UK surname
A surname derived from a Scottish place name or farm.
In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Craige surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #23,517 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craige is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.6%.
1881 census count
71
Ranked #23,517
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Craige surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Craige 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 | 102 | #16,933 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 71 | #23,517 |
| 1891 | historical | 68 | #28,300 |
| 1901 | historical | 73 | #26,069 |
| 1911 | historical | 47 | #28,110 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 35 | #34,609 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 45 | #34,699 |
| 2008 | modern | 43 | #34,931 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 50 | #34,833 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 57 | #34,538 |
| 2014 | modern | 57 | #34,556 |
| 2015 | modern | 54 | #34,675 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Manchester and Glasgow. 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 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Craige 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 Craige, 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 Craige surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Craige 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, Craige 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 Craige is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Craige, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Craige originated from Scotland, with its earliest known references dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic term "creag," meaning "rock" or "crag," indicating that the name may have been initially associated with individuals residing near rocky areas or crags.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish State Papers of 1592, where a certain Robert Craige is mentioned. Additionally, the name appears in the Annals of Banff, Scotland, in the early 17th century, suggesting the name's prevalence in the northeastern regions of the country.
The surname Craige is closely linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Craigielands, Craigmillar, and Craigrossie. These locations likely influenced the development of the surname or were named after individuals bearing the name.
Notable individuals with the surname Craige throughout history include:
1. Sir Thomas Craige (1538-1608), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1593 to 1596. 2. James Craige (1644-1731), a Scottish minister and academic who was appointed as the Principal of the University of Glasgow in 1690. 3. Robert Craige (1677-1736), a Scottish Episcopal clergyman and author, known for his work "A Memoir of the Life and Writings of Mr. John Sage." 4. John Craige (1705-1778), a Scottish-American soldier and surveyor who played a significant role in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. 5. Neville Craige (1875-1916), a Scottish golfer who won the Open Championship in 1891, becoming the youngest winner of the tournament at the age of 16.
While the surname Craige may have evolved from different spellings or variations over time, its Scottish origins and connection to geographical features like rocks and crags remain a central part of its historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craige 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. Ayrshire leads with 12 Craiges recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.57x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ayrshire | 12 | 19.57x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.23x |
| Isle of Man | 11 | 72.32x |
| Northumberland | 10 | 8.20x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.11x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.46x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 0.73x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 3.90x |
| Kincardineshire | 3 | 30.06x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 20.49x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 1.32x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.42x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.36x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Montgomeryshire | 1 | 5.33x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.72x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 9.19x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalmellington in Ayrshire leads with 9 Craiges recorded in 1881 and an index of 500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dalmellington | 9 | 500.00x |
| Handsworth | 9 | 418.60x |
| Fenwick | 8 | 26666.67x |
| Braddan | 6 | 722.89x |
| Limehouse London | 5 | 55.62x |
| Litchurch | 5 | 96.90x |
| Onchan | 5 | 114.16x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 4 | 18.83x |
| Gateshead | 3 | 16.44x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 5.08x |
| Manchester | 3 | 6.86x |
| Nigg | 3 | 361.45x |
| South Shields | 2 | 92.17x |
| Tarbolton | 2 | 198.02x |
| Westgate | 2 | 26.49x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 1 | 6.31x |
| Aston | 1 | 1.76x |
| Barony | 1 | 1.49x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 4.78x |
| Brigham | 1 | 303.03x |
| Broughton In Salford | 1 | 11.25x |
| Cheriton | 1 | 87.72x |
| Kilmaurs | 1 | 96.15x |
| Llanidloes | 1 | 71.94x |
| Portpatrick | 1 | 277.78x |
| Scone | 1 | 153.85x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.29x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Craige surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Craige 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 Craige households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| A B Seaman | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| General Serv | 2 |
| Mariner | 2 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Ag Lab Wife | 1 |
| Assistant School Mistress | 1 |
| Auctioneer & Share Broker | 1 |
| Auctioneers Wife | 1 |
| Coach Finisher (Rail) | 1 |
| Coach Maker | 1 |
| Coachman Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Engineers Assistant (C/M) | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| Green Grocer & Coal Miner | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| Nurse (Sick) | 1 |
| Roper | 1 |
| Soldier | 1 |
| Upholstress | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Craige surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Craige a modern rank of #34,889.
A surname derived from a Scottish place name or farm.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Craige 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.