NameCensus.

UK surname

Creer

A French surname derived from the word "croire" meaning "to believe".

In the 1881 census there were 150 people recorded with the Creer surname, ranking it #15,489 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #15,489 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Manchester and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Derbyshire Dales and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creer is 323 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 84.7%.

1881 census count

150

Ranked #15,489

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1999

323 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creer had 150 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,489 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 294 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Creer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creer 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 150 #15,489
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 241 #13,417
1911 historical 294 #11,622
1997 modern 318 #13,024
1998 modern 322 #13,248
1999 modern 323 #13,315
2000 modern 320 #13,360
2001 modern 310 #13,452
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 308 #13,587
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 293 #14,030
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 285 #14,647
2009 modern 281 #15,098
2010 modern 287 #15,195
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 278 #15,333
2013 modern 285 #15,313
2014 modern 295 #15,020
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Creers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Manchester, West Derby, Liverpool and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Derbyshire Dales, Central Bedfordshire and Copeland. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 009 Wyre
2 Wyre 004 Wyre
3 Derbyshire Dales 002 Derbyshire Dales
4 Central Bedfordshire 007 Central Bedfordshire
5 Copeland 006 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creer

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Creer is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Creer is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Creer

The surname Creer has its origins in France and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "creire," which means "to believe" or "to trust." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who was considered trustworthy or faithful.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Creer can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. These rolls mention a John Creer residing in Oxfordshire, England.

In the 14th century, the name Creer appeared in various spellings, such as Cryer, Crier, and Creeyr, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. These variations were common before standardized spelling became more widespread.

The Creer surname has historical ties to several places in England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The name has been associated with place names like Cryer's Hill in Oxfordshire and Cryers Green in Buckinghamshire, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and these locations.

Notable individuals with the surname Creer throughout history include:

1. Sir John Creer (c. 1330 - 1402), an English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and was appointed as the Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1385.

2. William Creer (1545 - 1618), an English scholar and clergyman who served as the Dean of Carlisle Cathedral from 1609 until his death.

3. Robert Creer (1670 - 1736), a Scottish merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of Glasgow's shipping industry in the early 18th century.

4. Mary Creer (1802 - 1876), an English writer and poet who published several collections of poems and novels during the Victorian era.

5. James Creer (1885 - 1960), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Creer Clinic, a pioneering healthcare facility in St. Louis, Missouri.

While the Creer surname has its origins in France, it has been present in various parts of the British Isles and beyond for several centuries, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creer 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. Isle of Man leads with 269 Creers recorded in 1881 and an index of 353.58x.

County Total Index
Isle of Man 269 353.58x
Lancashire 103 2.12x
Cheshire 10 1.11x
Cumberland 9 2.55x
Yorkshire 9 0.22x
Middlesex 7 0.17x
Surrey 7 0.35x
Somerset 2 0.30x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Midlothian 1 0.18x
Royal Navy 1 2.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Onchan in Isle of Man leads with 133 Creers recorded in 1881 and an index of 606.75x.

Place Total Index
Onchan 133 606.75x
Braddan 25 600.96x
West Derby 22 15.47x
German 21 506.02x
Malew 15 225.56x
Kirkdale 14 17.12x
Patrick 14 377.36x
Manchester 11 5.03x
Bootle Cum Linacre 10 25.90x
Rushen 10 194.17x
Arlecdon 9 95.95x
Grange 9 6000.00x
Hulme 8 7.88x
Liverpool 8 2.71x
Michael 8 516.13x
Salford 8 5.60x
Bride 6 576.92x
Maughold 6 102.21x
Newington 6 3.96x
St Anne 6 731.71x
Douglas 5 454.55x
Lonan 5 108.46x
Wigan 5 7.36x
Arbory 4 240.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 5.18x
German Peel 4 91.32x
Halifax 4 6.71x
Manningham 4 8.00x
Ratcliffe London 4 17.68x
Marown 3 215.83x
North Meols 3 6.30x
Pendleton In Salford 3 5.18x
St Clement Danes London 3 35.38x
Andreas 2 97.09x
Ballaugh 2 147.06x
Nunney 2 139.86x
Oswaldtwistle 2 11.64x
Toxteth Park 2 1.21x
Beddington 1 12.95x
Cheltenham 1 1.61x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 8.78x
Everton 1 0.65x
Great Grimsby 1 2.41x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x
Rusholme 1 7.71x
Sculcoates 1 1.55x
Wallasey 1 32.47x
Wavertree 1 6.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 19
Margaret 18
Elizabeth 15
Catherine 13
Ann 12
Sarah 11
Eleanor 10
Mary 9
Annie 8
Emily 8
Isabella 7
Martha 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Barbara 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Amy 2
Cathrine 2
Christian 2
Louisa 2
Margret 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Bertha 1
Carathurn 1
Cathe. 1
Clara 1
Elenor 1
Eliz. 1
Frances 1
Isabelle 1
Jessie 1
Lena 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Maggie 1
Margart 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Mona 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1
Setimia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 30
Thomas 26
Robert 16
Daniel 10
George 10
James 9
Edward 8
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Philip 3
Arthur 2
Matthias 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Stanley 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Ann 1
Appleton 1
Caeser 1
Caleb 1
Ceasar 1
Christopher 1
Dan 1
Douglas 1
Edw. 1
Eleanor 1
Evan 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Jno. 1
Leamon 1
Lelie 1
Mark 1
Mathias 1
Morehall 1
Paul 1

FAQ

Creer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 150 people were recorded with the Creer surname. That placed it at #15,489 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Creer a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Creer surname mean?

A French surname derived from the word "croire" meaning "to believe".

What does the Creer map show?

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