NameCensus.

UK surname

Crate

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a crag or crest of a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Crate surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 322, ranked #14,033, down from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Battersea and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset, Erewash and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crate is 344 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.7%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

322

2016, ranked #14,033

Peak year

1999

344 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crate had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016, ranked #14,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crate 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 276 #11,810
1901 historical 300 #11,647
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 333 #12,615
1998 modern 338 #12,829
1999 modern 344 #12,776
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 332 #13,090
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 313 #13,502
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 312 #13,554
2007 modern 323 #13,351
2008 modern 324 #13,437
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 342 #13,314
2012 modern 329 #13,593
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 331 #13,739
2016 modern 322 #14,033

Geography

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Where Crates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Battersea, St Mary Islington, Reigate and Stoke Charity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset, Erewash, Northumberland and Hyvots and Gilmerton. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Battersea London (South Districts)
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Reigate Surrey
5 Stoke Charity Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 003 West Dorset
2 Erewash 003 Erewash
3 Northumberland 004 Northumberland
4 Hyvots and Gilmerton City of Edinburgh
5 Northumberland 013 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crate

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Crate is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Crate is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crate falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crate

The surname CRATE is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word "cræt," meaning a woven basket or a crate used for transporting goods. This name likely originated as an occupational surname, given to those who were makers or sellers of crates and baskets.

The earliest recorded instances of the CRATE surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. It is believed that the name may have originated in these regions, which had a strong tradition of basket-weaving and crate-making due to their proximity to coastal areas and trade routes.

One of the earliest known bearers of the CRATE surname was John Crate, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327. Another notable early record is that of William Crate, who was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Essex in 1334.

The CRATE surname has also been found in various historical records and documents over the centuries. For instance, in the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666, there are entries for families with the surname CRATE in counties like Kent, Essex, and Sussex.

Throughout history, several individuals with the CRATE surname have achieved notable status or recognition. One such person was Sir Ralph Crate (1592-1671), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ipswich in the 17th century. Another prominent figure was William Crate (1675-1733), a renowned English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London.

Other notable individuals bearing the CRATE surname include Thomas Crate (1810-1892), a British author and poet known for his works on rural life in England, and Mary Crate (1832-1901), an English philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for women's rights and education.

In more recent times, the CRATE surname has been carried by individuals like John Crate (1913-1998), a respected American journalist and war correspondent who covered various conflicts during the 20th century, and Emily Crate (born 1985), a contemporary British artist known for her large-scale installations and mixed-media works.

While the CRATE surname may have originated as an occupational name, it has since become a lasting part of English and global heritage, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crate 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. Hampshire leads with 52 Crates recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.55x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 52 13.55x
Surrey 48 5.26x
Middlesex 43 2.30x
Dorset 10 8.14x
Cheshire 8 1.94x
Ayrshire 7 4.99x
Yorkshire 7 0.38x
Devon 3 0.77x
Essex 3 0.81x
Hertfordshire 3 2.32x
Somerset 3 1.00x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.27x
Kent 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 22 Crates recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.92x.

Place Total Index
Battersea 22 31.92x
Reigate Foreign 10 101.21x
St Marylebone London 9 9.00x
Stoke Charity 9 11250.00x
Bramshill 8 8888.89x
Newington 8 11.56x
Bromborough 7 813.95x
Fordington 7 264.15x
Hartley Wintney 7 608.70x
St John Winchester 7 864.20x
Fulham London 5 18.41x
Heckfield 5 1388.89x
Hornsey 5 21.11x
Islington London 5 2.75x
Lambeth 5 3.06x
Micheldever 5 746.27x
St Botolph Aldersgate 5 232.56x
Tarbolton 5 216.45x
Chelsea London 4 7.09x
Featherstone 4 192.31x
Ardleigh 3 291.26x
East Barnet 3 117.19x
St George Hanover Square 3 9.09x
Wolborough 3 60.85x
Wonston 3 666.67x
Beverley St Nicholas 2 131.58x
Liverpool 2 1.48x
St Mary Kalendar 2 250.00x
St Maurice Winchester 2 125.00x
Thorncombe 2 281.69x
Wells St Cuthbert 2 97.09x
Aldershot 1 7.78x
Binsted 1 68.49x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 8.16x
Bromley London 1 2.43x
Camberwell 1 0.84x
Chilbolton 1 454.55x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.26x
Crewkerne 1 31.25x
Croydon 1 1.97x
Doddington 1 270.27x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.45x
Kensington London 1 0.96x
Kilmarnock 1 6.00x
Northampton All Sts 1 16.72x
Paddington London 1 1.45x
Portland 1 15.13x
Portsmouth 1 11.31x
Sale 1 19.72x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.65x
St Luke London 1 3.33x
St Quivox 1 21.10x
Westminster St James 1 5.19x
Westminster St John 1 4.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Rosa 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Avice 1
Bridgett 1
Carrie 1
Carry 1
Clara 1
Devota 1
Eda 1
Effie 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lottie 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Nelly 1
Precilla 1
Ruth 1
S. 1
Susannah 1
Thresa 1
Tryphinia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
William 8
James 6
John 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Willm. 3
Arthur 2
Augustus 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Afrelo 1
Albert 1
Charly 1
Christopher 1
Clarence 1
David 1
Egbert 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Job 1
Michael 1
Robt.Jas. 1
Robt.Jno. 1
T. 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Crate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Crate surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016. That gives Crate a modern rank of #14,033.

What does the Crate surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a crag or crest of a hill.

What does the Crate map show?

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