NameCensus.

UK surname

Craker

A surname indicating an occupation related to baking or making crackers.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Craker surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Waddesdon, Fleet Marston, Beckenham and Harrow-on-the-Hill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Aylesbury Vale and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craker is 343 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.2%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

2002

343 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Craker had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 316 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Craker surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Craker surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Craker 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 283 #12,117
1911 historical 316 #11,031
1997 modern 321 #12,941
1998 modern 342 #12,739
1999 modern 335 #12,993
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 343 #12,803
2003 modern 340 #12,685
2004 modern 323 #13,230
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 314 #13,474
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 311 #14,069
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 304 #14,475
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 300 #14,744
2014 modern 298 #14,911
2015 modern 294 #14,971
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Crakers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Waddesdon, Fleet Marston, Beckenham, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Bromley and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Aylesbury Vale, East Devon and Plymouth. 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 Waddesdon, Fleet Marston Buckinghamshire
2 Beckenham Kent
3 Harrow-on-the-Hill Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Bromley Kent
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 008 East Northamptonshire
2 East Northamptonshire 009 East Northamptonshire
3 Aylesbury Vale 017 Aylesbury Vale
4 East Devon 010 East Devon
5 Plymouth 006 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Craker

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Craker

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Craker, 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 Craker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Craker 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Craker is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Craker is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Craker falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Craker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Craker

The surname Craker has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cracian," meaning "to crack or break." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a cracker, an occupation that involved cracking nuts or grain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Craker can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which mentions a John le Craker. This suggests that the name was present in the West Midlands region during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Craker, Cracker, and Crachere. These variations were often used interchangeably, reflecting the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

The Craker surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. John Craker (c. 1450-1520), a wealthy merchant from Bristol, was influential in the city's trade and civic affairs during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Craker (1570-1639), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucester in the early 17th century. He was also a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire.

In the 17th century, the surname Craker was found in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Northamptonshire. One notable example is William Craker (1619-1695), a minister and author who published several religious works during the Puritan era.

The name Craker has also been linked to certain place names in England, such as Craker Hill in Warwickshire and Craker Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have derived their names from individuals bearing the Craker surname in the past.

Other notable individuals with the Craker surname include John Craker (1780-1855), a British physician and author who wrote extensively on medical topics, and William Craker (1854-1927), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

While the surname Craker is not among the most common surnames in England today, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, lawyers, clergymen, authors, and sportsmen.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Craker families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craker 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. Kent leads with 47 Crakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.00x.

County Total Index
Kent 47 9.00x
Middlesex 37 2.42x
Yorkshire 22 1.45x
Buckinghamshire 21 22.68x
Surrey 17 2.28x
Hertfordshire 8 7.58x
Bedfordshire 3 3.78x
Angus 1 0.70x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromley in Kent leads with 43 Crakers recorded in 1881 and an index of 540.20x.

Place Total Index
Bromley 43 540.20x
Westcott 16 13333.33x
Croydon 9 21.73x
Bushey 8 318.73x
Clerkenwell London 8 22.13x
Clifford Cum Boston 8 588.24x
Hackney London 8 9.32x
Holy Trinity 8 21.92x
Harrow 6 256.41x
Harrow On The Hill 5 163.40x
Stony Stratford East 5 1315.79x
Kensington London 4 4.70x
Newington 4 7.07x
Leeds 3 3.50x
Luton 3 21.85x
Sholden 3 1500.00x
Mile End Old Town London 2 6.14x
Penge 2 20.45x
St Marylebone London 2 2.45x
Walton In Wetherby 2 2000.00x
Battersea 1 1.77x
Caterham 1 30.30x
Deal 1 22.42x
Harewood 1 263.16x
Islington London 1 0.67x
St Vigeans 1 13.05x
Twickenham 1 15.22x
West Stockwith 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 8
Mary 7
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Ada 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Alace 1
Amy 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Harriett 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Ruth 1
Sussannah 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
Samuel 7
William 6
Henry 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
George 4
James 3
John 3
David 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Aurther 1
E.W. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Craker surname: questions and answers

How common was the Craker surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Craker surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Craker surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Craker a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Craker surname mean?

A surname indicating an occupation related to baking or making crackers.

What does the Craker map show?

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