UK surname
A locative surname denoting someone who lived near crab apple trees.
In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Crable surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2013, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,761, down from #33,110 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to North Weald Bassett, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crable is 101 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.0%.
1881 census count
5
Ranked #33,110
Modern count
2
2013, ranked #38,761
Peak year
1861
101 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Crable surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Crable surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 5 | #33,110 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 20 | #31,803 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 2 | #38,761 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around North Weald Bassett, Halifax, London parishes, Dwygfylchi and Stifford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Weald Bassett | Essex |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Dwygfylchi | Carnarvonshire |
| 5 | Stifford | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Crable surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crable, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Crable surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Crable household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Crable is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crable is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Crable, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Crable has its origins in England, with records dating back to the early 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "crabba," meaning "crab," which may have been used as a nickname or descriptor for someone with a crab-like appearance or mannerisms.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a William Crabba residing in Oxfordshire. The name was also present in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk from 1275, where it was spelled "Crabbe."
By the 14th century, the name had evolved to its more modern spelling of "Crable." In 1327, a Robert Crable was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire. The Crable family was prominent in the village of Westerdale, North Yorkshire, where they held land and property.
In the late 15th century, the name appeared in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the influential Paston family of Norfolk. One letter, dated 1472, mentions a "John Crable" who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.
Notable individuals with the surname Crable throughout history include:
1. Thomas Crable (c. 1550 - 1618), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. Margaret Crable (c. 1620 - 1692), one of the accused during the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts. She was found not guilty and released.
3. William Crable (1682 - 1756), a merchant and land speculator who played a significant role in the early settlement of Pennsylvania.
4. John Crable (1745 - 1825), a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner in Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario).
5. Elizabeth Crable (1812 - 1890), an American educator and pioneer in the field of deaf education, who helped establish several schools for the deaf in New York and Pennsylvania.
The name Crable has also been connected to various place names in England, such as Crable Farm in Oxfordshire and Crable Manor in Somerset, suggesting that the surname may have originated from or been influenced by these locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crable surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Angus leads with 1 Crables recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Angus | 1 | 22.27x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 23.92x |
| Kent | 1 | 6.04x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 2.06x |
| Surrey | 1 | 4.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abroath St Vigeans in Angus leads with 1 Crables recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Abroath St Vigeans | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Greenwich | 1 | 129.87x |
| Low Holme | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Southwark St Olave | 1 | 2500.00x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Crable surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Crable surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Crable households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Chemical Manufactor Employer 15 Men 4 Boys | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Wharf Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Crable surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2013. That gives Crable a modern rank of #38,761.
A locative surname denoting someone who lived near crab apple trees.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Crable bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.