NameCensus.

UK surname

Crabb

An English occupational surname referring to a crab fisherman or seller of crabs.

In the 1881 census there were 3,089 people recorded with the Crabb surname, ranking it #1,455 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,772, ranked #2,427, down from #1,455 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crabb is 3,569 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.3%.

1881 census count

3,089

Ranked #1,455

Modern count

2,772

2016, ranked #2,427

Peak year

1901

3,569 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crabb had 3,089 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,455 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,772 in 2016, ranked #2,427.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,569 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crabb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crabb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crabb 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 2,329 #1,272
1861 historical 2,039 #1,421
1881 historical 3,089 #1,455
1891 historical 3,142 #1,505
1901 historical 3,569 #1,565
1911 historical 3,426 #1,531
1997 modern 2,964 #2,184
1998 modern 3,089 #2,173
1999 modern 3,086 #2,195
2000 modern 3,016 #2,235
2001 modern 2,930 #2,247
2002 modern 2,953 #2,280
2003 modern 2,871 #2,291
2004 modern 2,888 #2,280
2005 modern 2,782 #2,339
2006 modern 2,777 #2,338
2007 modern 2,768 #2,371
2008 modern 2,784 #2,370
2009 modern 2,799 #2,411
2010 modern 2,844 #2,420
2011 modern 2,762 #2,448
2012 modern 2,786 #2,395
2013 modern 2,805 #2,423
2014 modern 2,811 #2,433
2015 modern 2,778 #2,432
2016 modern 2,772 #2,427

Geography

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Where Crabbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Lambeth and Loders, Allington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Loders, Allington Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
2 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
3 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
4 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
5 West Dorset 004 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crabb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crabb

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Crabb is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crabb 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

Crabb falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crabb

The surname Crabb has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the late 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "crabba," which referred to a crab or a crab-like creature. It may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a crab-like appearance or mannerisms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, where a person named Roger Crabb is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a John Crabbe is listed.

In the 14th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Wiltshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 record a Richard Crabbe in Essex, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 list a Thomas Crabbe in Suffolk. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Wiltshire in 1349 mention a John Crabbe.

The name Crabb has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest examples is John Crabb (c. 1350 – c. 1410), an English Benedictine monk and scholar who served as the prior of Bury St Edmunds Abbey in Suffolk.

Another prominent figure was Roger Crabb (c. 1455 – 1535), an English lawyer and member of Parliament who served as the Recorder of Boston during the reign of Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, George Crabb (1778 – 1854) was an English philologist and lexicographer who published several works, including "A Universal Technological Dictionary" and "A Dictionary of General Knowledge."

The 19th century saw the rise of Habakkuk Crabb (1781 – 1858), an English clergyman and author who wrote the satirical novel "The English Expositor" and served as the rector of Beyton in Suffolk.

In the field of literature, Alma Crabb (1898 – 1987) was an American author and poet who wrote several books, including "The Wanderer" and "Poems of Love and Life."

While the name Crabb has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, where individuals bearing this surname can be found today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crabb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crabb 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. Middlesex leads with 401 Crabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 401 1.32x
Essex 345 5.77x
Angus 333 11.86x
Dorset 329 16.54x
Devon 260 4.12x
Surrey 207 1.40x
Cambridgeshire 143 7.45x
Cornwall 138 4.02x
Somerset 115 2.36x
Hampshire 91 1.46x
Lancashire 91 0.25x
Yorkshire 75 0.25x
Durham 60 0.67x
Kent 60 0.58x
Hertfordshire 52 2.49x
Kincardineshire 45 12.19x
Cheshire 34 0.51x
Gloucestershire 31 0.52x
Lanarkshire 30 0.31x
Midlothian 29 0.71x
Sussex 28 0.55x
Perthshire 24 1.76x
Channel Islands 20 2.23x
Lincolnshire 13 0.27x
Wiltshire 13 0.49x
Glamorgan 11 0.21x
Norfolk 11 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 11 1.14x
Warwickshire 11 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 10 0.36x
Renfrewshire 9 0.38x
Northumberland 7 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.17x
Suffolk 7 0.19x
Argyllshire 6 0.71x
Northamptonshire 6 0.21x
Royal Navy 6 1.66x
Bedfordshire 5 0.32x
Monmouthshire 4 0.18x
Staffordshire 4 0.04x
Buteshire 3 1.63x
Cumberland 3 0.12x
Fife 3 0.17x
Herefordshire 3 0.24x
Leicestershire 3 0.09x
Berkshire 2 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.11x
Worcestershire 2 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
East Lothian 1 0.25x
Stirlingshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Littleport in Cambridgeshire leads with 123 Crabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 335.42x.

