NameCensus.

UK surname

Crumley

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "crooked pasture" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Crumley surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 140, ranked #24,865, up from #28,715 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wishaw North, Head of Muir and Dennyloanhead and Tonbridge and Malling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crumley is 158 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 300.0%.

1881 census count

35

Ranked #28,715

Modern count

140

2016, ranked #24,865

Peak year

2000

158 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crumley had 35 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,715 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016, ranked #24,865.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Crumley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crumley surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crumley 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 35 #28,715
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 46 #29,047
1911 historical 46 #28,224
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 153 #21,197
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 143 #22,473
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 155 #22,438
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 140 #24,865

Geography

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Where Crumleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wishaw North, Head of Muir and Dennyloanhead, Tonbridge and Malling, Coltness and Central Bedfordshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wishaw North North Lanarkshire
2 Head of Muir and Dennyloanhead Falkirk
3 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling
4 Coltness North Lanarkshire
5 Central Bedfordshire 029 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crumley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crumley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crumley, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Crumley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Crumley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Crumley is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crumley 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

Crumley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crumley

The surname Crumley is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "crumb" and "leah," meaning a crooked or winding meadow or woodland clearing. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where many early records of the name can be found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Crumley can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Crumbeleia," referring to a settlement in the county of Yorkshire. This indicates that the name was well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, variations of the name such as "Crumbeley" and "Crumbleigh" appeared in various historical records, including the Feet of Fines and the Hundred Rolls. These early spellings reflect the evolution of the name over time and its adaptation to local dialects.

Notable individuals with the surname Crumley include Sir Thomas Crumley (c. 1450-1525), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another notable figure was John Crumley (1598-1672), a Puritan minister who emigrated to New England and played a significant role in the early religious life of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 17th century, the name Crumley began to appear in various place names throughout England, such as Crumley Farm in Derbyshire and Crumley Hill in Yorkshire. These place names likely originated from the settlements of families bearing the Crumley surname in those areas.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Crumley surname spread across the British Isles and beyond, with many individuals emigrating to North America, Australia, and other parts of the world. Notable figures from this period include Sir Robert Crumley (1720-1801), a prominent British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, and James Crumley (1796-1879), an American pioneer and early settler in the state of Ohio.

Throughout its history, the Crumley surname has maintained a strong presence in England, particularly in the northern counties where it originated. It is a name deeply rooted in the English language and landscape, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crumley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crumley 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. Lancashire leads with 10 Crumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 10 2.47x
Middlesex 8 2.34x
Yorkshire 6 1.77x
Renfrewshire 4 15.13x
Buteshire 2 96.62x
Angus 1 3.16x
Lanarkshire 1 0.91x
Monmouthshire 1 4.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 9.23x
Perthshire 1 6.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 7 Crumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.17x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 7 21.17x
Hulme 6 71.01x
Manchester 4 21.97x
Scarborough 4 130.29x
West Greenock 4 84.21x
Bute North 2 1428.57x
Holy Trinity 2 24.60x
Dalziel 1 84.03x
Dundee 1 8.47x
Kensington London 1 5.27x
Pembroke St Mary 1 71.43x
Perth East Church 1 69.44x
Trevethin 1 42.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Margret 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 6
William 2
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Charles 1
Doris 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
John 1

Top occupations

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 Crumley households.

FAQ

Crumley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crumley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Crumley surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crumley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 140 in 2016. That gives Crumley a modern rank of #24,865.

What does the Crumley surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "crooked pasture" in Old English.

What does the Crumley map show?

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