UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "rocky hill".
In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Craighill surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #28,137 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craighill is 149 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.3%.
1881 census count
39
Ranked #28,137
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1911
149 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Craighill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Craighill surname density by area, 1911 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 | 11 | #31,309 |
| 1861 | historical | 38 | #29,216 |
| 1881 | historical | 39 | #28,137 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 115 | #21,050 |
| 1911 | historical | 149 | #17,937 |
| 1997 | modern | 55 | #32,114 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 49 | #33,130 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 48 | #33,129 |
| 2002 | modern | 54 | #32,927 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 50 | #33,784 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 40 | #35,395 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 40 | #35,439 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Darlington, Gateshead and Corsenside. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | Darlington | Durham |
| 4 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 5 | Corsenside | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Craighill 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 Craighill, 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 Craighill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Craighill 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, Craighill 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 Craighill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Craighill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CRAIGHILL originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Gaelic words "creag" meaning rock or crag, and "sill" meaning seed or offspring, suggesting the name likely referred to someone who lived near a rocky hill or crag.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name is listed as "Craghill" in this document, indicating an early spelling variation.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various Scottish charters and records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where it is spelled "Cragehyll" and "Craghyll." These records often mention individuals holding lands or properties in areas like Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire, suggesting the name was particularly prevalent in northeastern Scotland.
One notable figure with the surname CRAIGHILL was Sir John Craighill (1562-1627), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. He was appointed to this position in 1626 by King Charles I.
Another prominent individual was Thomas Craighill (1688-1756), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the city of Glasgow. He served as a magistrate and was involved in various civic projects, including the construction of the Trongate, one of the oldest streets in Glasgow.
In the 19th century, the CRAIGHILL surname gained recognition through the work of William Craighill (1833-1909), a renowned American civil engineer. He was responsible for designing and overseeing the construction of several lighthouses and harbor improvements along the Atlantic coast, including the Cape Henry Lighthouse in Virginia.
Another notable figure was Edward Craighill Stedman (1833-1908), an American poet, critic, and banker. He was highly regarded for his literary works and served as a editor for various publications, including the New York World and the Scribner's Monthly magazine.
The CRAIGHILL surname has also been associated with several place names in Scotland, such as Craighill Farm in Aberdeenshire and Craighill Castle in Fife, further indicating the name's strong ties to the Scottish landscape and geography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craighill 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. Cumberland leads with 11 Craighills recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 11 | 33.59x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 5.45x |
| Shropshire | 6 | 18.26x |
| Roxburghshire | 4 | 58.06x |
| Huntingdonshire | 3 | 39.74x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.80x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.44x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 3.42x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitmore in Staffordshire leads with 7 Craighills recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Whitmore | 7 | 23333.33x |
| Shrewsbury St Chad | 6 | 521.74x |
| Nichol Forest | 5 | 6250.00x |
| Castleton | 4 | 1333.33x |
| Huntingdon St Benedict | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Gorton | 2 | 47.17x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 41.32x |
| High Ireby | 2 | 20000.00x |
| St Cuthbert W O | 2 | 125.00x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 11.03x |
| Keswick | 1 | 238.10x |
| Newington | 1 | 96.15x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 72.99x |
| Sculcoates | 1 | 16.72x |
| Westward | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Craighill 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 Craighill 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 Craighill households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Coach Builder | 1 |
| Fancy Biscuit Packer | 1 |
| Farm Lab Ag Lab | 1 |
| Farm Lab Unemployed | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Limestone Quarry Man | 1 |
| Mason (Stone) | 1 |
| Oil Dealer (& Colorman) | 1 |
| Plumber | 1 |
| Printers Compositor | 1 |
| Stone Sawyer | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Craighill surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Craighill a modern rank of #35,285.
A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "rocky hill".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Craighill 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.