NameCensus.

UK surname

Cran

A surname of Scottish origin derived from a location name, possibly meaning "the tree".

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Cran surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 427, ranked #11,260, down from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Forgue, Drumblade and Inverkeithny. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverurie South, Maybole and Newmachar and Fintray.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cran is 512 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.2%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

427

2016, ranked #11,260

Peak year

1891

512 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cran had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 427 in 2016, ranked #11,260.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 512 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Cran surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cran surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cran 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 351 #6,715
1861 historical 410 #6,264
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 512 #7,283
1901 historical 481 #8,291
1911 historical 75 #25,322
1997 modern 442 #10,209
1998 modern 454 #10,338
1999 modern 479 #9,987
2000 modern 473 #10,049
2001 modern 456 #10,136
2002 modern 466 #10,151
2003 modern 454 #10,222
2004 modern 461 #10,107
2005 modern 460 #10,042
2006 modern 452 #10,204
2007 modern 447 #10,388
2008 modern 448 #10,458
2009 modern 456 #10,558
2010 modern 454 #10,833
2011 modern 445 #10,880
2012 modern 407 #11,584
2013 modern 418 #11,533
2014 modern 427 #11,393
2015 modern 425 #11,346
2016 modern 427 #11,260

Geography

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Where Crans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Forgue, Drumblade, Inverkeithny, Towie and Keithhall and Kinkell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverurie South, Maybole, Newmachar and Fintray, Huntly and Kirklees. 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 Forgue Aberdeen
2 Drumblade Aberdeen
3 Inverkeithny Banff
4 Towie Aberdeen
5 Keithhall and Kinkell Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
2 Maybole South Ayrshire
3 Newmachar and Fintray Aberdeenshire
4 Huntly Aberdeenshire
5 Kirklees 027 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cran

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cran

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Cran is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Cran 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

Cran falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cran is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cran

The surname Cran originated in Scotland, with its earliest known records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cran," which means "crane," referring to the wading bird. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who exhibited characteristics or mannerisms resembling a crane.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, where a certain William Cran was mentioned as a landowner in Kincardineshire in 1268. This indicates that the Cran family had established itself as a prominent clan in the region.

The name Cran is also linked to several place names in Scotland, such as Cransmill in Aberdeenshire and Cranston in Midlothian. These place names likely originated from the Cran surname, reflecting the influence and presence of the family in those areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Cran was Sir Robert Cran, a Scottish knight who lived in the late 14th century and was known for his bravery in battles against the English. Another notable figure was John Cran, a Scottish clergyman born in 1485, who served as the Bishop of Ross and was a prominent figure during the Scottish Reformation.

In the 16th century, the Cran family continued to play a significant role in Scottish history. William Cran (1500-1572) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Aberdeen, while James Cran (1545-1621) was a renowned scholar and author who published works on theology and philosophy.

As the Cran family expanded and spread across Scotland, the surname evolved into various spellings, such as Crann, Craine, and Crayne. These variations can be found in historical records and documents from different regions of the country.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cran include Robert Cran (1660-1722), a Scottish philosopher and educator who served as the Principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen, and Alexander Cran (1775-1849), a Scottish missionary who spent several years in India and made significant contributions to the spread of Christianity in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cran families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cran 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 197 Crans recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.31x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 197 51.31x
Banffshire 38 44.19x
Yorkshire 22 0.54x
Morayshire 21 32.60x
Middlesex 19 0.46x
Angus 15 3.91x
Lancashire 13 0.26x
Fife 11 4.48x
Northumberland 11 1.78x
Inverness-shire 10 8.08x
Lanarkshire 10 0.75x
Clackmannanshire 9 26.29x
Midlothian 9 1.62x
Wigtownshire 8 14.53x
Surrey 6 0.30x
Ayrshire 5 1.61x
Buteshire 4 15.92x
Kincardineshire 3 5.94x
Renfrewshire 3 0.93x
Nairnshire 2 15.81x
Argyllshire 1 0.87x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.12x
East Lothian 1 1.82x
Flintshire 1 0.90x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Somerset 1 0.15x
Wiltshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 45 Crans recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.14x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 45 56.14x
Inverkeithny 21 1603.05x
Rhynie 19 1187.50x
Gartly 16 1269.84x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 15 20.88x
Drumblade 11 808.82x
Dundee 10 6.97x
Kirkhill 10 476.19x
Forgue 9 260.87x
Tillicoultry 9 118.11x
Elswick 8 16.25x
Rayne 8 439.56x
Wemyss 8 77.07x
Whithorn 8 190.93x
Cabrach 7 721.65x
Fyvie 7 111.64x
Leeds 7 3.02x
St Andrews Lhanbryd 7 351.76x
St Pancras London 7 2.10x
Auchindoir Kearn 6 277.78x
Droylsden 6 37.38x
Elgin 6 47.89x
Keith 6 65.43x
Kildrummy 6 638.30x
Longside 6 130.72x
New Monkland 6 15.14x
Newhills 6 76.34x
Towie 6 555.56x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.24x
Huntly 5 80.00x
Newington 5 3.26x
Speymouth 5 537.63x
Dreghorn 4 71.17x
Hunslet 4 6.24x
Insch 4 183.49x
Marnoch 4 86.58x
Rothesay 4 32.89x
Salford 4 2.76x
Strathdon 4 213.90x
Wortley In Bramley 4 12.29x
Alnwick 3 28.30x
Banchory Ternan 3 68.65x
Eastwood 3 15.16x
Inverurie 3 69.12x
Keighley 3 6.85x
Mile End Old Town London 3 3.40x
Monifieth 3 22.11x
Paddington London 3 1.97x
St Marylebone London 3 1.36x
Abbotshall 2 21.81x
Banff 2 26.77x
Bellie 2 68.73x
Chapel Of Garioch 2 73.26x
Edinburgh St Andrews 2 43.57x
Ellon 2 37.88x
Glasgow 2 0.84x
Great Harwood 2 22.50x
Nairn 2 26.04x
New Deer 2 28.78x
Auchterless 1 32.79x
Boharm 1 59.17x
Bourtie 1 151.52x
Bradford 1 1.01x
Dewsbury 1 2.37x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 9.15x
Gamrie 1 10.42x
Govan 1 0.30x
Grange 1 39.68x
Great Grimsby 1 2.38x
Great Little Saughall 1 99.01x
Leochel Cushnie 1 57.80x
Liff Benvie 1 1.72x
Little Bedwyn 1 138.89x
Old Deer 1 13.74x
South Brent 1 89.29x
St Quivox 1 9.53x
Stow 1 34.97x
Toxteth Park 1 0.60x
Turriff 1 16.13x
Watford 1 4.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 5
George 4
Alexander 3
James 3
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Casma 1
Edwin 1
Ephriam 1
Malikey 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Ro.Hughy 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cran surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cran surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Cran surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cran surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 427 in 2016. That gives Cran a modern rank of #11,260.

What does the Cran surname mean?

A surname of Scottish origin derived from a location name, possibly meaning "the tree".

What does the Cran map show?

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