NameCensus.

UK surname

Craven

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person with a cowardly or timid nature.

In the 1881 census there were 5,769 people recorded with the Craven surname, ranking it #764 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,069, ranked #947, down from #764 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Manchester and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Kirklees and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craven is 7,350 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.5%.

1881 census count

5,769

Ranked #764

Modern count

7,069

2016, ranked #947

Peak year

1911

7,350 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Craven had 5,769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #764 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,069 in 2016, ranked #947.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,350 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Craven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Craven surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Craven 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 3,624 #785
1861 historical 3,411 #829
1881 historical 5,769 #764
1891 historical 5,879 #802
1901 historical 7,011 #788
1911 historical 7,350 #706
1997 modern 7,013 #929
1998 modern 7,229 #939
1999 modern 7,298 #935
2000 modern 7,236 #937
2001 modern 7,038 #941
2002 modern 7,224 #934
2003 modern 7,018 #936
2004 modern 6,979 #942
2005 modern 6,945 #937
2006 modern 6,939 #936
2007 modern 7,003 #934
2008 modern 6,990 #946
2009 modern 7,156 #941
2010 modern 7,254 #949
2011 modern 7,149 #950
2012 modern 6,993 #952
2013 modern 7,120 #957
2014 modern 7,188 #948
2015 modern 7,096 #946
2016 modern 7,069 #947

Geography

Back to top

Where Cravens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Manchester, Bradford, Keighley and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Kirklees, Cheshire West and Chester and Conwy. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Keighley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 022 Bradford
2 Bradford 010 Bradford
3 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
4 Cheshire West and Chester 030 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Conwy 012 Conwy

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Craven

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Craven

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Craven 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

Craven 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

Craven falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Craven

The surname Craven is an English locational name derived from the Craven district of North Yorkshire. It originates from the Old Norse word "krafr," meaning "nook" or "corner," referring to the secluded and remote nature of the area. The Craven district encompasses the scenic Yorkshire Dales and has a rich history dating back to the 7th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Craven can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cravene." This Norman survey of landholdings in England provides valuable insight into the distribution of names and families during that era.

In the 12th century, the surname Craven was associated with the powerful Craven family, who held significant land and influence in the Craven district. Notable members include Sir William Craven (c. 1170-1244), a prominent landowner and benefactor of the Cistercian order.

The name Craven also has ties to the nearby town of Skipton, which was once referred to as "Skipton-in-Craven." This connection is evident in the life of Sir William Craven (1608-1697), a renowned merchant, courtier, and philanthropist who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1669.

Another notable figure was Richard Craven (c. 1530-1600), an English churchman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1584 to 1586.

In the literary world, the surname Craven is associated with Thomas Craven (1616-1648), an English poet and playwright best known for his tragedy "The Reformation." His works provide valuable insight into the cultural and political climate of 17th-century England.

The Craven surname also has ties to the military, with Sir Nevill Maskelyne Craven (1863-1941), a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British Empire.

Throughout history, the surname Craven has been spelled in various ways, including Cravin, Cravene, and Cravyn, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations. While its roots can be traced back to the Craven district of Yorkshire, the name has since spread across England and beyond, carried by families who have contributed to the rich tapestry of history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Craven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craven 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. Yorkshire leads with 3,385 Cravens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3,385 6.06x
Lancashire 969 1.45x
Lincolnshire 178 1.97x
Middlesex 165 0.29x
Cheshire 142 1.14x
Surrey 104 0.38x
Hampshire 91 0.79x
Durham 68 0.41x
Glamorgan 54 0.55x
Staffordshire 43 0.23x
Northumberland 38 0.45x
Lanarkshire 35 0.19x
Worcestershire 33 0.45x
Derbyshire 31 0.35x
Warwickshire 31 0.22x
Kincardineshire 30 4.37x
Nottinghamshire 26 0.34x
Essex 25 0.22x
Kent 25 0.13x
Leicestershire 24 0.38x
Flintshire 22 1.45x
Norfolk 22 0.25x
Sussex 22 0.23x
Shropshire 19 0.39x
Gloucestershire 16 0.14x
Midlothian 15 0.20x
Herefordshire 14 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 13 0.36x
Devon 13 0.11x
Denbighshire 11 0.52x
Dumfriesshire 11 0.88x
Somerset 10 0.11x
Channel Islands 9 0.54x
East Lothian 9 1.20x
Cumberland 7 0.14x
Berkshire 6 0.14x
Northamptonshire 6 0.11x
Royal Navy 6 0.89x
Westmorland 6 0.48x
Brecknockshire 5 0.44x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.22x
Caithness 5 0.65x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.17x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 0.49x
Hertfordshire 3 0.08x
Wiltshire 3 0.06x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.06x
Monmouthshire 2 0.05x
Renfrewshire 2 0.05x
Rutland 2 0.48x
Angus 1 0.02x
Ayrshire 1 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Dorset 1 0.03x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.08x
Orkney 1 0.16x
Perthshire 1 0.04x
Radnorshire 1 0.22x
Roxburghshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manningham in Yorkshire leads with 236 Cravens recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.28x.

