NameCensus.

UK surname

Crampton

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "village of Cramb's people" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,463 people recorded with the Crampton surname, ranking it #2,850 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,950, ranked #3,290, down from #2,850 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Newark and Sherwood and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crampton is 2,166 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.3%.

1881 census count

1,463

Ranked #2,850

Modern count

1,950

2016, ranked #3,290

Peak year

1998

2,166 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crampton had 1,463 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,850 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,950 in 2016, ranked #3,290.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,040 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crampton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crampton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crampton 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 1,076 #2,606
1861 historical 1,081 #2,603
1881 historical 1,463 #2,850
1891 historical 1,632 #2,743
1901 historical 1,867 #2,818
1911 historical 2,040 #2,449
1997 modern 2,073 #2,966
1998 modern 2,166 #2,957
1999 modern 2,131 #3,025
2000 modern 2,102 #3,037
2001 modern 2,057 #3,034
2002 modern 2,098 #3,050
2003 modern 2,027 #3,081
2004 modern 2,046 #3,059
2005 modern 1,998 #3,093
2006 modern 1,947 #3,165
2007 modern 1,930 #3,210
2008 modern 1,920 #3,244
2009 modern 1,971 #3,252
2010 modern 2,030 #3,237
2011 modern 2,019 #3,213
2012 modern 1,965 #3,228
2013 modern 2,001 #3,240
2014 modern 2,019 #3,240
2015 modern 1,972 #3,274
2016 modern 1,950 #3,290

Geography

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Where Cramptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Bradford and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Newark and Sherwood, Dudley, York and Shropshire. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 029 County Durham
2 Newark and Sherwood 011 Newark and Sherwood
3 Dudley 033 Dudley
4 York 009 York
5 Shropshire 034 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crampton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crampton

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Crampton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Crampton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Crampton is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Crampton is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crampton falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crampton 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 Crampton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Crampton

The surname Crampton originated in England, specifically in the county of Lincolnshire, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "cram," meaning "crooked," and "tun," meaning "town" or "village." This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a crooked or winding town or village.

The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recorded instances appearing in various historical documents and records. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where a certain William de Cramtun is listed as a landowner.

As the name spread across England, different spellings emerged, such as Cramton, Cramptonn, and Craumpton. These variations reflect the fluidity of spelling conventions in earlier periods, as well as regional dialects and pronunciations.

In the 16th century, the Crampton surname gained prominence through the exploits of Sir Philip Crampton (c. 1530-1599), an English soldier and diplomat who served under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the Anglo-Spanish War and was knighted for his services.

Another noteworthy figure was Samuel Crampton (1579-1649), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. He was a staunch Puritan and actively opposed the policies of Archbishop William Laud, ultimately being imprisoned for his defiance.

The 18th century saw the birth of Josiah Crampton (1737-1807), an English engineer and inventor. He is credited with various innovations in mechanical engineering, including improvements to the design of steam engines and pumping machinery.

In the realm of literature, Sir John Crampton (1805-1886) was a British diplomat and author. He served as the British Minister to the United States and later wrote several works on political and diplomatic affairs.

More recently, Sir Eric Crampton (1892-1969) was a distinguished British barrister and judge. He served as a Lord Justice of Appeal and was widely respected for his legal acumen and integrity.

While the Crampton surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in the county of Lincolnshire, where it likely emerged as a descriptive name for someone living in a crooked or winding village.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crampton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crampton 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. Yorkshire leads with 411 Cramptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 411 2.91x
Nottinghamshire 162 8.44x
Middlesex 143 1.00x
Lancashire 118 0.70x
Kent 100 2.06x
Lincolnshire 96 4.22x
Worcestershire 84 4.52x
Surrey 72 1.04x
Durham 47 1.11x
Leicestershire 31 1.96x
Sussex 29 1.21x
Hampshire 22 0.75x
Staffordshire 21 0.44x
Derbyshire 18 0.81x
Cheshire 17 0.54x
Gloucestershire 16 0.57x
Cambridgeshire 9 1.00x
Hertfordshire 9 0.92x
Essex 7 0.25x
Oxfordshire 7 0.80x
Warwickshire 7 0.19x
Berkshire 6 0.56x
Cumberland 5 0.41x
Devon 4 0.13x
Dorset 2 0.21x
Merionethshire 2 0.77x
Monmouthshire 2 0.19x
Renfrewshire 2 0.18x
Westmorland 2 0.64x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.12x
Herefordshire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 0.96x
Shropshire 1 0.08x
West Lothian 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cradley in Worcestershire leads with 55 Cramptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 326.99x.

