NameCensus.

UK surname

Cranston

Derived from a place name meaning "crane stone," likely referring to a stone where cranes gathered.

In the 1881 census there were 1,250 people recorded with the Cranston surname, ranking it #3,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,606, ranked #3,873, down from #3,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hawick and Wilton and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham and Hillside and Calton Hill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cranston is 1,636 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.5%.

1881 census count

1,250

Ranked #3,255

Modern count

1,606

2016, ranked #3,873

Peak year

2010

1,636 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cranston had 1,250 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,606 in 2016, ranked #3,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,510 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cranston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cranston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cranston 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 761 #3,501
1861 historical 858 #3,225
1881 historical 1,250 #3,255
1891 historical 1,337 #3,259
1901 historical 1,510 #3,398
1911 historical 745 #5,765
1997 modern 1,487 #3,935
1998 modern 1,555 #3,929
1999 modern 1,572 #3,921
2000 modern 1,586 #3,885
2001 modern 1,561 #3,869
2002 modern 1,613 #3,822
2003 modern 1,549 #3,884
2004 modern 1,559 #3,865
2005 modern 1,533 #3,878
2006 modern 1,562 #3,807
2007 modern 1,571 #3,819
2008 modern 1,580 #3,833
2009 modern 1,609 #3,860
2010 modern 1,636 #3,881
2011 modern 1,606 #3,904
2012 modern 1,562 #3,931
2013 modern 1,617 #3,878
2014 modern 1,632 #3,874
2015 modern 1,601 #3,901
2016 modern 1,606 #3,873

Geography

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Where Cranstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Hawick and Wilton, Gateshead, Edinburgh and Penicuik. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle upon Tyne, County Durham, Hillside and Calton Hill and Wokingham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Penicuik Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle upon Tyne 016 Newcastle upon Tyne
2 County Durham 045 County Durham
3 Hillside and Calton Hill City of Edinburgh
4 Wokingham 015 Wokingham
5 County Durham 010 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cranston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cranston

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cranston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cranston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cranston is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cranston 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cranston

The surname Cranston originated in Scotland, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cran" meaning "crane" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement," suggesting a connection to a place where cranes were found or a settlement named after these birds.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls that recorded the names of Scottish nobles who pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "Cranstoune" in these rolls, indicating its early presence in Scotland.

The Cranston family is thought to have originated in the area of East Lothian, Scotland, where the village of Cranston still exists today. The name is also associated with the town of Crailing in the Scottish Borders, which was once known as "Cranstoune" or "Cranstoune-Riddale."

In the 13th century, a prominent member of the Cranston family was Sir John Cranston, who served as the Sheriff of Roxburghshire and was present at the Battle of Largs in 1263, where the Scots defeated the Norwegians.

Another notable figure was William Cranston (c. 1590-1654), a Scottish clergyman and one of the authors of the National Covenant in 1638, a document that affirmed the Scottish Reformation and opposition to the religious policies of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the Cranston family established itself in Ireland through the Plantation of Ulster, with members settling in counties such as Antrim and Donegal. One notable Cranston from this era was John Cranston (1625-1680), an early governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.

In the 18th century, Samuel Cranston (1659-1727) served as the governor of Rhode Island from 1698 to 1727, one of the longest tenures in the colony's history. He played a significant role in securing the colony's charter and defending its rights against encroachment from neighboring colonies.

The name Cranston has also been associated with various place names, such as Cranston, Rhode Island, which was named after the Cranston family, and Cranston Hill in Edinburgh, Scotland, which likely took its name from the nearby village of Cranston.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cranston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cranston 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. Lanarkshire leads with 234 Cranstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.12x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 234 6.12x
Midlothian 166 10.48x
Durham 136 3.87x
Yorkshire 88 0.75x
Roxburghshire 82 38.29x
Lancashire 77 0.55x
Northumberland 63 3.58x
Surrey 61 1.06x
Middlesex 59 0.50x
Peeblesshire 37 66.53x
Hampshire 33 1.36x
Ayrshire 24 2.71x
Dumfriesshire 24 9.19x
Selkirkshire 17 15.89x
Berwickshire 15 10.48x
Kent 14 0.35x
Cumberland 9 0.88x
Derbyshire 8 0.43x
Hertfordshire 8 0.98x
Clackmannanshire 7 7.17x
Renfrewshire 7 0.76x
Essex 6 0.26x
Herefordshire 5 1.03x
East Lothian 3 1.92x
Glamorgan 3 0.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.13x
Somerset 3 0.16x
Angus 2 0.18x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Dorset 2 0.26x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.63x
Fife 2 0.29x
Berkshire 1 0.11x
Isle of Man 1 0.46x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.58x
Nairnshire 1 2.77x
Royal Navy 1 0.71x
Shropshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.05x
West Lothian 1 0.56x
Westmorland 1 0.38x
Wigtownshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 54 Cranstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.58x.

