NameCensus.

UK surname

Norcross

Topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a northern cross or crossroads.

In the 1881 census there were 326 people recorded with the Norcross surname, ranking it #9,167 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 498, ranked #10,010, down from #9,167 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Ribchester and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fylde, Pendle and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norcross is 543 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.8%.

1881 census count

326

Ranked #9,167

Modern count

498

2016, ranked #10,010

Peak year

1999

543 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norcross had 326 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,167 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016, ranked #10,010.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 500 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Norcross surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norcross surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norcross 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 206 #10,183
1861 historical 190 #12,520
1881 historical 326 #9,167
1891 historical 327 #10,379
1901 historical 473 #8,395
1911 historical 500 #7,831
1997 modern 539 #8,796
1998 modern 539 #9,065
1999 modern 543 #9,068
2000 modern 537 #9,118
2001 modern 523 #9,146
2002 modern 528 #9,266
2003 modern 529 #9,109
2004 modern 536 #9,032
2005 modern 507 #9,351
2006 modern 503 #9,451
2007 modern 524 #9,230
2008 modern 509 #9,513
2009 modern 528 #9,453
2010 modern 532 #9,604
2011 modern 510 #9,805
2012 modern 494 #9,959
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 505 #10,012
2015 modern 507 #9,906
2016 modern 498 #10,010

Geography

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Where Norcross' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Ribchester, Preston, Barnoldswick and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fylde, Pendle, Shropshire, North Kesteven and South Ribble. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Ribchester Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Barnoldswick Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fylde 007 Fylde
2 Pendle 001 Pendle
3 Shropshire 003 Shropshire
4 North Kesteven 005 North Kesteven
5 South Ribble 001 South Ribble

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norcross

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norcross

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Norcross is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Norcross is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Norcross falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Norcross

The surname Norcross has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is a locational name, derived from the Old English words "nor" meaning north and "cros" meaning cross, referring to a place where a northern cross or crucifix stood.

The earliest known record of the name Norcross appears in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1195, where it is spelled "Northcross." This suggests that the name was initially associated with Oxfordshire, potentially referring to a specific location within the county.

By the 13th century, variations of the name, such as "Norcrosse" and "Norcroys," began appearing in historical records across various regions of England, indicating the dispersal of families bearing this surname.

One notable individual with the surname Norcross was Sir John Norcross, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for Canterbury in the late 15th century. Records show that he was born around 1440 and played a significant role in the wool trade during his lifetime.

Another prominent figure was William Norcross, born in 1563 in Middlesex, England. He was a renowned clockmaker and is credited with inventing the pendulum clock, a significant advancement in timekeeping technology during the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the Norcross family gained prominence in the county of Lancashire. Thomas Norcross, born in 1715, was a successful industrialist and landowner, owning several cotton mills and estates in the region.

The name Norcross has also been associated with various place names throughout England. For instance, Norcross Hill in Lancashire and Norcross Farm in Gloucestershire likely derived their names from families bearing this surname who once resided or held lands in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Norcross include Mary Norcross (1805-1888), an influential English educator and advocate for women's rights, and James Norcross (1848-1923), a renowned English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and other parts of the country.

While the name Norcross has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through the migration of English settlers to various colonies and territories over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norcross families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norcross 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 215 Norcross' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 215 5.77x
Cheshire 50 7.21x
Yorkshire 21 0.67x
Fife 9 4.84x
Staffordshire 8 0.75x
Derbyshire 7 1.42x
Midlothian 5 1.19x
Middlesex 2 0.06x
Renfrewshire 2 0.82x
Lincolnshire 1 0.20x
Surrey 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 40 Norcross' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.11x.

Place Total Index
Preston 40 40.11x
Haydock 28 436.14x
Dilworth 16 701.75x
Barnoldswick 15 345.62x
Alston 12 689.66x
Heap 12 60.70x
Eccleston In Prescot 11 58.79x
Ashton 9 2142.86x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 11.05x
Clitheroe 9 82.04x
Frodsham 9 334.57x
Oldham 9 7.48x
Ribchester 9 638.30x
Walton Le Dale 9 89.82x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 13.51x
Stone 8 59.00x
Chadderton 6 32.93x
Droylsden 6 49.34x
Leftwich 6 194.81x
Moston 6 160.43x
Winnington 6 779.22x
Abbotshall 5 71.94x
Chapel En Le Frith 5 111.36x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.95x
Gisburn 5 877.19x
Tranmere 5 19.62x
Dysart 4 31.95x
Eddisbury 4 1481.48x
Parr 4 30.01x
Sutton 4 32.00x
Alvanley 3 857.14x
Liverpool 3 1.33x
Stretford 3 14.63x
Abbey 2 5.39x
Buxton 2 48.08x
Kingsley 2 155.04x
North Meols 2 5.48x
Salford 2 1.82x
Weston In Runcorn 2 111.11x
Barnton 1 60.61x
Blackburn 1 1.01x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 11.31x
Cheetham 1 3.60x
Chichester St Pancras 1 63.29x
Chiswick 1 5.83x
Everton 1 0.84x
Ince In Makerfield 1 5.77x
Knutsford Nether 1 23.87x
Lambeth 1 0.37x
Rainford 1 24.81x
Ratcliffe London 1 5.76x
Southworth With Croft 1 90.09x
Spittlegate 1 14.39x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 1 108.70x
Timperley 1 41.49x
Toxteth Park 1 0.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 21
Mary 15
Alice 11
Ann 10
Jane 10
Margaret 9
Sarah 8
Ellen 7
Edith 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Emma 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Barbra 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Lydia 2
Margerit 2
Margt. 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Dinah 1
Elis 1
Eliza 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Jemima 1
Lilly 1
Pricilla 1
Prissilla 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 21
James 16
Thomas 11
Henry 10
George 9
Joseph 9
Edward 7
Richard 6
Francis 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Peter 3
Fredrick 2
Smith 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Dawson 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frredrick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Holgate 1
Isaac 1
Oswald 1
Robinson 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Norcross surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norcross surname in 1881?

In 1881, 326 people were recorded with the Norcross surname. That placed it at #9,167 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norcross surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 498 in 2016. That gives Norcross a modern rank of #10,010.

What does the Norcross surname mean?

Topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a northern cross or crossroads.

What does the Norcross map show?

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