NameCensus.

UK surname

Croxford

A habitational surname meaning "dweller by the crooked ford".

In the 1881 census there were 662 people recorded with the Croxford surname, ranking it #5,431 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,020, ranked #5,714, down from #5,431 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Chinnor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Daventry and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Croxford is 1,068 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.1%.

1881 census count

662

Ranked #5,431

Modern count

1,020

2016, ranked #5,714

Peak year

1999

1,068 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Croxford had 662 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,431 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016, ranked #5,714.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,025 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Croxford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Croxford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Croxford 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 411 #5,901
1861 historical 355 #7,198
1881 historical 662 #5,431
1891 historical 801 #5,022
1901 historical 941 #4,969
1911 historical 1,025 #4,459
1997 modern 974 #5,617
1998 modern 1,053 #5,430
1999 modern 1,068 #5,404
2000 modern 1,045 #5,492
2001 modern 1,021 #5,494
2002 modern 1,057 #5,443
2003 modern 1,038 #5,434
2004 modern 1,032 #5,472
2005 modern 1,023 #5,447
2006 modern 999 #5,571
2007 modern 1,011 #5,554
2008 modern 1,007 #5,621
2009 modern 1,034 #5,621
2010 modern 1,060 #5,600
2011 modern 1,047 #5,599
2012 modern 1,002 #5,725
2013 modern 1,036 #5,677
2014 modern 1,049 #5,634
2015 modern 1,022 #5,709
2016 modern 1,020 #5,714

Geography

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Where Croxfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Chinnor and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe, Daventry, South Oxfordshire, Gateshead and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Chinnor Buckinghamshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 004 Wycombe
2 Daventry 004 Daventry
3 South Oxfordshire 005 South Oxfordshire
4 Gateshead 002 Gateshead
5 Aylesbury Vale 010 Aylesbury Vale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Croxford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Croxford

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

Croxford is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Croxford falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Croxford 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 Croxford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Croxford

The surname Croxford originates from England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "crocc," meaning "crook" or "bend," and "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing. This suggests that the name may have been a locational surname, initially referring to someone who lived near a crooked or winding ford.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Croxford can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Crokesford." This document lists landowners and their holdings, indicating that individuals with this surname were likely landowners or resided in the vicinity of a place with a similar name during that era.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various historical records, such as parish registers and tax rolls. For instance, John Croxford was born in Nottinghamshire in 1548, and his descendants can be traced through subsequent generations in the region.

During the 17th century, the Croxford family seems to have spread across different parts of England. Notable individuals from this period include William Croxford, a merchant from London who was involved in the East India trade in the 1660s, and Thomas Croxford, a landowner in Oxfordshire, whose estate is mentioned in the county records from 1678.

In the 18th century, the Croxford name gained prominence in the field of academia. Robert Croxford (1701-1782) was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of York and authored several influential works on religious studies.

Moving into the 19th century, the Croxford family continued to make their mark in various professions. James Croxford (1812-1887) was a successful businessman and philanthropist in Birmingham, known for his contributions to the city's industrial development and his support for local charities.

Another noteworthy figure was Elizabeth Croxford (1841-1918), a pioneering female physician who established a medical practice in London and advocated for women's rights and education in the medical field.

Throughout its history, the surname Croxford has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Croxford Farm in Staffordshire, Croxford Bridge in Oxfordshire, and the village of Croxford in Wiltshire, all of which may have influenced the surname's origins or provided a connection to specific families or individuals bearing the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Croxford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Croxford 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. Middlesex leads with 199 Croxfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 199 3.09x
Oxfordshire 81 20.37x
Buckinghamshire 61 15.67x
Surrey 55 1.75x
Bedfordshire 54 16.20x
Yorkshire 36 0.56x
Lincolnshire 31 3.01x
Kent 24 1.09x
Gloucestershire 18 1.43x
Lancashire 18 0.24x
Essex 13 1.02x
Berkshire 11 2.28x
Cambridgeshire 11 2.70x
Norfolk 9 0.91x
Hampshire 6 0.45x
Warwickshire 6 0.37x
Northamptonshire 5 0.83x
Sussex 5 0.46x
Hertfordshire 4 0.90x
Worcestershire 3 0.36x
Devon 2 0.15x
Durham 2 0.10x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.30x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heath Reach in Bedfordshire leads with 35 Croxfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1476.79x.

