Ancroft is a village and civil parish in Northumberland, England. Prior to 1844, Ancroft lay within the Islandshire exclave of County Durham. It is south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and has a population of 885, rising slightly to 895 at the 2011 census. There are several suggestions as to how Ancroft got its name. It might be an abridged version of "Aidan's-croft"- the croft of St Aidan who was the first Bishop of Lindisfarne.