UK surname
An English surname referring to someone with a pale complexion.
In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Cream surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 55, ranked #34,627, down from #18,982 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cream is 122 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.6%.
1881 census count
107
Ranked #18,982
Modern count
55
2016, ranked #34,627
Peak year
1911
122 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cream surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cream 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 107 | #18,982 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 122 | #20,245 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 59 | #32,027 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 53 | #32,674 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 55 | #32,895 |
| 2004 | modern | 59 | #32,787 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 63 | #32,943 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 64 | #33,402 |
| 2009 | modern | 64 | #33,675 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 64 | #33,917 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 60 | #34,378 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 55 | #34,620 |
| 2016 | modern | 55 | #34,627 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Manchester and Liverpool. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a | Essex |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cream 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 Cream, 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 Cream surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cream 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, Cream 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 Cream is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cream, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "CREAM" is believed to have originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that referred to a region with a particularly rich or fertile soil.
One possible origin is from the Old English word "cram," which meant "rich" or "fertile." This could have been used to describe a settlement with especially productive agricultural land. Alternatively, the name may have come from a place name that included the word "creme," an Anglo-Norman French term meaning "cream" or "rich soil."
While there are no definitive records of the surname's earliest use, it is possible that it appeared in medieval tax rolls or land records. However, no specific mentions in historical documents like the Domesday Book have been found.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "CREAM" was John Cream, who was born in Oxfordshire, England, around 1520. He was a yeoman farmer and landowner in the village of Bampton.
In the 17th century, the name appears in parish records in various parts of southern England, including Wiltshire and Dorset. Notable individuals from this time include Thomas Cream (1625-1701), a merchant and alderman in the town of Bridport, Dorset.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname spread more widely across Britain. Some notable individuals from this period include:
1. William Cream (1754-1823), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. 2. Mary Cream (1787-1858), an English writer and poet from Gloucestershire. 3. John Cream (1809-1891), a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London. 4. Henry Cream (1838-1904), a British engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in steam engine design. 5. Elizabeth Cream (1876-1944), a Scottish suffragette and advocate for women's rights.
While the surname "CREAM" is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history rooted in the agricultural heritage of England and the naming traditions of medieval times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cream 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. Surrey leads with 19 Creams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 19 | 3.74x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.13x |
| Cambridgeshire | 13 | 19.67x |
| Essex | 11 | 5.34x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.05x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.87x |
| Suffolk | 8 | 6.29x |
| Sussex | 4 | 2.27x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.52x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 1.30x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.65x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.92x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 2.17x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.28x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.72x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 2.13x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 9 Creams recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.97x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 9 | 11.97x |
| Bardwell | 8 | 2962.96x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 7 | 92.72x |
| Lexden | 6 | 722.89x |
| Sculcoates | 5 | 30.51x |
| Aston | 4 | 5.52x |
| Carshalton | 4 | 205.13x |
| Hastings St Clement | 4 | 240.96x |
| Putney | 4 | 84.03x |
| Romford | 4 | 122.70x |
| Fulham London | 3 | 19.83x |
| Impington | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Lower Bebington | 3 | 218.98x |
| Southwark Christchurch | 3 | 61.35x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 20.13x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 29.85x |
| Battersea | 2 | 5.21x |
| Bilton Cum Harrogate | 2 | 56.50x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 3.00x |
| Histon | 2 | 571.43x |
| Manchester | 2 | 3.59x |
| Newton Toney | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 11.95x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 33.56x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.38x |
| West Derby | 2 | 5.52x |
| Accrington | 1 | 8.88x |
| Barking | 1 | 16.58x |
| Boston | 1 | 19.76x |
| Callander | 1 | 129.87x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 3.18x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 6.15x |
| Kingstonupon Hull | 1 | 120.48x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.10x |
| Newington | 1 | 35.09x |
| Newton | 1 | 212.77x |
| Sandhurst | 1 | 65.79x |
| St Clement Danes London | 1 | 46.30x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.44x |
| St Marythe Less | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cream 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 Cream 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 Cream households.
FAQ
In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Cream surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 55 in 2016. That gives Cream a modern rank of #34,627.
An English surname referring to someone with a pale complexion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cream 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.