NameCensus.

UK surname

Creasey

An English surname derived from the Old French word "creisseir" meaning to increase or grow.

In the 1881 census there were 1,206 people recorded with the Creasey surname, ranking it #3,343 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,114, ranked #3,057, up from #3,343 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Billinghay, Lincoln St Botolph and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Kesteven, East Lindsey and Lincoln.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creasey is 2,286 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.3%.

1881 census count

1,206

Ranked #3,343

Modern count

2,114

2016, ranked #3,057

Peak year

1999

2,286 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creasey had 1,206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,343 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,114 in 2016, ranked #3,057.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,022 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Creasey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creasey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creasey 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 621 #4,162
1861 historical 522 #5,026
1881 historical 1,206 #3,343
1891 historical 1,371 #3,167
1901 historical 1,597 #3,235
1911 historical 2,022 #2,461
1997 modern 2,183 #2,838
1998 modern 2,275 #2,834
1999 modern 2,286 #2,846
2000 modern 2,278 #2,834
2001 modern 2,233 #2,827
2002 modern 2,254 #2,867
2003 modern 2,175 #2,894
2004 modern 2,144 #2,932
2005 modern 2,069 #2,986
2006 modern 2,103 #2,950
2007 modern 2,072 #3,021
2008 modern 2,098 #3,004
2009 modern 2,163 #3,002
2010 modern 2,179 #3,047
2011 modern 2,141 #3,054
2012 modern 2,139 #2,997
2013 modern 2,171 #3,005
2014 modern 2,160 #3,044
2015 modern 2,131 #3,045
2016 modern 2,114 #3,057

Geography

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Where Creaseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Billinghay, Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and East Grinstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Kesteven, East Lindsey and Lincoln. 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 Billinghay Lincolnshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
5 East Grinstead Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Kesteven 007 North Kesteven
2 North Kesteven 005 North Kesteven
3 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
4 Lincoln 004 Lincoln
5 North Kesteven 004 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creasey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creasey

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Creasey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Creasey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Creasey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Creasey is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creasey falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Creasey

The surname Creasey originates from England and dates back to the late 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cress," referring to the watercress plant, which suggests that the name may have been an occupational name for someone who cultivated or sold watercress. Alternatively, it could have been a topographic name for someone who lived near a watercress bed or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Creasey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Cressie." This spelling variation indicates the name's connection to the Old English word "cress." Other early spellings include "Cressy," "Cresci," and "Cressie."

In the 14th century, the name Creasey appeared in various records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1349, where it was spelled "Cressy." This document recorded legal transactions involving land and property, suggesting that the name was well-established in that region during that period.

One notable bearer of the Creasey surname was John Creasey (1908-1973), a prolific English crime writer who published over 600 novels under various pseudonyms. He is considered one of the most successful and influential authors of crime fiction in the 20th century.

Another significant figure was Mary Creasey (1825-1886), an English painter and illustrator known for her watercolor paintings of flowers and landscapes. She exhibited her work at the Royal Academy and other prestigious venues during the Victorian era.

In the 16th century, the name Creasey was associated with a place called Cressy or Cressy Green in Lincolnshire, as evidenced by records from that time period. This suggests that the surname may have originated as a locational name for someone from that particular area.

Other notable individuals with the Creasey surname include William Creasey (1815-1869), an English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Gothic Revival style, and Thomas Creasey (1768-1838), an English engraver and printmaker known for his landscape etchings and aquatints.

Throughout its history, the Creasey surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Essex, and Lincolnshire, where it has been documented in numerous historical records and documents over several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creasey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creasey 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. Lincolnshire leads with 366 Creaseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.47x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 366 19.47x
Surrey 163 2.85x
Middlesex 158 1.34x
Sussex 113 5.70x
Suffolk 71 4.96x
Essex 62 2.67x
Hertfordshire 54 6.66x
Yorkshire 42 0.36x
Kent 31 0.77x
Lancashire 21 0.15x
Leicestershire 17 1.30x
Nottinghamshire 17 1.07x
Derbyshire 16 0.87x
Bedfordshire 15 2.46x
Norfolk 12 0.66x
Huntingdonshire 11 4.71x
Berkshire 8 0.91x
Dumfriesshire 5 1.93x
Warwickshire 5 0.17x
Hampshire 4 0.17x
Channel Islands 3 0.86x
Cumberland 2 0.20x
Devon 2 0.08x
Wiltshire 2 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Cheshire 1 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walcott in Lincolnshire leads with 68 Creaseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2274.25x.

