NameCensus.

UK surname

Culross

A locational surname derived from the town of Culross in Fife, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Culross surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, down from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kettins, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Couper Angus. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Whitfield, Perth Road and Logie and Blackness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Culross is 129 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.6%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

1999

129 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Culross had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 110 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Culross surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Culross surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Culross 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 89 #25,542
1901 historical 110 #21,604
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 99 #27,039
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 118 #26,766
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 120 #26,930
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 117 #28,109
2015 modern 118 #27,833
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Culross' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kettins, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Couper Angus, St. Andrews and St Leonards 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 Whitfield, Perth Road, Logie and Blackness, Douglas West and Hilltown. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kettins Forfar
2 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
3 Couper Angus Perth
4 St. Andrews and St Leonards Fife
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Whitfield Dundee City
2 Perth Road Dundee City
3 Logie and Blackness Dundee City
4 Douglas West Dundee City
5 Hilltown Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Culross

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Culross

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Culross surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Culross household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Culross is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Culross is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Culross falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Culross is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Culross, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Culross

The surname Culross has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish town of Culross, located in Fife on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. The name itself is thought to come from the Gaelic words "cuil" meaning "corner" or "nook" and "ros" meaning "promontory" or "headland," reflecting the town's location on a small peninsula jutting into the firth.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Culross can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where it appears as "Culeros." This early spelling variation likely reflects the evolution of the name from its Gaelic roots. The town of Culross itself was granted burgh status in 1588 by King James VI, further cementing its place in Scottish history and lending credence to the surname's longevity.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the surname Culross is Sir John Culross (c. 1570-1642), a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1625 to 1627. Another prominent individual was Robert Culross (1639-1706), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the realm of literature, the name Culross is associated with the Scottish poet and author Robert Culross (1782-1861). His works, including "The Emigrant's Farewell" and "The Auld Wife's Admonition to her Drunken Husband," offered glimpses into Scottish life and culture during the early 19th century.

Moving into the 20th century, one cannot overlook the accomplishments of Sir Alexander Culross (1901-1987), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as Ambassador to Italy from 1956 to 1961. His diplomatic career spanned several decades and earned him numerous honors, including a knighthood in 1957.

Another notable figure was James Culross (1910-1997), a Scottish architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the post-war reconstruction of Glasgow. His designs for housing estates and public buildings left an indelible mark on the city's landscape during the latter half of the 20th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Culross has maintained a strong connection to its Scottish roots, with many bearers of the name hailing from the regions surrounding the town of Culross itself. While not among the most widespread surnames, it has produced a diverse array of individuals who have contributed to various fields, from literature and religion to diplomacy and urban planning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Culross families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Culross 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. Angus leads with 36 Culross' recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.26x.

County Total Index
Angus 36 44.26x
Perthshire 23 58.38x
Fife 15 28.86x
Argyllshire 4 16.37x
Middlesex 4 0.46x
West Lothian 4 30.26x
Lanarkshire 1 0.35x
Midlothian 1 0.85x
Royal Navy 1 9.56x
Surrey 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 23 Culross' recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.76x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 23 75.76x
Blairgowrie 19 1217.95x
Ferry Port On Craig 14 1647.06x
Coupar Angus 8 1038.96x
Liff Benvie 5 40.49x
Alyth 4 377.36x
Bathgate 4 139.37x
Dunoon Kilmun 4 209.42x
Islington London 4 4.70x
Barony 1 1.39x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 40.98x
Lambeth 1 1.31x
Royal Navy 1 11.19x
St Andrews 1 42.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Arabella 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Allan 2
James 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 Culross households.

FAQ

Culross surname: questions and answers

How common was the Culross surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Culross surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Culross surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Culross a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Culross surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Culross in Fife, Scotland.

What does the Culross map show?

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