NameCensus.

UK surname

Crowe

An English and Irish surname referring to a person with dark hair or complexion, derived from the bird.

In the 1881 census there were 2,867 people recorded with the Crowe surname, ranking it #1,566 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,427, ranked #1,048, up from #1,566 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Marylebone and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Berwickshire East, South Lakeland and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crowe is 6,786 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 124.2%.

1881 census count

2,867

Ranked #1,566

Modern count

6,427

2016, ranked #1,048

Peak year

1998

6,786 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crowe had 2,867 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,566 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,427 in 2016, ranked #1,048.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,767 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crowe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crowe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crowe 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 1,203 #2,369
1861 historical 1,341 #2,138
1881 historical 2,867 #1,566
1891 historical 3,467 #1,374
1901 historical 4,525 #1,265
1911 historical 4,767 #1,088
1997 modern 6,449 #1,007
1998 modern 6,786 #994
1999 modern 6,773 #1,008
2000 modern 6,696 #1,011
2001 modern 6,525 #1,017
2002 modern 6,634 #1,024
2003 modern 6,494 #1,022
2004 modern 6,474 #1,028
2005 modern 6,321 #1,040
2006 modern 6,311 #1,042
2007 modern 6,355 #1,039
2008 modern 6,376 #1,040
2009 modern 6,460 #1,051
2010 modern 6,590 #1,051
2011 modern 6,480 #1,052
2012 modern 6,409 #1,044
2013 modern 6,552 #1,042
2014 modern 6,558 #1,048
2015 modern 6,463 #1,050
2016 modern 6,427 #1,048

Geography

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Where Crowes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Marylebone, Liverpool and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Berwickshire East, South Lakeland, Great Yarmouth and Northumberland. 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 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
2 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland
3 Great Yarmouth 007 Great Yarmouth
4 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
5 Northumberland 035 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crowe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crowe

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

Crowe is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crowe

The surname Crowe is of English origin and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "crawe," which means "crow" and was likely a nickname given to someone who had a resemblance to the bird or lived near a rookery.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1195, where it appears as "Crawa." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also mention a Henry Crowe from Norfolk. The name was also found in various medieval records and documents, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it was spelled "Crouwe."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with names similar to Crowe, such as Crowell in Oxfordshire and Crowhurst in Surrey, suggesting that the name may have originated from a place name as well.

Notable individuals with the surname Crowe include:

