UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a thorny thicket or bush.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Craythorn surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kings Norton, Bringhurst and Warmington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Craythorn is 104 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.2%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1911
104 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Craythorn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Craythorn surname density by area, 1911 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 | 49 | #24,448 |
| 1861 | historical | 81 | #23,431 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 102 | #23,719 |
| 1901 | historical | 48 | #28,808 |
| 1911 | historical | 104 | #22,209 |
| 1997 | modern | 44 | #33,275 |
| 1998 | modern | 43 | #33,557 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 49 | #33,187 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 42 | #33,951 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 46 | #33,883 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 41 | #34,974 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 41 | #35,221 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 46 | #35,155 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kings Norton, Bringhurst, Warmington, Lutton and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. 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 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Bringhurst | Rutland |
| 3 | Warmington | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | Lutton | Northamptonshire |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Craythorn 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 Craythorn, 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 Craythorn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Craythorn 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, Craythorn 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 Craythorn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Craythorn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Craythorn is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the 14th century. It is believed to have originated from a place name, likely a village or town in the northern regions of England. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cræg," meaning a rocky hill or tor, and "thorn," referring to a thorny bush or tree. This combination suggests that the name may have been associated with a location characterized by rocky terrain and abundant thorn bushes.
One of the earliest known references to the name Craythorn can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1379. These rolls recorded the collection of taxes, and the name Craythorn appears as a landowner or taxpayer within the county. This historical record provides evidence of the surname's existence during the late medieval period in England.
In the 16th century, the name Craythorn appeared in various parish registers and court records across northern England. Notable individuals bearing this surname include John Craythorn, born in 1542 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent landowner and member of the local gentry. Another historical figure was Elizabeth Craythorn, born in 1589 in Lancashire, who was involved in a legal dispute over inheritance rights, as documented in the court records of that time.
During the 17th century, the Craythorn family seemed to have established roots in the county of Northumberland. Records from this period mention a William Craythorn, born in 1621, who was a respected farmer and landowner in the village of Cragside. Additionally, the name appears in the parish records of Hexham, where a Thomas Craythorn, born in 1673, served as a churchwarden for several years.
In the 18th century, the Craythorn surname gained recognition through the accomplishments of Sir Robert Craythorn, born in 1712 in Durham. He was a prominent lawyer and judge who served as a member of the King's Bench. His legal career and contributions to the English judicial system earned him a place in historical records and legal texts of the time.
While the surname Craythorn is not among the most common in England, its historical traces can be found in various regions, particularly in the northern counties. The name's origins and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of English place names and their influence on the formation of surnames, serving as a testament to the country's linguistic and cultural heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Craythorn 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. Leicestershire leads with 17 Craythorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 17 | 22.78x |
| Warwickshire | 14 | 8.25x |
| Northamptonshire | 13 | 20.53x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.00x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 6.83x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.50x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.41x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Easton in Leicestershire leads with 17 Craythorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 14166.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Easton | 17 | 14166.67x |
| Aston | 14 | 29.95x |
| Pendleton In Salford | 7 | 73.53x |
| Kings Norton | 6 | 76.14x |
| Dawdon | 5 | 203.25x |
| Eye | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Warmington | 5 | 3125.00x |
| Oundle | 3 | 422.54x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 8.52x |
| West Bromwich | 2 | 15.37x |
| Banbury | 1 | 120.48x |
| Moss Side | 1 | 23.81x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Craythorn 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 Craythorn 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 Craythorn households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Ag Lab | 7 |
| Brassfounder | 3 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Baker & Publican | 1 |
| Brass Bedstead Founder | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Chandelier Maker | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Hair Dresser | 1 |
| Hair Dresser Wife | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Nail Caster | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Painter & Paperhanger | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Private R M L I | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Weighman (Pitman) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Craythorn surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Craythorn a modern rank of #35,336.
A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a thorny thicket or bush.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Craythorn 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.