The Crosby surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 40,563 people carried this name — #851 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 7,270 people counted. That is up 4% from 38,844 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Crosby surname

A northern English and Scottish habitational surname from Old Norse.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Crosby» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Crosby’.

An early record he cites: Geoffrey de Crosseby, Lincolnshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Crosbie and Crosby.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 219 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

23 people named Crosby live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Aargau.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Aargau 8
Zurich 8
Basel-Stadt 4
Solothurn 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 22 people named Crosby live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in City of Buenos Aires.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

City of Buenos Aires 11
Buenos Aires Province 11

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

208 families named Crosby, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,198 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 8 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 72
New York 37
New Hampshire 22
Connecticut 20
South Carolina 18
Maine 13
Pennsylvania 11
Vermont 6
Maryland 4
Rhode Island 2
Virginia 2
North Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 235 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Crosby in American newspapers,
1911–1921.

Newspaper page from Evening Journal carrying the name Crosby
Evening Journal 1911-01-14
Newspaper page from Evening Journal carrying the name Crosby
Evening Journal 1911-03-03
Newspaper page from The Brattleboro Daily Reformer carrying the name Crosby
The Brattleboro Daily Reformer 1921-05-09

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 11,939 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Crosby in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

54,932 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Crosby. The most, 11,943, date from the 1920s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Tasmania, at 5.0 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Tasmania 17,016
South Australia 12,437
Victoria 10,261
New South Wales 7,318
Queensland 4,866
Western Australia 2,762
ACT (Canberra) 124
Northern Territory 34

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Crosby.

Who carried it

People named Crosby,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Crosby d. 1476 · politician
  • Adam Crosby d. 1399 · politician
  • John W. Crosby d. 1865 · politician
  • Denise Crosby d. 1984
  • Piers Crosby 1590–1646 · politician
  • Thomas Crosby 1629–

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Crosby,
in the records of 10 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States3,665 records

3,665 records of the Crosby name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,276
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 960
  • Other U.S. records 1,429
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Louis Nelson Crosby

    Born 1932; from Orangeburg County, South Carolina. U.S. Army, light weapons infantryman; killed in action 1950 in North Korea. Buried at Crestlawn / Belleville Memorial Gardens, Orangeburg, South Carolina.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Quinton T. Crosby

    Born 1919 in Texas. Enlisted 1943 at Houston; farm hand from Tyler County. U.S. Army veteran; died 1996, buried at Fairview Cemetery, Woodville, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Henrietta Crosby

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Teutonic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 18; servant. From Dalbrrattee, Scotland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,665 records for Crosby in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada1,450 records

1,450 records of the Crosby name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 1,385
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 32
  • Other Canadian records 33
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Prince Crosby

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Nesbitt, bound for Port Matton, aged 22.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Robt Crosby

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Sardinian, landing at Quebec, bound for Chatham, Ontario; Irish.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Reginald Crosby

    Died 1997, aged 85; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 1,450 records for Crosby in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

Australia1,017 records

1,017 records of the Crosby name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 511
  • Tasmanian Names Index 266
  • Other Australian records 240
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Frederick Crosby

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Moffatt, sailing from Woolwich in 1837. Native of Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1852.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Ann Crosby

    Died 1916 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1916.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Charles Crosby

    Died 1921 in Launceston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1921.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,017 records for Crosby in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

United Kingdom28 records

28 records of the Crosby name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 22
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • Other British records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Crosby

    Buried in 1937 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 80.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Ellen May Gertrude Crosby

    Will proved in 1940; of Rhyl, Flint.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. L. Crosby

    Durham Light Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1919.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 28 records for Crosby in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Norway9 records

9 records of the Crosby name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Sverre Crosby

    Census of 1910: Huitfeldtsgate, Kristiania; ship's mate, born 1887 in Kristiania.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Fanny Crosby

    Census of 1910: Huitfeldtsgate, Kristiania; born 1855 in Kristiania.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 2 of 9 records for Crosby in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

New Zealand7 records

7 records of the Crosby name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 6
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Eleanor Elise T. Crosby

    Died 1941, aged 73; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record M. Crosby

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 2 of 7 records for Crosby in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Ireland5 records

5 records of the Crosby name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Timothy Crosby

    Died 1885, aged 55; buried at Lackagh (Old), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patrick Crosby

    Died 1979; buried at Glenamaddy (New), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Crosby in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Belgium4 records

4 records of the Crosby name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Ronald Henri Irena Crosby

    Born 1922 in Aalst.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Dora Maria Gustaaf Crosby

    Born 1920 in Aalst.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Crosby in Belgium.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Netherlands3 records

3 records of the Crosby name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 2
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Joseph Crosby

    Married in 1700 in Rotterdam; born in St. Catharins London.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Hannah Crosby

    Married in 1721 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 3 records for Crosby in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France2 records

2 records of the Crosby name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Claudine Marie Denise Crosby

    Born 1946 in the United States; died 1982 in the United States.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Crosby in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Crosby.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Crosby is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Crosby volume
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