 2 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Kinross-shire 1 8.38x
Shropshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Templenewsam in Yorkshire leads with 30 Crosthwaites recorded in 1881 and an index of 884.96x.

Place Total Index
Templenewsam 30 884.96x
Everton 23 12.88x
West Derby 22 13.42x
Applethwaite 20 647.25x
Crosthwaite 20 4000.00x
Kendal 19 100.05x
Keswick 18 346.15x
Crosscanonby 13 96.73x
Leeds 12 4.54x
Weddicar 12 10909.09x
Barrow In Furness 11 14.44x
Thornaby 11 62.93x
Workington 10 42.97x
Arlecdon 9 83.26x
Toxteth Park 9 4.74x
Bradford 8 7.06x
Faversham 8 52.08x
Wigton 8 131.36x
Dearham 7 130.60x
Lambeth 7 1.70x
Staveley 7 1060.61x
Swillington 7 526.32x
Tranmere 7 18.28x
Blencogo 6 1935.48x
Patterdale 6 521.74x
Preston Quarter 6 52.68x
Rawdon 6 108.89x
Stanwix 6 182.37x
Stockton On Tees 6 8.86x
Ulverston 6 36.76x
Undermilbeck 6 175.44x
Upminster 6 309.28x
Aspatria 5 127.88x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 5 177.31x
Threlkeld 5 735.29x
Bassenthwaite 4 487.80x
Croydon 4 3.13x
Cults 4 350.88x
Dean 4 300.75x
Heaton Norris 4 12.54x
Islington London 4 0.87x
Wavertree 4 22.31x
Whitehaven 4 18.46x
Above Derwent 3 198.68x
Cartmel Fell 3 625.00x
Crosthwaite Lyth 3 240.00x
Hulme 3 2.57x
Lamesley 3 39.68x
Lancaster 3 9.00x
Middlesbrough 3 4.92x
Milton In Gravesend 3 12.42x
Penwortham 3 113.21x
Tynemouth 3 7.97x
Caldewgate 2 8.98x
Gosforth 2 101.01x
Grasmere 2 168.07x
Kensington London 2 0.76x
Knaresborough 2 27.21x
Liverpool 2 0.59x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 16.68x
Salford 2 1.21x
Upper Allithwaite E 2 219.78x
Westward 2 117.65x
Accrington 1 1.96x
Birkenhead 1 1.20x
Borrowdale 1 136.99x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.12x
Cleator 1 5.91x
Dalton In Furness 1 4.62x
Flimby 1 29.15x
Gateshead 1 0.95x
Hove 1 2.86x
Irton With Santon 1 99.01x
Kinross 1 24.45x
Lorton 1 156.25x
North Meols 1 1.82x
Preston 1 0.67x
Seacroft 1 45.05x
Skelton 1 85.47x
St Bees 1 53.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 19
Ann 12
Annie 12
Jane 11
Agnes 10
Hannah 10
Martha 9
Margaret 8
Isabella 6
Ada 5
Florence 4
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Grace 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Agness 2
Alice 2
Anne 2
Eliza 2
Ellenor 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Julia 2
Margret 2
Phillis 2
Ruth 2
Anna 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ellan 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
J.Ann 1
Josephine 1
Tamer 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 21
Thomas 17
Joseph 16
George 8
Robert 8
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Henry 6
James 6
Tom 5
Charles 4
Banks 3
Daniel 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Wilfred 3
Anthony 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Allison 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Bertram 1
Clancy 1
Clarence 1
Danl. 1
Fearon 1
Fred 1
Frederek 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Catley 1
Harry 1
Jessy 1
Joe 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Jus. 1
Lawrence 1
Miles 1
Moses 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Crosthwaite surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crosthwaite surname in 1881?

In 1881, 482 people were recorded with the Crosthwaite surname. That placed it at #6,956 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crosthwaite surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016. That gives Crosthwaite a modern rank of #9,014.

What does the Crosthwaite surname mean?

From a small clearing or crossing in a road or path.

What does the Crosthwaite map show?

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