NameCensus.

UK surname

Crane

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked as an operator of a lifting crane.

In the 1881 census there were 6,295 people recorded with the Crane surname, ranking it #685 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,765, ranked #749, down from #685 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, South Holland and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crane is 9,512 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

6,295

Ranked #685

Modern count

8,765

2016, ranked #749

Peak year

1999

9,512 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crane had 6,295 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #685 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,765 in 2016, ranked #749.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,430 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crane surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crane surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crane 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 3,966 #718
1861 historical 3,942 #709
1881 historical 6,295 #685
1891 historical 6,624 #691
1901 historical 7,814 #685
1911 historical 8,430 #589
1997 modern 9,085 #691
1998 modern 9,457 #692
1999 modern 9,512 #693
2000 modern 9,371 #699
2001 modern 9,174 #699
2002 modern 9,376 #699
2003 modern 9,078 #706
2004 modern 8,996 #713
2005 modern 8,828 #720
2006 modern 8,767 #726
2007 modern 8,821 #728
2008 modern 8,885 #727
2009 modern 9,036 #731
2010 modern 9,230 #731
2011 modern 9,068 #733
2012 modern 8,850 #739
2013 modern 8,997 #737
2014 modern 8,987 #741
2015 modern 8,823 #745
2016 modern 8,765 #749

Geography

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Where Cranes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, South Holland, North Dorset, East Cambridgeshire and Harborough. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
2 South Holland 003 South Holland
3 North Dorset 007 North Dorset
4 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
5 Harborough 006 Harborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crane

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crane

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crane, 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 Crane surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Crane 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Crane is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Crane 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

Crane 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 Crane 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 Crane, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Crane

The surname Crane is derived from the Old English word 'cran' or 'cran-oc', meaning 'crane' – the large wading bird. This name originated as a nickname for someone thought to have had a physical resemblance to the crane or who walked in a similar manner. It likely arose in various parts of England during the medieval period.

The earliest known record of the surname Crane dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Crana' and 'Crane'. One of the first recorded instances is that of Walter Crane, who held lands in Suffolk in the late 12th century.

Another early bearer of the name was Robert Crane, a prominent merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1260 to 1325. He is mentioned in several historical records of the time.

Sir Francis Crane (1579-1636) was an English merchant, politician, and renowned patron of the arts. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1623 and was a prominent figure in the Virginia Company, which established the first English settlements in North America.

Walter Crane (1845-1915) was a renowned English artist, book illustrator, and children's book writer. He is best known for his beautifully illustrated editions of classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Stephen Crane (1871-1900) was an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and journalist. His most famous works include 'The Red Badge of Courage' and the short story 'The Open Boat'. He is considered one of the most influential writers of the late 19th century.