Place Total Index
Littleport 123 335.42x
Dundee 99 9.44x
Lambeth 83 3.14x
Loders 76 768.45x
St Pancras London 48 1.97x
Brechin 43 38.97x
West Ham 40 3.03x
Forfar 39 25.65x
Hackney London 34 2.00x
Netherbury 34 206.81x
Mile End Old Town London 33 5.12x
St Marylebone London 32 1.98x
Melcombe Regis 30 36.39x
St Austell 29 24.73x
Plymouth St Andrew 28 5.76x
Bishop Stortford 24 34.39x
Stoke Damerel 24 5.44x
Liskeard 23 40.06x
North Weald Bassett 23 221.15x
St Vigeans 22 14.52x
Chelmsford 21 20.46x
Bridport 20 48.84x
Shoreditch London 20 1.52x
Islington London 19 0.65x
Ilminster 18 52.82x
Kirriemuir 18 25.98x
Montrose 18 10.58x
Portsea 18 1.48x
Battersea 17 1.52x
Govan 17 0.70x
Kensington London 17 1.01x
Clapham 16 4.22x
Newington 16 1.43x
Ryde 16 11.99x
Southampton St Mary 16 4.10x
Camberwell 15 0.77x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 0.92x
Inverkeillor 15 86.16x
Stifford 15 505.05x
Brightside Bierlow 14 2.38x
Glamis 14 82.64x
Great Baddow 14 65.79x
Monifieth 14 14.12x
Oldham 14 1.21x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 2.30x
St Keyne 14 828.40x
Stoke Newington London 14 5.93x
Toxteth Park 14 1.15x
Waltham Holy Cross 14 25.04x
Esh 13 19.81x
Harlow 13 50.43x
Paddington London 13 1.17x
Skelton In Guisbrough 13 16.00x
St Sampson 13 32.12x
Bodmin 12 21.14x
Colyton 12 49.55x
Holdenhurst 12 7.36x
Poole St James 12 16.06x
Preston 12 1.25x
Tiverton 12 11.04x
Tottenham 12 2.49x
Allington 11 62.01x
Bow London 11 2.85x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 1.97x
Chilton 11 39.08x
Chulmleigh 11 76.55x
Everton 11 0.96x
Hove 11 4.91x
Isle Abbotts 11 304.71x
Moreton Hampstead 11 67.44x
Thorley 11 253.46x
Upottery 11 145.31x
West Derby 11 1.05x
Westminster St James 11 3.53x
Brentwood 10 27.41x
Corscombe 10 147.71x
Craig 10 36.87x
Deptford St Paul 10 1.25x
East Looe 10 71.89x
St George Hanover Square 10 1.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 156
Elizabeth 114
Sarah 76
Eliza 49
Jane 48
Ellen 45
Emma 45
Ann 43
Emily 37
Alice 35
Annie 35
Maria 31
Hannah 24
Susan 24
Charlotte 21
Louisa 17
Caroline 16
Kate 16
Ada 14
Edith 14
Florence 13
Fanny 12
Harriet 12
Harriett 12
Rebecca 12
Anne 11
Frances 11
Jessie 11
Margaret 11
Martha 11
Agnes 9
Catherine 9
Lucy 9
Elizth. 8
Lydia 8
Rachel 8
Bessie 7
Clara 7
Gertrude 7
Julia 7
Esther 6
Laura 6
Beatrice 5
Eleanor 5
Elisabeth 5
Grace 5
Helen 5
Maud 5
Ruth 5
Selina 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 171
John 138
George 94
James 81
Charles 71
Thomas 68
Henry 51
Frederick 43
Alfred 38
Samuel 38
Joseph 30
Edward 28
Richard 27
Albert 26
Arthur 24
Robert 22
Walter 17
Herbert 14
Ernest 13
Francis 13
Harry 10
Isaac 10
David 7
Edmund 7
Fred 7
Simon 7
Benjamin 6
Job 6
Wm. 6
Daniel 5
Edwin 5
Frank 5
Stephen 5
Abraham 4
Fredk. 4
Hugh 4
Jas. 4
Michael 4
Sidney 4
Tom 4
Christopher 3
Fredrick 3
Sydney 3
Willie 3
Augustus 2
Malachi 2
Noah 2
Norman 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2

FAQ

Crabb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crabb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,089 people were recorded with the Crabb surname. That placed it at #1,455 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crabb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,772 in 2016. That gives Crabb a modern rank of #2,427.

What does the Crabb surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a crab fisherman or seller of crabs.

What does the Crabb map show?

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