Place Total Index
Walcott 68 2274.25x
Billinghay 32 552.68x
Bermondsey 24 6.86x
St Ippollitts 20 490.20x
Ruskington 19 396.66x
St Marylebone London 18 2.87x
Mile End Old Town London 17 6.80x
East Grinstead 16 57.04x
Lambeth 16 1.56x
St Pancras London 16 1.69x
Crowhurst 13 755.81x
Henley On Thames 12 1200.00x
Maidstone 12 10.05x
Newington 12 2.76x
Boston Hall Hills 11 347.00x
Enfield 11 14.26x
Godstone 11 107.21x
Hitchin 11 30.08x
Luton 11 10.44x
Metheringham 11 146.47x
North Kyme 11 392.86x
Paddington London 11 2.55x
Quadring 11 303.87x
Threckingham 11 1896.55x
Camberwell 10 1.33x
Charlwood 10 182.15x
Dronfield 10 42.41x
Glatton 10 444.44x
Hooe 10 529.10x
Catsfield 9 316.90x
Dunholme 9 548.78x
Edmonton 9 9.50x
Great Glemham 9 652.17x
Hollington 9 127.66x
Holy Trinity 9 3.21x
Lewes St John Southover 9 67.62x
Shoreditch London 9 1.77x
Westminster St John 9 6.29x
Worth 9 62.54x
Accrington 8 6.31x
Burstow 8 164.61x
Coningsby 8 148.15x
Croydon 8 2.52x
Framlingham 8 78.74x
Islington London 8 0.70x
St Giles Cripplegate 8 51.28x
Swineshead 8 129.45x
Walton On Thames 8 30.42x
Battle 7 52.36x
Burgh In Marsh 7 152.84x
Colchester St James 7 74.47x
Heckington 7 97.90x
Horncastle 7 36.08x
Kensington London 7 1.07x
Leicester St Mary 7 6.65x
Pettaugh 7 875.00x
Sibton 7 355.33x
Southminster 7 137.52x
Spalding 7 18.77x
Spanby 7 1666.67x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 26.48x
Stroxton 7 1590.91x
Terrington St Clement 7 85.78x
Thorpe Tilney 7 1555.56x
Witley 7 173.70x
Barking 6 8.84x
Bengeo 6 63.83x
Boston 6 10.52x
Canewdon 6 207.61x
Earley 6 40.82x
Gainsborough 6 13.54x
Henham 6 983.61x
Kirkby In Ashfield 6 35.40x
Ninfield 6 246.91x
Ockley 6 237.15x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.61x
St Luke London 6 3.18x
Thorpe Le Fallows 6 2142.86x
Timberland 6 297.03x
Wanstead 6 14.77x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 72
William 69
George 51
James 46
Thomas 27
Charles 26
Edward 20
Henry 18
Joseph 18
Alfred 16
Robert 14
Frederick 12
Ernest 11
Arthur 10
Harry 10
Abraham 9
Walter 9
Samuel 8
Albert 7
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Benjamin 6
David 6
Horace 6
Richard 6
Edwin 5
Fred 4
Stephen 4
Sydney 4
Wm. 4
Isaac 3
Reuben 3
Tom 3
Archibald 2
Cecil 2
Clement 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Fredk. 2
Harvey 2
Jesse 2
Jonathan 2
Jonathon 2
Noah 2
Saul 2
Sidney 2
W. 2
Willie 2
Douglas 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Creasey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creasey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,206 people were recorded with the Creasey surname. That placed it at #3,343 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creasey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,114 in 2016. That gives Creasey a modern rank of #3,057.

What does the Creasey surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word "creisseir" meaning to increase or grow.

What does the Creasey map show?

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