1. Sir Sackville Crowe (1590-1670), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1624-1625. 2. William Crowe (1616-1675), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Vicar of Bampton, Oxfordshire. 3. John Crowe (1701-1783), an English nonconformist minister and author who published several religious works. 4. Eyre Crowe (1824-1910), an English artist known for his historical paintings and portraits. 5. Walter Crowe (1876-1950), an English cricketer who played for Essex County Cricket Club in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The surname Crowe has been present in various parts of England for centuries, with concentrations in counties like Norfolk, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire. Its longevity and prevalence in historical records highlight its deep roots in English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crowe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crowe 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. Norfolk leads with 446 Crowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.95x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 446 9.95x
Middlesex 360 1.24x
Lancashire 298 0.86x
Yorkshire 252 0.87x
Durham 176 2.03x
Suffolk 163 4.59x
Surrey 140 0.99x
Northumberland 137 3.16x
Isle of Man 130 24.02x
Essex 93 1.62x
Cheshire 74 1.15x
Kent 72 0.72x
Lanarkshire 59 0.63x
Staffordshire 53 0.54x
Worcestershire 49 1.29x
Angus 39 1.44x
Caithness 31 7.77x
Shropshire 31 1.23x
Warwickshire 31 0.42x
Derbyshire 29 0.64x
Midlothian 24 0.61x
Cumberland 22 0.88x
Sussex 22 0.45x
Hampshire 14 0.23x
Renfrewshire 13 0.58x
Herefordshire 12 1.00x
Glamorgan 11 0.22x
Monmouthshire 11 0.52x
Dunbartonshire 10 1.28x
Huntingdonshire 10 1.73x
Rutland 10 4.67x
Morayshire 9 1.99x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.23x
Gloucestershire 8 0.14x
Lincolnshire 8 0.17x
Montgomeryshire 8 1.20x
Radnorshire 8 3.40x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.26x
Stirlingshire 7 0.65x
Bedfordshire 6 0.40x
Berkshire 6 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.34x
Northamptonshire 6 0.22x
Somerset 6 0.13x
Ayrshire 5 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.27x
Denbighshire 5 0.45x
Devon 5 0.08x
East Lothian 5 1.30x
Inverness-shire 5 0.57x
Oxfordshire 5 0.28x
Perthshire 5 0.38x
Sutherland 4 1.78x
Banffshire 3 0.50x
Hertfordshire 3 0.15x
Leicestershire 3 0.09x
Westmorland 3 0.47x
Argyllshire 2 0.25x
Flintshire 2 0.26x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.22x
West Lothian 2 0.46x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.42x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.06x
Kincardineshire 1 0.28x
Merionethshire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 0.29x
Wiltshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 45 Crowes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.92x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 45 1.92x
Great Yarmouth 44 11.85x
Liverpool 44 2.09x
Toxteth Park 39 3.33x
Barony 28 1.17x
Hammersmith London 28 3.90x
Heigham 28 11.64x
Birmingham 27 1.10x
Islington London 26 0.92x
St Marylebone London 26 1.67x
Lowestoft 25 14.91x
Chorlton On Medlock 24 4.37x
Mickley 24 175.44x
Bury 23 5.82x
Palling 23 502.18x
Wick 23 17.84x
Maughold 22 52.67x
Stockton On Tees 22 5.26x
Byers Green 21 85.85x
Kensington London 21 1.30x
Long Eaton 21 34.87x
Michael 20 181.65x
Bishopwearmouth 19 2.55x
Ealing 19 7.29x
Barrow In Furness 18 3.83x
Bow London 18 4.85x
Camberwell 18 0.97x
Cheetham 18 6.98x
Huddersfield 18 4.28x
Lambeth 18 0.71x
Bride 17 230.04x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 17 12.63x
Lezayre 17 70.02x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 1.02x
Govan 16 0.69x
Hackney London 16 0.98x
Haltwhistle 16 76.05x
Little Saxham 16 924.86x
Manchester 16 1.03x
Dundee 15 1.49x
Leeds 15 0.92x
Norwich St Benedict 15 75.11x
Onchan 15 9.62x
Walthamstow 15 7.24x
Yardley 15 15.40x
Almondbury 14 10.02x
Hemblington 14 595.74x
Hunslet 14 3.11x
St George Hanover Square 14 2.73x
Westminster St James 14 4.67x
Antingham 13 505.84x
Kelvedon 13 84.75x
Norwich St Stephen 13 31.60x
West Ham 13 1.02x
Aldborough 12 341.88x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 1.59x
Barnes 12 19.98x
Battersea 12 1.12x
Bethnal Green London 12 0.95x
Chester St John Baptist 12 10.38x
Monks Coppenhall 12 4.94x
Newington 12 1.11x
Paddington London 12 1.12x
Rotherhithe 12 3.33x
Wolverhampton 12 1.59x
Arbroath 11 12.29x
Cleator 11 10.53x
Clerkenwell London 11 1.60x
Darton 11 37.19x
Great Waltham 11 46.93x
Kingswinford 11 3.08x
Little Cressingham 11 528.85x
Portsea 11 0.94x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 1.88x
Stranton 11 3.77x
Bexley 10 11.37x
Coanwood 10 568.18x
Elvet 10 15.97x
Westgate 10 3.72x
Wetheringsett Cum 10 96.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 168
Elizabeth 92
Sarah 88
Ann 52
Emma 49
Margaret 46
Eliza 41
Ellen 41
Hannah 40
Jane 40
Emily 38
Alice 33
Annie 33
Martha 22
Louisa 20
Charlotte 19
Ada 16
Harriet 16
Anne 15
Catherine 14
Agnes 13
Edith 13
Fanny 13
Caroline 11
Maria 11
Sophia 11
Susan 11
Anna 10
Frances 10
Kate 10
Lucy 10
Amy 9
Bridget 9
Eleanor 9
Isabella 9
Susannah 9
Ethel 8
Florence 8
Gertrude 8
Jessie 8
Amelia 7
Matilda 7
Elizth. 6
Harriett 6
Margt. 6
Julia 5
Bertha 4
Blanche 4
Henrietta 4
Lizzie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 194
John 150
George 89
Thomas 84
Robert 75
James 62
Henry 61
Charles 60
Edward 44
Alfred 31
Frederick 27
Richard 27
Arthur 25
Walter 24
Joseph 22
Frank 19
Albert 18
Harry 18
Francis 14
Herbert 14
Ernest 13
Samuel 13
Patrick 9
Daniel 8
Edmund 8
Michael 8
Alexander 7
Benjamin 6
David 6
Edgar 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Fredk. 5
Horace 5
Isaac 5
Matthew 5
Philip 5
Sidney 5
Edwin 4
Geo. 4
Jacob 4
Thos. 4
Andrew 3
Chas. 3
Davy 3
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Mark 3
Ralph 3
Robt. 3

FAQ

Crowe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crowe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,867 people were recorded with the Crowe surname. That placed it at #1,566 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crowe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,427 in 2016. That gives Crowe a modern rank of #1,048.

What does the Crowe surname mean?

An English and Irish surname referring to a person with dark hair or complexion, derived from the bird.

What does the Crowe map show?

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