NameCensus.

UK surname

Creary

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "criadh" meaning clay or earthen.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Creary surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 200, ranked #19,591, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lambeth, Hackney and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creary is 218 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 426.3%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

200

2016, ranked #19,591

Peak year

2009

218 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creary had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016, ranked #19,591.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 82 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Creary surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creary surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creary 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 68 #25,196
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 166 #20,329
1999 modern 164 #20,621
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 182 #19,411
2003 modern 176 #19,623
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 179 #19,467
2006 modern 177 #19,738
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 210 #18,677
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 206 #19,318
2015 modern 194 #19,994
2016 modern 200 #19,591

Geography

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Where Crearys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lambeth, Hackney, Barking and Dagenham, Croydon and Manchester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
2 Hackney 016 Hackney
3 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
4 Croydon 011 Croydon
5 Manchester 049 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creary

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creary

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Creary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Creary 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Creary is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Creary is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creary falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Creary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Creary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Creary

The surname Creary is believed to have originated in Scotland, specifically in the Orkney Islands, during the 12th century. It is derived from the Old Norse words "kràka" meaning "crow" and "ærgi" meaning "dwelling" or "pasture." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a place frequented by crows or perhaps someone who had a distinctive appearance or mannerism reminiscent of a crow.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Orkneyinga Saga, a historical narrative of the Orkney Islands written in the early 13th century. This saga mentions a man named Crakkærgi, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name Creary.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various forms in the records of the Orkney Islands, such as Craikargy, Crakkergy, and Crekardy. These variations suggest that the name had already begun to evolve and take on different spellings over time.

One notable individual with the surname Creary was William Creary, a Scottish explorer and navigator who lived in the late 16th century. He is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to explore the coastline of what is now Canada, specifically the area around Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Another significant figure was James Creary, born in 1793 in Orkney, who served as a captain in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He is renowned for his bravery and leadership during several naval battles against the French fleet.

In the 19th century, the Creary name was also documented in Ireland, where it is believed that some Scottish families with the name had migrated. One example is Patrick Creary, born in 1825 in County Antrim, Ireland, who was a prominent political activist and advocate for Irish independence.

Additionally, the name Creary has been associated with certain place names in Scotland, such as Creary Head, a headland on the island of Westray in the Orkney Islands, and Craikaray, a small island off the coast of Orkney.

It is worth noting that while the name Creary is not as common as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and connections to various historical events and locations, particularly in the Orkney Islands and Scotland as a whole.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creary families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creary 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. Lancashire leads with 25 Crearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.84x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 25 5.84x
Worcestershire 5 10.61x
Westmorland 3 37.83x
Yorkshire 3 0.84x
Berkshire 1 3.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 6 Crearys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.17x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 6 31.17x
Worcester St Andrew 5 3125.00x
Kirkby Ireleth 4 1904.76x
Liverpool 4 15.38x
Salford 4 31.77x
Kendal 3 206.90x
Dalton In Furness 2 121.21x
Everton 2 14.66x
Preston 2 17.47x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 206.19x
Avington 1 10000.00x
Hawes 1 434.78x
Lower Holker 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Eleanor 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Jennet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
John 3
William 3
George 2
Robert 2
Leonard 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Creary households.

FAQ

Creary surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creary surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Creary surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creary surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 200 in 2016. That gives Creary a modern rank of #19,591.

What does the Creary surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic word "criadh" meaning clay or earthen.

What does the Creary map show?

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