NameCensus.

UK surname

Crain

An occupational surname referring to a crane operator or a person who worked with cranes or similar lifting devices.

In the 1881 census there were 271 people recorded with the Crain surname, ranking it #10,449 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, down from #10,449 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lilley, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Cherwell and St Albans.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crain is 271 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.9%.

1881 census count

271

Ranked #10,449

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

1881

271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crain had 271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,449 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Crain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crain 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 183 #11,166
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 271 #10,449
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 209 #14,712
1911 historical 218 #14,177
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 164 #20,279
2002 modern 169 #20,307
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 176 #21,101
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 162 #22,433
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Crains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lilley, London parishes, Manchester, Billingham and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Cherwell, St Albans, Sheffield and Bournemouth. 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 Lilley Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Billingham Durham
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 022 Rochdale
2 Cherwell 004 Cherwell
3 St Albans 017 St Albans
4 Sheffield 060 Sheffield
5 Bournemouth 008 Bournemouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crain

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Crain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Crain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Crain is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Crain is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crain falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Crain

The surname Crain has its origins in England, where it is believed to have first emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cran," meaning "crane," which likely referred to someone who lived near a place frequented by cranes or someone who worked with cranes in some capacity.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1208, which mention a William Cran. The surname is also documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Cranne." These early spellings suggest that the name may have originally been a nickname or descriptive name before becoming a hereditary surname.

In the 14th century, the surname began to appear in various forms, including Craine, Crayne, and Crayn, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Craine, a merchant from London, who is mentioned in records from 1387.

The Crain surname can also be traced to certain place names in England, such as Crane Court in Hampshire and Crane Hall in Derbyshire. These locations may have influenced the development of the surname or served as places of origin for some Crain families.

Throughout history, the Crain surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. William Crain (c. 1460-1515), an English scholar and theologian who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. 2. John Crain (c. 1590-1670), an English Puritan minister and author who emigrated to New England in the 1630s. 3. Matilda Crain (1825-1899), an American educator and author from New York, known for her writings on women's rights and education. 4. David Crain (1862-1935), an American politician who served as the 30th Governor of Arkansas from 1923 to 1925. 5. George Crain (1887-1942), an American film director and screenwriter best known for his work on several Charlie Chaplin films in the 1920s.

While the Crain surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as a result of migration and settlement patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crain 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. Lancashire leads with 63 Crains recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 63 1.94x
Middlesex 30 1.09x
Yorkshire 27 0.99x
Durham 26 3.19x
Lincolnshire 17 3.88x
Isle of Man 10 19.65x
Lanarkshire 10 1.13x
Leicestershire 10 3.29x
Northamptonshire 10 3.88x
Huntingdonshire 9 16.54x
Midlothian 9 2.45x
Surrey 9 0.67x
Berkshire 8 3.89x
Cheshire 7 1.16x
Kent 7 0.75x
Northumberland 7 1.72x
Norfolk 6 1.42x
Angus 4 1.58x
Bedfordshire 2 1.41x
Glamorgan 2 0.42x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.54x
Staffordshire 2 0.22x
Essex 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.22x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 13 Crains recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.14x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 13 19.14x
Ashley 10 3571.43x
Burnley 9 32.86x
Cowpen Bewley 9 978.26x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 6.09x
Manchester 9 6.15x
Holy Trinity 8 12.25x
Shoreditch London 8 6.73x
Wigan 8 17.60x
Gateshead 7 11.46x
German 7 251.80x
Newton In Makerfield 7 70.28x
Barony 6 2.67x
Dartford 6 62.76x
Elswick 6 18.43x
Houghton 6 1250.00x
Kensington London 6 3.94x
Oldham 6 5.72x
Tumby 6 1875.00x
West Lynn 6 1111.11x
Darlington 5 15.88x
Drypool 5 120.19x
Great Bowden 5 181.16x
Great Grimsby 5 17.97x
Hungerford 5 179.86x
Willesden 5 19.35x
Birkenhead 4 8.29x
Liff Benvie 4 10.38x
Westoe 4 8.65x
Barnoldswick 3 79.16x
Bradford 3 4.56x
Glasgow 3 1.91x
Leftwich 3 111.52x
Newington 3 2.96x
Sculcoates 3 6.97x
Spilsby 3 215.83x
Yattendon 3 1034.48x
Andreas 2 144.93x
Asfordby 2 392.16x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.68x
Fletton 2 114.94x
Islington London 2 0.75x
Lambeth 2 0.84x
Luton 2 8.14x
Rhydgwern 2 869.57x
Scothern 2 434.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 2.04x
Tottenham 2 4.58x
Arnold 1 18.55x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.26x
Basford 1 5.87x
Bradford Girlington 1 82.64x
Brighton 1 1.07x
Bury 1 2.69x
Framlingham 1 42.19x
Fulwood 1 28.49x
Gedney 1 55.87x
Govan 1 0.46x
Great Crosby 1 11.27x
Hampstead London 1 2.34x
Handsworth 1 13.93x
Jesmond 1 17.42x
Knighton 1 58.48x
Leeds 1 0.65x
Limehouse London 1 3.32x
Liverpool 1 0.51x
Market Harborough 1 72.99x
Mexborough 1 18.55x
Moss Side 1 5.84x
Penge 1 5.71x
Preston 1 1.15x
Rotherhithe 1 2.95x
Singleton 1 303.03x
St Luke London 1 2.27x
St Margarets At Cliffe 1 178.57x
Thornton In Fylde 1 14.04x
Usworth 1 23.09x
Walthamstow 1 5.13x
Westleigh 1 13.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 9
Jane 8
Ann 7
Margaret 6
Harriet 5
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Catherine 3
Ellen 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz. 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Dorothy 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Harriot 1
Lavina 1
Lucy 1
Lyda 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Rebeca 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 14
Thomas 13
Charles 10
James 8
George 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
Michael 5
Patrick 4
Arthur 3
Peter 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Abm.G. 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Jno. 1
Jonas 1
Laban 1
Lackford 1
M.Infant 1
Mark 1
Mic. 1
Michal 1
North 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Crain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 271 people were recorded with the Crain surname. That placed it at #10,449 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Crain a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Crain surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a crane operator or a person who worked with cranes or similar lifting devices.

What does the Crain map show?

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