The surname Crane has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Cranbrook in Kent, Cranfield in Bedfordshire, and Cranmore in Somerset, reflecting its widespread use and distribution across the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crane families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crane 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. Middlesex leads with 966 Cranes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 966 1.57x
Lancashire 694 0.95x
Surrey 558 1.86x
Norfolk 450 4.75x
Suffolk 399 5.32x
Leicestershire 239 3.50x
Kent 237 1.13x
Yorkshire 232 0.38x
Essex 218 1.79x
Worcestershire 204 2.53x
Hertfordshire 193 4.54x
Somerset 159 1.60x
Staffordshire 133 0.64x
Warwickshire 128 0.82x
Cambridgeshire 127 3.25x
Northamptonshire 111 1.91x
Lincolnshire 91 0.92x
Cheshire 76 0.56x
Shropshire 75 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 72 0.87x
Gloucestershire 71 0.59x
Monmouthshire 66 1.48x
Durham 64 0.35x
Hampshire 54 0.43x
Aberdeenshire 53 0.93x
Lanarkshire 53 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 52 1.40x
Derbyshire 49 0.51x
Cumberland 48 0.90x
Huntingdonshire 48 3.92x
Berkshire 44 0.95x
Bedfordshire 39 1.22x
Glamorgan 39 0.36x
Sussex 39 0.38x
Dorset 34 0.84x
Northumberland 31 0.34x
Renfrewshire 29 0.61x
Wiltshire 24 0.44x
Isle of Man 19 1.66x
Devon 11 0.09x
Midlothian 11 0.13x
Rutland 11 2.43x
Westmorland 11 0.81x
Oxfordshire 9 0.24x
Angus 7 0.12x
Ayrshire 7 0.15x
West Lothian 7 0.75x
Royal Navy 6 0.82x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.16x
Cornwall 3 0.04x
Fife 3 0.08x
Flintshire 3 0.18x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.12x
Herefordshire 2 0.08x
Cardiganshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.05x
Stirlingshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 97 Cranes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.81x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 97 2.81x
Leicester St Margaret 97 5.82x
St Pancras London 97 1.96x
Islington London 86 1.44x
Newington 80 3.51x
Camberwell 78 1.98x
Lambeth 77 1.43x
West Ham 59 2.20x
Great Yarmouth 57 7.26x
Liverpool 55 1.24x
St Marylebone London 55 1.67x
Bermondsey 51 2.78x
Everton 48 2.06x
Bromsgrove 47 17.35x
Kensington London 44 1.28x
Aston 43 1.00x
Mile End Old Town London 42 3.20x
Nottingham St Mary 42 1.95x
Toxteth Park 39 1.57x
Battersea 37 1.63x
Manchester 37 1.13x
Blackburn 36 1.85x
Shoreditch London 36 1.35x
Codicote 33 130.23x
Salford 33 1.53x
Chobham 32 60.35x
Kidderminster Borough 32 6.79x
Hornsey 31 3.98x
Southwark St George Martyr 31 2.50x
Stoke Upon Trent 31 1.41x
Tottenham 30 3.06x
Leicester St Mary 29 5.25x
Preston 29 1.48x
Bethnal Green London 28 1.05x
Croydon 28 1.68x
Hammersmith London 28 1.84x
West Derby 28 1.31x
Debach 27 1058.82x
Clifton On Dunsmore 25 198.89x
Limehouse London 25 3.69x
Epping 24 48.55x
Wolverhampton 24 1.50x
Chelmondiston 23 126.17x
Cottingham 23 115.00x
Greenwich 23 2.34x
Ipswich St Margaret 23 9.03x
Ware 23 18.89x
Hampstead London 22 2.29x
Spotland 22 2.71x
St George Hanover Square 22 2.03x
Child Okeford 21 117.65x
Layton With Warbreck 21 7.83x
Poplar London 21 1.81x
Portsea 21 0.85x
Southwark St Saviour 21 6.63x
Whitechapel London 21 3.46x
Wigston Magna 21 23.17x
Deptford St Paul 20 1.23x
Enfield 20 4.95x
Woodbridge 20 20.84x
Barrow In Furness 19 1.91x
Dunton Bassett 19 220.16x
Gillingham 19 4.38x
Hertford St John 19 30.01x
Trevethin 19 4.52x
Yaxley 19 66.36x
Bedminster 18 1.93x
Bristol St George 18 3.22x
Heigham 18 3.54x
Clerkenwell London 17 1.17x
Cudham 17 78.92x
Holy Trinity 17 1.16x
Paddington London 17 0.75x
Theydon Garnon 17 61.20x
Lakenheath 16 40.36x
Meare 16 53.75x
Birmingham 15 0.29x
Exning 15 39.59x
Fulham London 15 1.68x
St Anne Soho London 15 4.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 392
Elizabeth 242
Sarah 194
Alice 118
Ellen 118
Eliza 113
Emma 113
Ann 101
Jane 98
Annie 88
Emily 77
Margaret 70
Hannah 67
Maria 62
Harriet 48
Louisa 47
Martha 47
Florence 42
Charlotte 38
Ada 34
Catherine 33
Susan 33
Caroline 31
Edith 31
Anne 29
Agnes 27
Rebecca 25
Lucy 24
Clara 23
Rose 22
Frances 21
Kate 20
Fanny 19
Matilda 18
Minnie 17
Amelia 16
Isabella 16
Julia 14
Sophia 14
Bridget 13
Eleanor 13
Harriett 13
Jessie 13
Laura 13
Rosa 13
Esther 12
Ethel 12
Susannah 12
Beatrice 11
Lydia 11

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 373
John 335
George 233
James 203
Thomas 203
Henry 145
Charles 139
Edward 87
Joseph 82
Robert 74
Alfred 70
Arthur 70
Samuel 67
Frederick 61
Walter 52
Albert 48
Harry 35
Richard 31
Ernest 28
Herbert 27
Patrick 25
David 23
Francis 21
Stephen 19
Frank 18
Daniel 16
Martin 14
Wm. 14
Michael 13
Edwin 12
Peter 12
Thos. 10
Benjamin 9
Fredrick 8
Geo. 8
Fred 7
Fredk. 7
Horace 7
Matthew 7
Edgar 6
Isaac 6
Sidney 6
Tom 6
Mark 5
Abel 4
Andrew 4
Jacob 4
Lewis 4
Phillip 4
Sydney 4

FAQ

Crane surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crane surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,295 people were recorded with the Crane surname. That placed it at #685 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crane surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,765 in 2016. That gives Crane a modern rank of #749.

What does the Crane surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked as an operator of a lifting crane.

What does the Crane map show?

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