NameCensus.

UK surname

Halcrow

A surname derived from a Scottish place name, likely meaning "haugh" (meadow) and "cru" (bend).

In the 1881 census there were 496 people recorded with the Halcrow surname, ranking it #6,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 531, ranked #9,559, down from #6,816 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lerwick, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shetland South, Central Shetland and Lerwick North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Halcrow is 605 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.1%.

1881 census count

496

Ranked #6,816

Modern count

531

2016, ranked #9,559

Peak year

1901

605 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Halcrow had 496 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,816 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016, ranked #9,559.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 605 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Halcrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Halcrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Halcrow 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 346 #6,798
1861 historical 477 #5,465
1881 historical 496 #6,816
1891 historical 524 #7,145
1901 historical 605 #7,027
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 512 #9,153
1998 modern 525 #9,254
1999 modern 527 #9,277
2000 modern 538 #9,103
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 535 #9,178
2003 modern 526 #9,151
2004 modern 520 #9,244
2005 modern 522 #9,159
2006 modern 527 #9,106
2007 modern 538 #9,044
2008 modern 524 #9,299
2009 modern 541 #9,279
2010 modern 543 #9,443
2011 modern 545 #9,345
2012 modern 508 #9,748
2013 modern 525 #9,675
2014 modern 536 #9,579
2015 modern 546 #9,370
2016 modern 531 #9,559

Geography

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Where Halcrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lerwick, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Tingwall and Dunrossness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shetland South, Central Shetland, Lerwick North, Daventry and Copeland. 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 Lerwick Shetland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Tingwall Shetland
5 Dunrossness Shetland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shetland South Shetland Islands
2 Central Shetland Shetland Islands
3 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
4 Daventry 010 Daventry
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Halcrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Halcrow

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Halcrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Halcrow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Halcrow is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Halcrow 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

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

Meaning and origin of Halcrow

The surname Halcrow is of Scottish origin, emerging in the Lowland region of Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "halu" meaning "hollow" and "crou" meaning "nook" or "corner." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a remote or secluded area, perhaps a small valley or sheltered corner of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1456, where a John Halcro is mentioned as a tenant in the county of Fife. Another early reference is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists a William de Halcrowe from Berwickshire among those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 16th century, the Halcrow surname appeared in the historic parish records of Fife, particularly in the villages of Kilrenny and Anstruther. A notable figure from this time was Robert Halcrow, born in Fife around 1530, who served as a church elder and is recorded in the Kirk Session Records of Anstruther.

By the 17th century, the name had spread to other parts of Scotland, including Aberdeenshire and Angus. One prominent individual was David Halcrow, born in Montrose in 1620, who was a respected scholar and author of several theological works.

In the 18th century, the Halcrows were well-established in the county of Fife, with many families working as farmers, tradesmen, and fishermen. A notable figure from this period was James Halcrow, born in St. Andrews in 1742, who served as a captain in the British Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

As the centuries progressed, the Halcrow surname continued to spread throughout Scotland and beyond, with some families emigrating to other parts of the British Isles and even to the Americas. One example is John Halcrow, born in Edinburgh in 1810, who became a successful merchant and politician in Ontario, Canada, serving as a member of the provincial parliament.

While not an exhaustive list, these examples illustrate the rich history and geographical spread of the Halcrow surname, which has its roots firmly planted in the Scottish Lowlands and has since flourished in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Halcrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Halcrow 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. Shetland leads with 313 Halcrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 641.26x.

County Total Index
Shetland 313 641.26x
Durham 43 3.02x
Midlothian 24 3.75x
Middlesex 20 0.42x
Aberdeenshire 16 3.61x
Northumberland 14 1.97x
Lancashire 13 0.23x
Surrey 9 0.39x
Yorkshire 9 0.19x
Orkney 8 15.21x
Cumberland 5 1.22x
Warwickshire 4 0.33x
Hampshire 3 0.31x
Renfrewshire 3 0.81x
Angus 2 0.45x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.53x
Devon 1 0.10x
Essex 1 0.11x
Perthshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunrossness in Shetland leads with 211 Halcrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3281.49x.

Place Total Index
Dunrossness 211 3281.49x
Lerwick Gulberwick 51 674.60x
Northmavine 27 725.81x
Westoe 27 33.49x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 18.11x
South Shields 13 102.60x
North Leith 11 37.12x
Tingwall 11 450.82x
Islington London 8 1.73x
Battersea 7 3.98x
South Leith 7 9.72x
Hackney London 6 2.24x
Toxteth Park 6 3.12x
Cleator 5 29.19x
Delting 5 181.82x
Mile End Old Town London 5 4.92x
North Meols 5 9.01x
North Shields 5 35.24x
Birmingham 4 1.00x
Preston In Tynemouth 4 142.86x
Southcoates 4 15.21x
Walls 4 168.78x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.46x
Eastwood 3 13.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.16x
Kirkwall St Ola 3 38.07x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 3 69.77x
South Ronaldshay 3 55.15x
Tynemouth 3 7.88x
Broughton In Salford 2 3.86x
Chirton 2 12.43x
Drypool 2 27.59x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 16.06x
Evie Rendall 2 90.09x
Holdenhurst 2 7.78x
Sculcoates 2 2.66x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.08x
Bressay 1 129.87x
Cramond 1 20.62x
Headley 1 37.59x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.79x
Liff Benvie 1 1.49x
Moneydie 1 256.41x
Montrose 1 3.73x
Newington 1 0.57x
Salcombe Regis 1 107.53x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.19x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 7.38x
Tillicoultry 1 11.39x
Upminster 1 51.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Jane 6
Sarah 5
Ada 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Barbara 2
Caroline 2
Emma 2
Margaret 2
Amelia 1
Angus 1
Cath.J. 1
Elizabeth 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Jessy 1
John 1
Kate 1
Lionel 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Meggie 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1
S.B. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
James 6
John 6
Adam 4
Lawrence 4
Arthur 3
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Balfour 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Gedion 1
Geo.Jas. 1
George 1
Gilbert 1
Isaac 1
L. 1
Laurence 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Nicola 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Tom 1
W.H. 1

FAQ

Halcrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Halcrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 496 people were recorded with the Halcrow surname. That placed it at #6,816 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Halcrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 531 in 2016. That gives Halcrow a modern rank of #9,559.

What does the Halcrow surname mean?

A surname derived from a Scottish place name, likely meaning "haugh" (meadow) and "cru" (bend).

What does the Halcrow map show?

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