Place Total Index
Manningham 236 34.28x
Leeds 176 5.58x
Thornton In Bradford 153 82.24x
Horton In Bradford 135 15.47x
Wortley In Bramley 106 23.95x
Bradford 104 7.69x
Keighley 97 16.28x
Clayton 92 67.27x
Manchester 86 2.86x
Shipley 83 28.62x
Preston 80 4.47x
Portsea 69 3.05x
Halifax 65 7.92x
Wakefield 57 13.29x
Headingley Cum Burley 55 15.29x
Bingley 54 15.17x
Allerton 53 74.41x
Hunslet 53 6.08x
Hulme 52 3.72x
Pudsey 50 16.74x
Blackburn 49 2.75x
Bowling 48 8.67x
Calverley Cum Farsley 48 30.25x
Haworth 48 36.14x
Eccleshill 41 30.15x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 38 18.72x
Armley 38 15.42x
Chapel Allerton 38 45.44x
Holy Trinity 37 2.75x
Heaton 35 58.30x
Lambeth 35 0.71x
Liverpool 35 0.86x
Ovenden 35 14.07x
Stretford 33 8.96x
Scarborough 30 5.91x
Otley 29 21.37x
Baildon 28 26.61x
Birkenhead 28 2.82x
Boston 27 9.87x
Dewsbury 27 4.71x
Batley 26 4.90x
Bishopwearmouth 26 1.81x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 26 10.02x
Huddersfield 25 3.07x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 25 17.74x
Ardwick 24 3.98x
Birmingham 24 0.51x
Kirkdale 24 2.13x
Bramley In Bramley 23 10.75x
Gomersal 23 8.82x
Great Little Marsden 23 7.50x
Holbeck 23 6.21x
Cheetham 22 4.41x
Saddleworth 22 5.10x
St Marylebone London 22 0.73x
Newton 21 4.07x
Camberwell 20 0.56x
Clase 20 5.48x
Idle 20 7.72x
Kings Norton 20 3.03x
Skircoat 20 9.08x
Todmorden Walsden 20 11.16x
West Ham 20 0.81x
Billington 19 69.57x
Great Grimsby 19 3.32x
Horbury 19 19.44x
Terrington With 18 165.90x
Toxteth Park 18 0.79x
Wyke In Bradford 18 18.01x
York St Mary 18 7.78x
Hackney London 17 0.54x
Morley 17 5.85x
Salford 17 0.86x
Utkinton 17 169.32x
Accrington 16 2.63x
Banchory Ternan 16 26.95x
Castleford 16 7.86x
Dewsbury Ossett Cum 16 131.58x
Northowram 16 4.08x
Sculcoates 16 1.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 433
Sarah 242
Elizabeth 207
Ann 123
Jane 100
Annie 94
Hannah 94
Martha 94
Alice 85
Emma 75
Margaret 73
Ellen 72
Emily 63
Eliza 60
Maria 44
Ada 43
Edith 37
Clara 36
Catherine 35
Harriet 28
Florence 26
Louisa 26
Lucy 26
Fanny 25
Kate 25
Charlotte 23
Grace 19
Agnes 16
Anne 16
Amelia 15
Frances 15
Rebecca 14
Ruth 14
Elizth. 13
Susannah 13
Caroline 12
Isabella 12
Julia 12
Betty 11
Esther 11
Harriett 11
Rose 11
Bridget 10
Susan 10
Eliz. 9
Lavinia 9
Lilly 9
Lydia 9
Rachel 9
Selina 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 356
William 267
Thomas 192
James 179
Joseph 147
George 146
Charles 66
Henry 61
Arthur 60
Samuel 55
Edward 49
Herbert 46
Robert 45
Richard 41
Walter 39
Harry 38
Alfred 37
Benjamin 34
Albert 29
Fred 28
Joshua 26
David 25
Francis 22
Edwin 20
Frederick 18
Ernest 17
Frank 16
Hiram 15
Jonas 15
Jonathan 15
Thos. 15
Sam 14
Abraham 13
Tom 13
Isaac 12
Peter 12
Wm. 12
Joe 11
Matthew 10
Patrick 10
Daniel 9
Geo. 8
Jesse 8
Martin 8
Willie 8
Ben 7
Mark 7
Michael 7
Josiah 6
Philip 6

FAQ

Craven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Craven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,769 people were recorded with the Craven surname. That placed it at #764 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Craven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,069 in 2016. That gives Craven a modern rank of #947.

What does the Craven surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person with a cowardly or timid nature.

What does the Craven map show?

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