Place Total Index
Barony 54 5.58x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 46 7.22x
Glasgow 35 5.16x
Govan 35 3.70x
Penicuik 32 148.70x
Gateshead 28 10.63x
Wilton 21 89.36x
Lesmahagow 19 46.98x
Bishopwearmouth 16 5.30x
Kyo 15 90.58x
Morpeth 15 72.53x
South Leith 15 8.42x
Thornton In Fylde 15 48.88x
Carluke 14 40.32x
Eckford 13 350.40x
North Leith 13 17.74x
Pirbright 13 443.69x
Stewarton 13 74.24x
Ednam 12 480.00x
Carnwath 11 46.53x
Leeds 11 1.66x
Peebles 11 66.95x
Borthwick 10 141.24x
Bothwell 10 9.64x
Camberwell 10 1.32x
Chelsea London 10 2.81x
Friern Barnet 10 38.40x
Jedburgh 10 47.64x
Kirkdale 10 4.24x
South Bedburn Hamsterley 10 714.29x
Cambusnethan 9 10.60x
East Meon 9 142.18x
Edinburgh St Georges 9 27.38x
Lanark 9 29.25x
Melrose 9 33.43x
Monkwearmouth 9 26.73x
Muirkirk 9 43.31x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 8.57x
Quernmore 9 379.75x
Smailholm 9 500.00x
Westgate 9 8.26x
Battersea 8 1.84x
Bradford 8 2.82x
Crondall 8 61.44x
Easington In Guisbrough 8 306.51x
Edinburgh Canongate 8 19.85x
Glenholm 8 842.11x
Glossop Dale 8 9.23x
Greenwich 8 4.25x
Harton 8 57.55x
Newington 8 1.83x
Toxteth Park 8 1.68x
West Linton 8 176.60x
Closeburn 7 114.94x
Galashiels 7 17.70x
Holdenhurst 7 11.01x
Horton In Bradford 7 3.83x
Inveresk 7 16.32x
Linthorpe 7 10.01x
Middlesbrough 7 4.59x
Stranton 7 5.91x
West Calder 7 22.42x
Westoe 7 3.51x
Bow London 6 3.99x
Byker 6 6.90x
Crawford 6 84.15x
Darlington 6 4.42x
Durrisdeer 6 133.93x
East Barnet 6 37.13x
Eddleston 6 207.61x
Fulham London 6 3.50x
Iveston 6 37.04x
Kelso 6 28.12x
Langton 6 292.68x
Middlebie 6 76.63x
New Monkland 6 5.31x
Northallerton 6 40.13x
Tynemouth 6 6.37x
Whitehaven 6 11.06x
Wolsingham 6 18.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 25
Margaret 23
Jane 22
Ann 14
Sarah 14
Ellen 12
Annie 10
Emma 8
Isabella 6
Eliza 5
Hannah 5
Jessie 5
Alice 4
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Agnes 3
Catherine 3
Lily 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Cath. 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Millie 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Bella 1
Bertha 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Elizbth. 1
Esther 1
Har. 1
Jamima 1
Jean 1
Winneford 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 26
Thomas 25
James 22
George 19
Joseph 13
Robert 13
Charles 10
Henry 10
Wm. 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Andrew 3
Francis 3
Samuel 3
Alexander 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Booth 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Hudson 2
Jas. 2
Jesse 2
Martin 2
Nicholas 2
Partric 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Willm. 2
Bepman 1
Elaxander 1
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Fredrick 1
G.Hur.Henry 1
Gibson 1
H. 1
J.William 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Lascelles 1
Mathew 1

FAQ

Cranston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cranston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,250 people were recorded with the Cranston surname. That placed it at #3,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cranston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,606 in 2016. That gives Cranston a modern rank of #3,873.

What does the Cranston surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "crane stone," likely referring to a stone where cranes gathered.

What does the Cranston map show?

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