NameCensus.

UK surname

Craib

A Scottish surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "creibh" meaning a moss-grown field.

In the 1881 census there were 372 people recorded with the Craib surname, ranking it #8,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 526, ranked #9,642, down from #8,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grange, Keith and Coull. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aberchirder and Whitehills, Kirriemuir and Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craib is 550 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

372

Ranked #8,399

Modern count

526

2016, ranked #9,642

Peak year

2010

550 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Craib had 372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016, ranked #9,642.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 408 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Craib surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Craib surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Craib 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 218 #9,754
1861 historical 271 #9,193
1881 historical 372 #8,399
1891 historical 408 #8,733
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 42 #28,691
1997 modern 490 #9,435
1998 modern 530 #9,179
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 515 #9,408
2001 modern 506 #9,382
2002 modern 520 #9,377
2003 modern 483 #9,735
2004 modern 506 #9,437
2005 modern 517 #9,217
2006 modern 525 #9,135
2007 modern 521 #9,271
2008 modern 543 #9,060
2009 modern 548 #9,201
2010 modern 550 #9,368
2011 modern 536 #9,468
2012 modern 519 #9,617
2013 modern 518 #9,755
2014 modern 527 #9,716
2015 modern 524 #9,678
2016 modern 526 #9,642

Geography

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Where Craibs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grange, Keith, Coull, Fordyce and Mortlach. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aberchirder and Whitehills, Kirriemuir, Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry, Inverurie South and New Elgin East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Grange Banff
2 Keith Banff
3 Coull Aberdeen
4 Fordyce Banff
5 Mortlach Banff

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aberchirder and Whitehills Aberdeenshire
2 Kirriemuir Angus
3 Heldon West, Fogwatt to Inchberry Moray
4 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
5 New Elgin East Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Craib

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Craib

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Craib, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Craib surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Craib household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Craib is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Craib is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Craib falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Craib is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Craib, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Craib

The surname Craib is of Scottish origin, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Gaelic word "creibh," meaning "branch" or "tree." This reflects the historical importance of trees and woodland in Scottish culture and society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of documents recording the submission of Scottish nobles to King Edward I of England. The entry "John de Crayth" is believed to be an early variant spelling of Craib.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various Scottish records, often associated with the regions of Fife and Angus. For instance, a "William Crayb" is mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1456, suggesting the family's presence in these areas during this time.

The name Craib has been linked to several prominent individuals throughout history. One notable figure is Sir William Craib (1610-1675), a Scottish merchant and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1669 to 1672. His legacy includes the establishment of the Craib's Trust, a charitable organization that supported education in the city.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Craib (1797-1857), a Scottish-born politician and judge who emigrated to Canada in the early 19th century. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada and later became a judge in the Court of Queen's Bench for Upper Canada.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with the Scottish poet and novelist George Craib (1914-1996), whose works often explored themes of working-class life and Scottish identity. His notable publications include the novel "The Skylark Sings" (1956) and the poetry collection "A Winged Song" (1974).

The Craib surname has also been linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Craibstone in Aberdeenshire and Craibstone Loch in Fife. These locations may have been associated with early bearers of the name or derived from the Gaelic word "creibh" itself.

Throughout its history, the Craib surname has maintained a strong presence in Scotland, with various spelling variations appearing in historical records, including Craibb, Creyb, and Crayth. While the name has spread to other parts of the world through Scottish emigration, its origins and historical significance remain firmly rooted in the rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Craib families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craib 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 163 Craibs recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.90x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 163 48.90x
Banffshire 119 159.39x
Lanarkshire 25 2.15x
Middlesex 21 0.58x
Morayshire 11 19.67x
Kincardineshire 9 20.53x
Fife 6 2.82x
Yorkshire 6 0.17x
Ayrshire 2 0.74x
Berwickshire 2 4.59x
Midlothian 2 0.41x
Dumfriesshire 1 1.26x
Durham 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 2.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 28 Craibs recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.89x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 28 44.89x
Aberdeen Old Machar 26 37.36x
Mortlach 26 712.33x
Foveran 22 873.02x
Gamrie 22 263.79x
King Edward 13 338.54x
Fordyce 12 223.46x
Keith 12 150.75x
Grange 10 456.62x
Marnoch 8 199.50x
Turriff 8 148.70x
Banff 7 108.02x
Barony 7 2.38x
Boyndie 7 283.40x
Govan 7 2.43x
Kintore 7 241.38x
St Anne Soho London 7 34.05x
Cadder 6 69.77x
Coull 6 612.24x
Dyce 6 416.67x
Kildrummy 6 740.74x
Leeds 6 2.98x
Newburgh 6 221.40x
Peterculter 6 255.32x
Alvah 5 297.62x
Deskford 5 467.29x
Glasgow 5 2.42x
New Spynie 5 248.76x
St Pancras London 5 1.73x
Tarland 5 344.83x
Auchterless 4 150.94x
Echt 4 248.45x
Fetteresso 4 58.22x
St George Hanover Square 4 6.31x
Strichen 4 137.93x
Fyvie 3 55.15x
Nigg 3 82.64x
Rathven 3 21.40x
Towie 3 319.15x
Westminster St John 3 6.84x
Cockburnspath 2 143.88x
Duffus 2 40.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.03x
Monquhitter 2 57.97x
Muirkirk 2 31.60x
Aberlour 1 42.19x
Auchindoir Kearn 1 53.48x
Banchory Devenick 1 24.45x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.09x
Boharm 1 68.03x
Cabrach 1 119.05x
Drainie 1 20.20x
Ellon 1 21.83x
Forglen 1 108.70x
Fraserburgh 1 10.66x
Garvock 1 188.68x
Kinloss 1 75.76x
Meldrum 1 35.59x
Methlick 1 37.45x
Newhills 1 14.64x
Peterhead 1 5.67x
Rothes 1 36.63x
Sanquhar 1 35.84x
Skene 1 45.25x
St George Bloomsbury 1 4.84x
Tyrie 1 23.92x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Maria 2
Charlotte 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Phebe 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
Alfred 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
George 1
James 1
Theodore 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

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 Craib households.

FAQ

Craib surname: questions and answers

How common was the Craib surname in 1881?

In 1881, 372 people were recorded with the Craib surname. That placed it at #8,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Craib surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016. That gives Craib a modern rank of #9,642.

What does the Craib surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "creibh" meaning a moss-grown field.

What does the Craib map show?

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