UK surname
A locational surname likely derived from places in England named Crask or Creswick.
In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Crask surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 53, ranked #34,727, down from #17,602 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sherringham, London parishes and Clee. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crask is 182 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.6%.
1881 census count
122
Ranked #17,602
Modern count
53
2016, ranked #34,727
Peak year
1851
182 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Crask surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Crask surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 182 | #11,209 |
| 1861 | historical | 74 | #24,370 |
| 1881 | historical | 122 | #17,602 |
| 1891 | historical | 92 | #25,109 |
| 1901 | historical | 92 | #23,800 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 57 | #31,917 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 67 | #31,473 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 66 | #31,879 |
| 2004 | modern | 62 | #32,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 69 | #32,007 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 61 | #33,915 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 58 | #34,330 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 59 | #34,459 |
| 2015 | modern | 56 | #34,571 |
| 2016 | modern | 53 | #34,727 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sherringham, London parishes, Clee, Roughton and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sherringham | Norfolk |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Clee | Lincolnshire |
| 4 | Roughton | Norfolk |
| 5 | Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory | Northamptonshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Crask surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crask, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Crask surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Crask household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Crask is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Crask is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Crask, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Crask has its origins in Scotland, tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "crasg," meaning "crossing" or "ford," suggesting that the name may have been associated with a location near a river crossing or ford.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Crask can be found in the Scottish parish records from the late 16th century. In 1593, a John Crask was documented in the parish of Abernethy, located in the county of Perthshire.
During the 17th century, the name Crask appeared in various historical records across Scotland. In 1625, a William Crask was mentioned in the Burgh Records of Dunfermline, a town in Fife. Additionally, a Robert Crask was recorded in the Parish Records of Arbroath, Angus, in 1678.
While not a common surname, the Crask name has been associated with notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was James Crask, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived in the late 17th century. He was born in 1652 in Aberdeenshire and became a prominent figure in the city of Aberdeen, serving as a magistrate and council member.
In the 18th century, the Crask surname appeared in various records across Scotland. A notable example is Robert Crask, born in 1721 in Fife, who served as a minister in the Church of Scotland and was known for his scholarly works on theology and philosophy.
Another individual of note was Alexander Crask, born in 1789 in Aberdeenshire. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish textile industry and played a significant role in the development of wool manufacturing in the region.
Throughout the 19th century, the Crask name continued to be present in Scottish records. One notable figure was William Crask, born in 1812 in Perthshire, who became a respected educator and headmaster of several schools in the region.
While not an exhaustive list, these examples provide insight into the historical presence and notable individuals associated with the surname Crask, a name deeply rooted in Scotland's history and geography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crask surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 30 Crasks recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.67x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 30 | 16.67x |
| Suffolk | 17 | 11.93x |
| Lincolnshire | 15 | 8.02x |
| Essex | 12 | 5.19x |
| Durham | 9 | 2.58x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 0.68x |
| Northamptonshire | 8 | 7.27x |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 | 9.44x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 3.85x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 3.41x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1.90x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 0.75x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.07x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Roughton in Norfolk leads with 15 Crasks recorded in 1881 and an index of 8333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Roughton | 15 | 8333.33x |
| Clee With Weelsby | 13 | 317.07x |
| Leyton Low | 8 | 170.21x |
| Northampton St Giles | 8 | 190.93x |
| Lowestoft | 6 | 89.15x |
| Drinkstone | 5 | 2631.58x |
| Hunwick Helmington | 5 | 595.24x |
| Loughborough | 5 | 84.89x |
| St Sepulchre London | 5 | 292.40x |
| East Dereham | 4 | 176.21x |
| Gislingham | 4 | 1818.18x |
| North Walsham | 4 | 307.69x |
| Westoe | 4 | 20.26x |
| Bottisham | 3 | 476.19x |
| Earley | 3 | 205.48x |
| North Collingham | 3 | 810.81x |
| West Beckham | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Great Grimsby | 2 | 16.84x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 13.41x |
| Newmarket All Sts | 2 | 363.64x |
| South Creake | 2 | 487.80x |
| West Ham | 2 | 3.92x |
| Woodford | 2 | 76.34x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 1.97x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 9.07x |
| Bury St Edmunds St James | 1 | 26.25x |
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 30.96x |
| Hartest | 1 | 400.00x |
| Holy Trinity Less London | 1 | 333.33x |
| Littlehampton | 1 | 63.29x |
| Madron Penzance | 1 | 20.75x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.06x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 1 | 26.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Crask surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Crask surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Crask households.
FAQ
In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Crask surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 53 in 2016. That gives Crask a modern rank of #34,727.
A locational surname likely derived from places in England named Crask or Creswick.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Crask bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.