NameCensus.

UK surname

Creed

An English surname derived from the Latin "credo," referring to a person's religious belief or creed.

In the 1881 census there were 1,662 people recorded with the Creed surname, ranking it #2,585 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,281, ranked #2,846, down from #2,585 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Mendip and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creed is 2,384 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.2%.

1881 census count

1,662

Ranked #2,585

Modern count

2,281

2016, ranked #2,846

Peak year

2010

2,384 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creed had 1,662 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,585 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,281 in 2016, ranked #2,846.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,250 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Creed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creed surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creed 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 1,231 #2,318
1861 historical 1,075 #2,619
1881 historical 1,662 #2,585
1891 historical 1,901 #2,419
1901 historical 2,150 #2,503
1911 historical 2,250 #2,250
1997 modern 2,265 #2,742
1998 modern 2,366 #2,741
1999 modern 2,342 #2,781
2000 modern 2,344 #2,766
2001 modern 2,284 #2,766
2002 modern 2,338 #2,776
2003 modern 2,276 #2,778
2004 modern 2,258 #2,791
2005 modern 2,254 #2,765
2006 modern 2,256 #2,765
2007 modern 2,285 #2,759
2008 modern 2,295 #2,775
2009 modern 2,339 #2,791
2010 modern 2,384 #2,804
2011 modern 2,357 #2,797
2012 modern 2,263 #2,851
2013 modern 2,324 #2,830
2014 modern 2,332 #2,835
2015 modern 2,278 #2,859
2016 modern 2,281 #2,846

Geography

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Where Creeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Minchinhampton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Mendip, Breckland and Herefordshire. 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 1
3 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Minchinhampton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 006 Forest of Dean
3 Mendip 013 Mendip
4 Breckland 007 Breckland
5 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creed

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creed

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Creed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Creed 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Creed 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

Creed is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creed falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Creed

The surname Creed is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'creda', meaning belief or creed. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for a devout person, or one who adhered strictly to their religious beliefs.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Creed dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1191. This early record suggests that the name was already well-established in England by that time.

In the 13th century, the name Creed appeared in various forms, such as Crede, Creede, and Creed, reflecting the varying spellings of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was John Crede, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain several references to individuals with the surname Creed, including Robert Crede from Oxfordshire and William Crede from Cambridgeshire. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during the medieval period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Creed gained prominence through several notable figures. One such individual was Sir James Creed (1551-1624), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. Another was Sir William Creed (1610-1697), a prominent English politician who served as Secretary of State during the reign of Charles II.

In the 18th century, the name Creed was associated with the English poet and playwright, William Creed (1701-1775), who is remembered for his contributions to the development of English literature. Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Creed (1732-1803), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Headmaster of Westminster School.

The 19th century saw the continued prominence of the Creed surname, with individuals such as Henry Creed (1824-1901), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of railways in India, and William Creed (1866-1945), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1923 to 1925.

Throughout its history, the surname Creed has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including religious figures, politicians, merchants, scholars, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creed 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. Middlesex leads with 286 Creeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 286 1.76x
Gloucestershire 213 6.69x
Kent 193 3.48x
Somerset 193 7.38x
Surrey 111 1.40x
Warwickshire 92 2.25x
Norfolk 66 2.64x
Yorkshire 46 0.29x
Essex 44 1.37x
Dorset 39 3.66x
Hampshire 38 1.14x
Sussex 36 1.31x
Staffordshire 35 0.64x
Oxfordshire 29 2.89x
Lincolnshire 28 1.08x
Derbyshire 23 0.90x
Wiltshire 22 1.53x
Worcestershire 17 0.80x
Buckinghamshire 16 1.63x
Lancashire 15 0.08x
Berkshire 14 1.15x
Bedfordshire 12 1.43x
Devon 12 0.35x
Northumberland 11 0.46x
Lanarkshire 10 0.19x
Glamorgan 9 0.32x
Durham 8 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.37x
Cheshire 7 0.20x
Hertfordshire 6 0.54x
Northamptonshire 5 0.33x
Cornwall 4 0.22x
Herefordshire 4 0.60x
Monmouthshire 3 0.26x
Channel Islands 2 0.42x
Cumberland 2 0.14x
Brecknockshire 1 0.31x
Buteshire 1 1.02x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Shropshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 39 Creeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.98x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 39 2.98x
Lambeth 38 2.68x
Birmingham 26 1.90x
Hammersmith London 25 6.25x
Hastings St Mary In The 25 42.79x
Islington London 25 1.59x
Cheltenham 24 9.77x
Horsley 22 155.92x
Throwley 22 635.84x
West Pennard 22 523.81x
Baltonsborough 20 511.51x
Minchinhampton 19 74.86x
Plumstead 19 10.29x
Kensington London 18 1.99x
Woolwich 18 8.79x
Camberwell 17 1.64x
Castle Cary 16 140.47x
Sutton St Mary 16 65.15x
West Ham 16 2.26x
Mile End Old Town London 15 4.34x
Newington 15 2.50x
Deptford St Paul 14 3.28x
Hunslet 14 5.58x
Wells Next Sea 14 96.15x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.84x
Caversham 13 64.81x
Bristol St Paul In 12 14.14x
Bromley London 12 3.36x
Clifton 12 7.45x
Ealing 12 8.27x
South Weald 12 43.70x
Babcary 11 614.53x
Bristol St James St Paul 11 10.36x
Compton Abbas 11 423.08x
Erith 11 20.15x
Leamington Priors 11 10.91x
St George Hanover Square 11 3.84x
Westminster St John 11 5.56x
Aston 10 0.89x
Bedford St Peter 10 45.79x
Enfield 10 9.38x
Faversham 10 18.93x
Milton In Gravesend 10 12.03x
Preston Next Faversham 10 76.75x
Stroud 10 16.13x
Bermondsey 9 1.86x
Cirencester 9 20.87x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 13.15x
Paddington London 9 1.51x
Romsey Infra 9 79.79x
St Marylebone London 9 1.04x
Waddesdon Westcott 9 293.16x
Arlingham 8 229.23x
Battersea 8 1.34x
Bearley 8 666.67x
Burstock 8 754.72x
Byker 8 6.70x
Epping 8 61.40x
Gravesend 8 17.05x
Henbury 8 51.48x
Lynesack Softley 8 61.30x
Middleton 8 163.60x
Millbrook 8 9.54x
Pilton 8 128.41x
Randwick 8 127.39x
Rodborough 8 52.02x
Shoreditch London 8 1.14x
Tonbridge 8 4.00x
West Overton 8 213.33x
Armitage 7 98.04x
Boughton Aluph 7 222.93x
Croydon 7 1.59x
Hamilton 7 4.78x
Headington 7 44.96x
Leyton Low 7 10.74x
Marshwood 7 376.34x
Sandiacre 7 77.18x
Southampton St Mary 7 3.34x
Whittington 7 19.90x
Worcester St John 7 27.64x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Creed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,662 people were recorded with the Creed surname. That placed it at #2,585 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,281 in 2016. That gives Creed a modern rank of #2,846.

What does the Creed surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Latin "credo," referring to a person's religious belief or creed.

What does the Creed map show?

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