NameCensus.

UK surname

Cramb

A Scottish surname derived from a word meaning "crooked" or "bent".

In the 1881 census there were 304 people recorded with the Cramb surname, ranking it #9,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 509, ranked #9,860, down from #9,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Dunblane and Lecropt and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Crieff South, Falkirk - Middlefield and Crieff North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cramb is 521 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.4%.

1881 census count

304

Ranked #9,637

Modern count

509

2016, ranked #9,860

Peak year

2002

521 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cramb had 304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016, ranked #9,860.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Cramb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cramb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cramb 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 129 #14,406
1861 historical 215 #11,316
1881 historical 304 #9,637
1891 historical 405 #8,789
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 107 #21,842
1997 modern 473 #9,706
1998 modern 493 #9,702
1999 modern 488 #9,846
2000 modern 500 #9,632
2001 modern 488 #9,645
2002 modern 521 #9,363
2003 modern 509 #9,365
2004 modern 502 #9,497
2005 modern 517 #9,217
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 509 #9,443
2008 modern 511 #9,485
2009 modern 521 #9,554
2010 modern 519 #9,768
2011 modern 505 #9,884
2012 modern 491 #10,013
2013 modern 490 #10,176
2014 modern 492 #10,212
2015 modern 505 #9,933
2016 modern 509 #9,860

Geography

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Where Crambs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Dunblane and Lecropt, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Crieff. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Crieff South, Falkirk - Middlefield, Crieff North, Stevenston Hayocks and Plean and Rural SE. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Dunblane and Lecropt Perth
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Crieff Perth

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Crieff South Perth and Kinross
2 Falkirk - Middlefield Falkirk
3 Crieff North Perth and Kinross
4 Stevenston Hayocks North Ayrshire
5 Plean and Rural SE Stirling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cramb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cramb

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Cramb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cramb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Cramb is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Cramb 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

Cramb 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 Cramb is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cramb

The surname Cramb is of Scottish origin, with its roots traced back to the 13th century in the county of Angus, Scotland. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "crambe," which refers to a type of wild cabbage or kale.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document includes the name "William de Cramb," indicating the presence of the surname in Scotland during that period.

In the 16th century, the Cramb family was known to reside in the parish of Arbroath, Angus. Records from this time show variations in the spelling, including "Craumb" and "Craumbe." The name is also associated with the village of Cramond, near Edinburgh, which may have influenced its evolution.

One notable bearer of the Cramb surname was Sir John Cramb (1670-1738), a Scottish landowner and member of the Scottish Parliament. He played a significant role in the negotiations leading to the Acts of Union in 1707, which united the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England.

Another prominent figure was Alexander Cramb (1826-1899), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba and was instrumental in the development of the city of Winnipeg.

In the literary world, James Cramb (1891-1964) was a Scottish poet and journalist known for his works such as "The Highland Heart" and "The Lyric Season." His poetry captured the essence of Scottish culture and landscapes.

William Cramb (1828-1899) was a Scottish-born Australian explorer and surveyor. He was involved in the exploration and mapping of Western Australia, and a mountain range in the region was named after him in recognition of his contributions.

Another notable figure was Mary Cramb (1855-1944), a Scottish educator and suffragist. She campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the fight for women's suffrage in Scotland.

While the Cramb surname is not as widespread as some others, it has a rich history rooted in Scotland, with notable individuals who have left their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cramb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cramb 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. Perthshire leads with 172 Crambs recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.23x.

County Total Index
Perthshire 172 129.23x
Angus 28 10.19x
Midlothian 26 6.54x
Stirlingshire 16 14.63x
Fife 15 8.54x
Lanarkshire 14 1.46x
Cheshire 7 1.07x
Cornwall 7 2.09x
Clackmannanshire 6 24.50x
Middlesex 6 0.20x
Dunbartonshire 5 6.27x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Surrey 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crieff in Perthshire leads with 42 Crambs recorded in 1881 and an index of 848.48x.

Place Total Index
Crieff 42 848.48x
Dunblane 35 1097.18x
Muthill 20 1149.43x
Logie 17 355.65x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 10.01x
Liff Benvie 14 33.57x
Dundee 13 12.68x
Larbert 13 198.78x
Perth East Church 8 63.75x
Glasgow 7 4.11x
Kinnoull 7 200.00x
Monzie 7 921.05x
St Michael Penkievel 7 4375.00x
Callander 6 273.97x
Govan 6 2.53x
Kinclaven 6 1000.00x
Kirkcaldy 6 68.89x
Tillicoultry 6 110.09x
Blairgowrie 5 95.06x
Comrie 5 263.16x
Dunfermline 5 18.53x
Eastham 5 568.18x
Edinburgh St Andrews 5 152.44x
Row 5 48.50x
Chelsea London 3 3.36x
Perth Middle Church 3 59.88x
Fowlis Wester 2 176.99x
Kenmore 2 125.79x
St Andrews 2 25.03x
St Ninians 2 18.45x
Ardoch 1 89.29x
Barony 1 0.41x
Blackford 1 61.35x
Coupar Angus 1 38.46x
Denny 1 17.18x
Dull 1 37.45x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 10.64x
Edinburgh High Church 1 40.16x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 12.14x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 1 43.29x
Forgan 1 29.76x
Kensington London 1 0.61x
Kilmadock 1 32.68x
Leuchars 1 45.05x
Liscard 1 8.48x
Monzievaird Strowan 1 140.85x
Penicuik 1 18.52x
Perth St Pauls 1 32.47x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.91x
St Marylebone London 1 0.63x
Tranmere 1 4.16x
Trinity Gask 1 250.00x
Wavertree 1 8.88x
Wimbledon 1 6.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Janet 2
Mary 2
Anne 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Martha 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 1
Christopher 1
Ernest 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
William 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 Cramb households.

FAQ

Cramb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cramb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 304 people were recorded with the Cramb surname. That placed it at #9,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cramb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 509 in 2016. That gives Cramb a modern rank of #9,860.

What does the Cramb surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a word meaning "crooked" or "bent".

What does the Cramb map show?

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