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Crofton Family History

Crofton Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from any of various places called Crofton for example in Cumbria, Greater London (formerly in Kent), Hampshire, Lincolnshire, Wiltshire, and Yorkshire. Most of these are named from Old English croft ‘paddock, vegetable garden’ + tūn ‘enclosure, settlement’.

However, the one in Greater London probably has as its first element Old English cropp ‘swelling, mound’ (compare Cropper).

In Lincolnshire, the origin is from Old English croh ‘saffron’ (from Latin crocus).

The etymology of these place names reflects the geographical and historical significance of the areas they represent.

Understanding the roots of such names provides insight into the cultural and agricultural practices of the past.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Crofton family from?

You can see how Crofton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Crofton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Crofton families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 87 Crofton families living in Durham. This was about 28% of all the recorded Crofton's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Crofton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Crofton surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Crofton ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Postman and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Crofton. 34% of Crofton men worked as a Postman and 60% of Crofton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Crofton were Film Technician and None.

View Census Data for Crofton | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Postman
    34%
  • Clerk Air Ministry
    23%
  • Retired
    23%
  • Film Technician
    23%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    60%
  • Private Means
    15%
  • Paid Domestic Duties
    4%
  • None
    4%

What Crofton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 13,000 census records available for the last name Crofton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Crofton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Crofton

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Crofton. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Crofton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 16,000 military records available for the last name Crofton. For the veterans among your Crofton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Crofton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Crofton family history

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What is the average Crofton lifespan?

Between 1961 and 2004, in the United States, Crofton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Crofton in 1961 was 69, and 56 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Crofton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Crofton ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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