NameCensus.

UK surname

Creek

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

In the 1881 census there were 552 people recorded with the Creek surname, ranking it #6,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 613, ranked #8,566, down from #6,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stretham, Leeds and Crishall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cambridge, South Holland and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creek is 768 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.1%.

1881 census count

552

Ranked #6,255

Modern count

613

2016, ranked #8,566

Peak year

1911

768 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creek had 552 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016, ranked #8,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 768 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Creek surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creek surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creek 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 445 #5,811
1881 historical 552 #6,255
1891 historical 648 #5,987
1901 historical 716 #6,171
1911 historical 768 #5,645
1997 modern 602 #8,123
1998 modern 640 #7,999
1999 modern 626 #8,196
2000 modern 641 #8,015
2001 modern 624 #8,038
2002 modern 630 #8,163
2003 modern 597 #8,368
2004 modern 599 #8,361
2005 modern 575 #8,523
2006 modern 567 #8,637
2007 modern 570 #8,676
2008 modern 579 #8,636
2009 modern 595 #8,649
2010 modern 616 #8,611
2011 modern 608 #8,597
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 625 #8,464
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 618 #8,530
2016 modern 613 #8,566

Geography

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Where Creeks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stretham, Leeds, Crishall, Toft and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cambridge, South Holland, South Cambridgeshire and South Somerset. 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 Stretham Cambridgeshire
2 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Crishall Essex
4 Toft Cambridgeshire
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cambridge 001 Cambridge
2 South Holland 006 South Holland
3 South Cambridgeshire 006 South Cambridgeshire
4 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire
5 South Somerset 017 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creek

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creek

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Creek, 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 Creek surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Creek 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Creek is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Creek is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creek falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Creek

The surname Creek is an English toponymic name that originated in geographic areas near a creek or small stream. It is derived from the Old English word "crēc," which means a small stream or brook. The name likely emerged in the 11th century after the Norman Conquest of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Creek surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a person named William de la Creke. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a John atte Creke residing in Oxfordshire. These early records suggest that the name was initially associated with individuals living near a small watercourse or creek.

During the Middle Ages, the Creek surname appeared in various spellings, including Creke, Crek, and Cryke, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. The name was particularly prevalent in counties like Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset, where numerous small streams and waterways existed.

One notable bearer of the Creek surname was Sir Thomas Creek (c. 1420-1482), a prominent English politician and courtier during the Wars of the Roses. He served as the Speaker of the House of Commons from 1461 to 1463 and was a trusted advisor to King Edward IV.

Another historical figure with the Creek surname was John Creek (c. 1570-1633), an English clergyman and scholar. He was appointed as the rector of St. Giles Cripplegate in London and later became the President of Sion College, a renowned institution for the education of clergy.

In the 17th century, the Creek surname also appeared in colonial America. One example is Thomas Creek (c. 1620-1697), an early settler in Virginia who acquired land in Charles City County and played a role in the local government and militia.

The surname Creek has also been associated with several place names throughout England, such as Creek Town in Dorset, Creek Bridge in Gloucestershire, and Creek Lane in Somerset. These toponyms likely originated from the presence of a creek or small stream in those locations.

Other notable individuals with the Creek surname include William Creek (1807-1873), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes, and John Randolph Creek (1833-1905), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creek families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creek 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 107 Creeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.37x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 107 31.37x
Middlesex 75 1.39x
Yorkshire 64 1.20x
Essex 60 5.64x
Lincolnshire 52 6.04x
Devon 37 3.30x
Bedfordshire 28 10.04x
Norfolk 19 2.29x
Hertfordshire 17 4.58x
Glamorgan 15 1.60x
Oxfordshire 14 4.21x
Hampshire 13 1.18x
Somerset 7 0.81x
Surrey 7 0.27x
Kent 6 0.33x
Durham 5 0.31x
Gloucestershire 5 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.68x
Lancashire 3 0.05x
Suffolk 3 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.61x
Sussex 2 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.25x
Herefordshire 1 0.45x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Combmartin in Devon leads with 27 Creeks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Combmartin 27 1111.11x
Manningham 20 30.42x
Whittlesford 17 1089.74x
Comberton 16 1509.43x
Luton 16 33.15x
Islington London 13 2.49x
Leeds 13 4.31x
Toft 13 2765.96x
Holbeach 12 125.13x
Keighley 11 19.34x
Soham 11 149.86x
Wootton 10 502.51x
Boston 9 34.46x
East Barnet 9 122.28x
Goole 9 100.67x
Llantwit Lower 9 109.22x
Paddington London 9 4.55x
Springfield 9 193.13x
Stretham 9 368.85x
Uxbridge 9 146.34x
West Ham 9 3.84x
Kensington London 8 2.67x
Moulton 8 193.24x
Wood Ditton 8 280.70x
Barley 7 614.04x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.99x
Chrishall 7 660.38x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 28.16x
Sandy 7 142.28x
Southery 7 319.63x
St Botolph Lincoln 7 113.09x
Brightside Bierlow 6 5.73x
Chatham 6 11.87x
Chelmsford 6 32.89x
Croydon 6 4.12x
Enfield 6 16.98x
Leyton 6 32.77x
St Marythe Great 6 540.54x
Central Wingland 5 1136.36x
Cheltenham 5 6.14x
Coundon Grange 5 142.45x
Dewsbury 5 9.14x
East Hanningfield 5 675.68x
Ickleton 5 409.84x
Ilfracombe 5 43.33x
Portsea 5 2.31x
St George Hanover Square 5 5.27x
Swansea Town 5 6.50x
Heydon 4 851.06x
Leighton Buzzard 4 33.36x
Norwich St Gregory 4 275.86x
Southampton All Sts 4 21.12x
St Pancras London 4 0.92x
Thorrington 4 597.01x
Wistow 4 555.56x
Charlcombe 3 260.87x
Edmonton 3 6.91x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 20.17x
Fritwell 3 291.26x
Fulbourn 3 92.02x
Hackney London 3 0.99x
Horwich 3 43.04x
Lynton 3 133.93x
Mildenhall 3 43.04x
Portsmouth 3 11.81x
St Andrewthe Great 3 68.03x
Stamford All Sts 3 62.24x
Williton 3 103.45x
Chesterton 2 19.01x
Fingrinhoe 2 333.33x
Fordham 2 90.91x
Spalding 2 11.70x
St Andrewthe Less 2 5.13x
Tottenham 2 2.33x
Walthamstow 2 5.23x
Westminster St James 2 3.61x
Weston 2 128.21x
Woodhall 2 392.16x
Fleet 1 40.82x
Toddington 1 25.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Sarah 24
Elizabeth 19
Alice 12
Ann 10
Emily 10
Eliza 9
Jane 9
Emma 7
Ada 6
Ellen 6
Susan 6
Charlotte 5
Louisa 5
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Annie 3
Esther 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Rachel 3
Amy 2
Beatrice 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Flora 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Priscilla 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
C.Eliza 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Elizh. 1
Esty 1
Evangelin 1
Kathleen 1
Lilley 1
Lily 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 33
James 20
George 16
Charles 15
Thomas 14
Edward 11
Henry 8
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Joseph 7
David 6
Robert 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Josiah 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Wm. 3
Ellis 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Bergen 1
Ebenezar 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Harriett 1
Jack 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Josia 1
Louis 1
Oliver 1
Philip 1
Riginald 1

FAQ

Creek surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creek surname in 1881?

In 1881, 552 people were recorded with the Creek surname. That placed it at #6,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creek surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 613 in 2016. That gives Creek a modern rank of #8,566.

What does the Creek surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

What does the Creek map show?

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