Place Total Index
Cradley 55 326.99x
Leeds 54 6.78x
Pudsey 41 54.35x
Blackburn 37 8.23x
Stainland Cum Old 33 136.65x
Islington London 27 1.96x
Cotgrave 24 600.00x
Newark Upon Trent 21 30.43x
Kensington London 20 2.53x
Elland Cum Greetland 19 29.88x
Hunslet 19 8.63x
Cranbrook 18 87.46x
Leicester St Mary 18 14.11x
Nottingham St Mary 15 3.02x
Thorne 15 85.67x
Longwood 14 61.54x
Meltham 13 59.23x
Scarborough 13 10.14x
Eastbourne 12 10.86x
Mansfield 12 18.06x
Portsea 12 2.10x
Crossgate 11 59.36x
North Meols 11 6.65x
North Muskham 11 416.67x
St Pancras London 11 0.96x
York St Mary 11 18.82x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 10.74x
Burton Upon Trent 10 8.89x
Great Grimsby 10 6.92x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.30x
Nether Hallam 10 5.24x
Rotherhithe 10 5.68x
Spalding 10 22.13x
York St Denis In 10 161.55x
Donington 9 110.02x
Elvet 9 29.42x
Hackney London 9 1.13x
Potter Newton 9 36.14x
Gosberton 8 79.05x
Gradley 8 89.09x
Headingley Cum Burley 8 8.81x
Layton With Warbreck 8 12.90x
Marton Le Moor 8 975.61x
Newington 8 1.52x
Snenton 8 10.61x
St Lawrence 8 23.94x
Yardley 8 16.81x
Acton 7 8.38x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 5.32x
Averham 7 875.00x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 7 41.57x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.92x
Camberwell 7 0.77x
Chesterfield 7 8.37x
Clifton Cum Salwick 7 343.14x
Cropwell Bishop 7 225.81x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 2.44x
Farndon 7 205.28x
Halifax 7 3.38x
Hendon 7 13.66x
Hornsey 7 3.89x
Lambeth 7 0.56x
North Bierley 7 9.19x
Penge 7 7.69x
Poplar London 7 2.60x
Sawston 7 80.46x
St Peters 7 31.14x
West Ham 7 1.13x
Elton 6 10.28x
Fairford 6 80.43x
Garston 6 12.03x
Headcorn 6 82.42x
Huddersfield 6 2.92x
Manningham 6 3.45x
Nettlebed 6 185.76x
Tenterden 6 35.01x
Wandsworth 6 4.38x
Wargrave 6 65.36x
Westoe 6 2.50x
Wollescote 6 40.05x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 91
William 89
Thomas 58
George 53
James 32
Charles 27
Henry 25
Arthur 19
Joseph 18
Edward 17
Robert 17
Walter 17
Alfred 12
Harry 12
Frederick 10
Samuel 10
Albert 9
Herbert 8
Benjamin 6
Richard 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Percy 5
Philip 5
Willie 5
Daniel 4
Mark 4
Matthew 4
Cecil 3
Eli 3
Francis 3
Reuben 3
Willoughby 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Archibald 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Friend 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
Jno. 2
Joe 2
Joshua 2
Mathew 2
Sam 2
Stephen 2
Thos 2

FAQ

Crampton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crampton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,463 people were recorded with the Crampton surname. That placed it at #2,850 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crampton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,950 in 2016. That gives Crampton a modern rank of #3,290.

What does the Crampton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "village of Cramb's people" in Old English.

What does the Crampton map show?

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