NameCensus.

UK surname

Shawcroft

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "a small wood or shaw".

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Shawcroft surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brampton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Chesterfield and Bolsover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shawcroft is 263 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

1911

263 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shawcroft had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Shawcroft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shawcroft surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Shawcroft 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 125 #14,700
1861 historical 189 #12,570
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 200 #15,120
1911 historical 263 #12,473
1997 modern 231 #16,049
1998 modern 230 #16,607
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 237 #16,048
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 226 #16,891
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 218 #17,638
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 200 #19,567
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

Back to top

Where Shawcrofts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brampton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary, Alfreton and Chesterfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Chesterfield, Bolsover and Amber Valley. 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 Brampton Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Alfreton Derbyshire
5 Chesterfield Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 009 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 005 Doncaster
3 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
4 Bolsover 010 Bolsover
5 Amber Valley 001 Amber Valley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Shawcroft

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Shawcroft

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Shawcroft 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

Shawcroft 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

Shawcroft falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shawcroft

The surname Shawcroft has its origins in England, with records dating back to the early 13th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "sceaga" meaning a small wood or copse, and "croft" meaning a small enclosed field or pasture. This suggests that the name originated from a place where someone lived near a small wooded area or copse.

The earliest known record of the name Shawcroft dates back to 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it was spelled as "Shaghecroft". This indicates that the name was likely derived from a specific place name, possibly a hamlet or village that no longer exists or has been absorbed into a larger town or city.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Shawcrofte" in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, and "Schaghecroft" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1332. These variations in spelling were common during this period, as standardized spelling had not yet been established.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Shawcroft was John Shawcroft, who was born in Cheshire around 1450. He was a merchant and landowner, and his name is recorded in several land deeds and legal documents from that time.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the parish records of Prestbury, Cheshire, where a family of Shawcrofts was prominent. One member, Thomas Shawcroft (1520-1587), was a successful farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to be influential in the local community for several generations.

Another notable figure was Sir John Shawcroft (1662-1726), a wealthy merchant and politician from Liverpool. He served as the Mayor of Liverpool in 1707 and was a Member of Parliament for the city from 1715 to 1722.

In the 19th century, the Shawcroft family produced several prominent members, including William Shawcroft (1802-1878), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester, and Reverend John Shawcroft (1823-1901), a respected clergyman and author who wrote several books on theology and church history.

Another individual of note was Emily Shawcroft (1856-1932), an artist and suffragette who campaigned for women's rights and was involved in the women's suffrage movement in the early 20th century.

While the surname Shawcroft is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has produced notable individuals in various fields, from business and politics to religion and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Shawcroft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shawcroft 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. Derbyshire leads with 67 Shawcrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.92x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 67 26.92x
Nottinghamshire 33 15.40x
Lancashire 20 1.06x
Yorkshire 17 1.08x
Staffordshire 7 1.30x
Devon 6 1.81x
Shropshire 5 3.64x
Cheshire 4 1.14x
Middlesex 2 0.13x
Anglesey 1 3.55x
Monmouthshire 1 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alfreton in Derbyshire leads with 29 Shawcrofts recorded in 1881 and an index of 383.60x.

Place Total Index
Alfreton 29 383.60x
Ripley 11 357.14x
Greasley 9 186.34x
Nottingham St Mary 9 16.24x
Brampton 8 229.89x
Hucknall Torkard 8 147.33x
Cannock 7 74.79x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 42.25x
St Budeaux 5 485.44x
Wales 5 403.23x
Wrockwardine 5 165.56x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 9.70x
Codnor Loscoe 4 203.05x
Basford 3 30.36x
Brimington 3 158.73x
Hyde 3 28.96x
Kirkdale 3 9.45x
Pentrich 3 214.29x
Skegby 3 229.01x
Claylane 2 57.80x
Mexborough 2 63.90x
North Frodingham 2 540.54x
Oldham 2 3.28x
Pendleton In Salford 2 8.90x
Poplar London 2 6.66x
Rawmarsh 2 35.91x
South Normanton 2 114.29x
Swinton In Rotherham 2 47.96x
Wombwell 2 43.57x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.80x
Denby 1 131.58x
Dixton Hadnock 1 344.83x
Duffield 1 51.02x
Eckington 1 16.53x
Guisbrough 1 29.07x
Habergham Eaves 1 5.80x
Hasland 1 39.53x
Hattersley 1 714.29x
Llandysilio 1 113.64x
Lytham 1 34.72x
Manningham 1 5.15x
Newbold Dunston 1 42.19x
Pinxton 1 78.74x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.32x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 13
George 9
Joseph 8
James 7
Thomas 5
Arthur 3
Herbert 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
German 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Francis 1
Griffin 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jack 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Jas.W. 1
Jno. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
W.H. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Shawcroft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shawcroft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Shawcroft surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shawcroft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Shawcroft a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Shawcroft surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "a small wood or shaw".

What does the Shawcroft map show?

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