NameCensus.

UK surname

Creech

Derived from a place name meaning "creek" or "stream," or from the Old English word "crecca," meaning "crevice."

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Creech surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 327, ranked #13,868, down from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Sturminster Newton Castle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, Barnsley and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creech is 338 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.3%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

327

2016, ranked #13,868

Peak year

2002

338 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creech had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016, ranked #13,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 293 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Creech surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creech surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creech 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 285 #11,515
1901 historical 260 #12,817
1911 historical 293 #11,650
1997 modern 322 #12,914
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 335 #12,815
2004 modern 321 #13,284
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 304 #13,797
2007 modern 298 #14,103
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 315 #14,223
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 326 #13,691
2013 modern 329 #13,810
2014 modern 331 #13,851
2015 modern 335 #13,622
2016 modern 327 #13,868

Geography

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Where Creechs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Sturminster Newton Castle, Manchester and St George. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, Barnsley and Purbeck. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St George Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
2 West Somerset 002 West Somerset
3 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
4 Barnsley 018 Barnsley
5 Purbeck 002 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creech

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creech

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Creech surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Creech household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Creech is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Creech is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creech 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 Creech 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 Creech, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Creech

The surname CREECH is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period, specifically the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "crycc," meaning "a creek" or "a small stream." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near a creek or a stream.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name CREECH can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1230, where it appears as "de Cruce." This variation in spelling was quite common during that time, and the name likely evolved from "de Cruce" to its current form, CREECH.

The CREECH surname is also associated with several place names in England, such as Creech St. Michael and Creech Heathfield in Somerset, as well as Creech Grange in Dorset. These place names may have influenced the surname's development or vice versa.

In the 14th century, the name CREECH appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where it was recorded as "Creyche." This early spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that period.

One notable bearer of the CREECH surname was Sir Robert Creech (1591-1672), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Brackley in 1640.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Creech (1659-1700), an English translator and writer who is best known for his translations of classical works, including those of Lucretius, Horace, and Theocritus.

In the 18th century, William Creech (1745-1815) was a Scottish bookseller and publisher who played a significant role in the literary scene of Edinburgh during the Scottish Enlightenment.

The CREECH surname also has connections to the United States, with Reverend Thomas Creech (1665-1719) being one of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in the American colonies. He served as a minister in Massachusetts.

Lastly, William Creech (1806-1888) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a United States Representative from Tennessee from 1851 to 1853.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creech families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creech 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. Somerset leads with 65 Creechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.62x.

County Total Index
Somerset 65 15.62x
Gloucestershire 48 9.47x
Dorset 33 19.45x
Middlesex 32 1.24x
Lancashire 25 0.82x
Kent 11 1.25x
Glamorgan 10 2.22x
Yorkshire 9 0.35x
Devon 7 1.30x
West Lothian 6 15.41x
Berkshire 3 1.55x
Fife 3 1.96x
Herefordshire 3 2.83x
Isle of Man 2 4.17x
Surrey 2 0.16x
Channel Islands 1 1.31x
Essex 1 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.12x
Monmouthshire 1 0.54x
Royal Navy 1 3.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bitton in Gloucestershire leads with 22 Creechs recorded in 1881 and an index of 498.87x.

Place Total Index
Bitton 22 498.87x
East Quantoxhead 20 9523.81x
Sturminster 18 1097.56x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 11 23.05x
Halstock 11 2820.51x
Kilton 9 7500.00x
Llanishen 9 2195.12x
Hackney London 8 5.52x
Poplar London 8 16.40x
Walcot 8 36.10x
Beswick 7 89.29x
Drighlington 7 187.67x
Greenwich 7 17.01x
Toxteth Park 7 6.74x
Bitton Oldland 6 115.83x
Bristol St George 6 25.59x
Bromley London 6 10.55x
Dalmeny 6 402.68x
Manchester 6 4.35x
Minehead 6 382.17x
Selworthy 6 1666.67x
Stogursey 6 535.71x
Hulme 5 7.81x
Shoreditch London 4 3.57x
Bridgewater 3 26.55x
Cookham 3 49.59x
Dunfermline 3 12.75x
Sherborne 3 60.00x
St Marylebone London 3 2.17x
Walford 3 285.71x
Batley 2 8.22x
Combe St Nicholas 2 198.02x
East Stonehouse 2 18.87x
Folkestone 2 11.69x
Georgeham 2 294.12x
Hythe St Leonard 2 64.10x
Lonan 2 68.73x
Porlock 2 294.12x
St Botolph Aldgate London 2 37.59x
Aberystruth 1 6.07x
Bishops Lydeard 1 94.34x
Bristol St James In 1 13.40x
Brixham 1 16.05x
Cheltenham 1 2.56x
Devonport 1 16.18x
Gillingham 1 34.25x
Govan 1 0.48x
Hampstead London 1 2.48x
Honiton 1 33.56x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Long Ashton 1 48.54x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 9.18x
Pentyrch 1 53.76x
Royal Navy 1 3.80x
Ryde 1 8.79x
St Helier 1 4.01x
Stapleton 1 10.40x
West Ham 1 0.89x
Woking 1 13.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 12
George 11
Thomas 7
Arthur 6
James 6
Walter 6
Charles 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Barnet 2
Louis 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Eldred 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Gerard 1
Hy. 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Nicholas 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
W.R. 1
Wallace 1
Willey 1

FAQ

Creech surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creech surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Creech surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creech surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016. That gives Creech a modern rank of #13,868.

What does the Creech surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "creek" or "stream," or from the Old English word "crecca," meaning "crevice."

What does the Creech map show?

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