UK surname
An occupational surname for someone who carved wood or stone, or a nickname for a greedy person.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Craver surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Foulsham and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craver is 191 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.8%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
191 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Craver surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Craver surname density by area, 1891 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 | 137 | #13,812 |
| 1861 | historical | 191 | #12,467 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 84 | #24,759 |
| 1911 | historical | 56 | #27,216 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 4 | #37,862 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 6 | #37,586 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 14 | #36,886 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 14 | #37,041 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 14 | #37,115 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Foulsham, Preston, Bradford and Bispham. 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 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Foulsham | Norfolk |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Bispham | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Craver 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 Craver, 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 Craver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Craver 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, Craver 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 Craver is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Craver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Craver originated in England, likely in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cravian," meaning "to crave" or "to desire." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname, referring to someone who persistently sought or demanded something.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Craver can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a person named John Craver is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 13th century in that region of northern England.
In the 16th century, the Craver surname appeared in various records across different counties in England. For instance, in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1532, a Thomas Craver is listed. Additionally, in the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1558, a Robert Craver is mentioned.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Craver. One example is John Craver (1592-1670), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Slaugham in Sussex during the mid-17th century.
Another prominent figure was Thomas Craver (1618-1688), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, England. He was a prominent figure in the city of Bristol and served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1672.
In the 18th century, a notable Craver was William Craver (1745-1825), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Freemasons' Hall on Great Queen Street.
Moving to the 19th century, one can find references to Samuel Craver (1811-1891), a Scottish poet and writer who published several collections of poetry and works of fiction during his lifetime.
Finally, in the early 20th century, there was Arthur Craver (1890-1967), an American businessman and philanthropist who established the Craver Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to supporting education and scientific research.
While the Craver surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration patterns. However, the earliest documented instances and historical figures associated with this name can be traced back to various regions of England, dating as far back as the late 13th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craver 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. Yorkshire leads with 7 Cravers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 7 | 5.18x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.24x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.47x |
| Caithness | 1 | 53.48x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 4.59x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 5 Cravers recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds | 5 | 65.53x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 2 | 229.89x |
| Radcliffe | 2 | 256.41x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 72.46x |
| Olrig | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 36.36x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 9.11x |
| Willesden | 1 | 77.52x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Craver 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 Craver 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 Craver households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Accountant | 1 |
| Boot Revitter | 1 |
| Cloth Fuller | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Leather Boot Lace Maker | 1 |
| Linen Weaver | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Watch Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Craver surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Craver a modern rank of #37,278.
An occupational surname for someone who carved wood or stone, or a nickname for a greedy person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Craver 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.