Place Total Index
Heath Reach 35 1476.79x
Kensington London 27 7.54x
Ealing 22 38.23x
Chinnor 20 727.27x
Islington London 20 3.21x
Crowland 16 247.68x
Eton 16 181.41x
Wycombe 15 51.69x
Paddington London 14 5.91x
West Ham 13 4.63x
Lewknor 12 1025.64x
Linslade 12 314.96x
Aston Rowant 11 769.23x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.93x
St Pancras London 11 2.12x
Westminster St John 11 14.03x
Lambeth 10 1.78x
Leeds 10 2.78x
Mepal 10 1204.82x
Sydenham 10 1282.05x
Chelsea London 9 4.64x
Nether Hallam 8 9.27x
Spalding 8 39.16x
Bow London 7 8.54x
Bromley 7 20.91x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.61x
Gloucester Barton St 7 94.59x
Liverpool 7 1.51x
Mitcham 7 35.30x
Pyrton 7 560.00x
S Weston 7 3333.33x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.17x
Stoke Newington London 7 13.96x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 3.59x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 10.10x
Barton In Clay 6 256.41x
Downham Market 6 88.24x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 25.97x
Hadlow 6 110.09x
Newington 6 2.52x
Silsoe 6 400.00x
St George In East London 6 9.91x
Aldershot 5 11.31x
Bix 5 526.32x
Feltham 5 77.76x
Great Brickhill 5 406.50x
Hackney London 5 1.39x
Putney 5 17.04x
Sutton 5 22.03x
Wortley In Bramley 5 9.90x
Battersea 4 1.69x
Burgh In Marsh 4 159.36x
Filey 4 77.67x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 4 135.14x
Hornsey 4 4.91x
Hurley 4 159.36x
Mile End Old Town London 4 2.92x
Olney 4 74.35x
Preston Next Faversham 4 77.52x
Shoreditch London 4 1.43x
St Marylebone London 4 1.16x
Stonesfield 4 310.08x
Sunninghill 4 59.70x
Tonbridge 4 5.05x
Tooting Graveney 4 45.82x
Wendover 4 95.24x
Brighton 3 1.37x
Coventry St Michael 3 5.75x
Heigham 3 5.65x
Hillingdon 3 14.61x
Kingston On Thames 3 3.98x
Leamington Priors 3 7.51x
Luton 3 5.20x
South Mimms 3 33.98x
Tiffield 3 555.56x
Toxteth Park 3 1.16x
Gateshead 2 1.39x
Gedney Hill 2 277.78x
Hampstead London 2 1.99x
Pirton 2 80.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 47
John 35
George 30
Thomas 20
Henry 16
Alfred 14
Arthur 13
Charles 11
James 11
Albert 9
Frederick 9
Walter 9
Joseph 8
Frank 7
Edward 6
Robert 5
Christopher 3
David 3
Jabez 3
Richard 3
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
J.C. 2
Leonard 2
Maxey 2
Sidney 2
Stanley 2
Wm. 2
Able 1
Caleb 1
Chas. 1
Chas.S. 1
Clement 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.S. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jessie 1
Jim 1
Joel 1
Jonathon 1
Louis 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Croxford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Croxford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 662 people were recorded with the Croxford surname. That placed it at #5,431 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Croxford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,020 in 2016. That gives Croxford a modern rank of #5,714.

What does the Croxford surname mean?

A habitational surname meaning "dweller by the crooked ford".

What does the Croxford map show?

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