NameCensus.

UK surname

Kroll

A surname of German origin, derived from a word meaning "curly" or "curled," likely referring to curly hair.

In the 1881 census there were 11 people recorded with the Kroll surname, ranking it #32,081 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, up from #32,081 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Vale of White Horse, Skye North West and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kroll is 145 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1190.9%.

1881 census count

11

Ranked #32,081

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

2014

145 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kroll had 11 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,081 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 33 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kroll surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kroll surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kroll 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 11 #32,081
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 33 #29,703
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 90 #28,920
1999 modern 95 #28,465
2000 modern 104 #27,150
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 99 #28,082
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 128 #25,852
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Krolls 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 Vale of White Horse, Skye North West, Ealing, Basingstoke and Deane and Stafford. 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 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
2 Skye North West Highland
3 Ealing 025 Ealing
4 Basingstoke and Deane 014 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Stafford 010 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kroll

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kroll

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kroll surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kroll 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kroll 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

Kroll is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kroll 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 Kroll is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Kroll

The surname Kroll is of German origin, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Kroll," which means "curl" or "curly-haired." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with curly hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the Kroll surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, including Bavaria and Saxony. In the 14th century, the name appeared in manuscripts and records from various towns and villages across the German states.

One of the earliest known references to the Kroll name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dated around 1350. This document mentions a certain "Johannes Kroll" as a landowner in the region.

In the 15th century, the Kroll surname gained prominence in the city of Nuremberg, where several individuals bearing the name were recorded as merchants and tradesmen. One notable example is Hans Kroll, a successful merchant and member of the city council in Nuremberg, who lived from 1432 to 1498.

As the name spread across different regions of Germany, it also took on various spellings and variations, such as Krol, Kröll, and Kröhl. These variations were influenced by local dialects and regional variations in the pronunciation of the name.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Kroll surname continued to appear in various German states, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg. One notable figure from this period is Johann Georg Kroll, a Protestant theologian and author born in Nuremberg in 1582, who wrote several influential works on religious topics.

In the 18th century, the Kroll surname gained prominence in the field of education, with Johann David Kroll (1682-1758), a German educator and author, who published several books on pedagogy and teaching methods.

As the name spread beyond Germany, it also found its way into other European countries, such as the Netherlands and Poland. One example is the Polish-German composer and pianist, Franz Kroll (1820-1877), who was born in Warsaw and achieved significant recognition for his compositions and performances.

Throughout history, the Kroll surname has been associated with various professions, including merchants, tradesmen, theologians, educators, and artists. While the name may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has since become a well-established surname with a rich heritage and a strong presence across different regions and cultures.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kroll families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kroll 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 7 Krolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.53x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 6.53x
Essex 3 14.18x
Yorkshire 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 6 Krolls recorded in 1881 and an index of 263.16x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 6 263.16x
West Ham 3 64.24x
Manningham 1 76.34x
St George Bloomsbury 1 161.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Bloomer 1
Margaretha 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 1
Hyman 1
Isaac 1
Johann 1
Nathan 1
Zaleg 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 Kroll households.

FAQ

Kroll surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kroll surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11 people were recorded with the Kroll surname. That placed it at #32,081 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kroll surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Kroll a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Kroll surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from a word meaning "curly" or "curled," likely referring to curly hair.

What does the Kroll map show?

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