NameCensus.

UK surname

Crees

Derived from a Middle English term meaning "to increase or grow".

In the 1881 census there were 457 people recorded with the Crees surname, ranking it #7,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 549, ranked #9,292, down from #7,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, London parishes and Brixham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent and Tunbridge Wells.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crees is 677 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

457

Ranked #7,240

Modern count

549

2016, ranked #9,292

Peak year

1911

677 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crees had 457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016, ranked #9,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 677 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crees surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crees surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crees 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 311 #7,413
1861 historical 342 #7,460
1881 historical 457 #7,240
1891 historical 558 #6,800
1901 historical 596 #7,109
1911 historical 677 #6,239
1997 modern 639 #7,763
1998 modern 649 #7,923
1999 modern 653 #7,923
2000 modern 608 #8,356
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 596 #8,501
2003 modern 592 #8,415
2004 modern 585 #8,500
2005 modern 579 #8,482
2006 modern 562 #8,687
2007 modern 569 #8,681
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 571 #8,911
2010 modern 568 #9,134
2011 modern 565 #9,087
2012 modern 578 #8,847
2013 modern 590 #8,848
2014 modern 578 #9,034
2015 modern 563 #9,130
2016 modern 549 #9,292

Geography

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Where Crees' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, London parishes, Brixham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ceredigion, Blaenau Gwent, Tunbridge Wells, Northumberland and Thanet. 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 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
2 London parishes London 1
3 Brixham Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ceredigion 005 Ceredigion
2 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
3 Tunbridge Wells 012 Tunbridge Wells
4 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
5 Thanet 010 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crees

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crees

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Crees is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crees 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

Crees falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crees

The surname Crees is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cress," referring to the edible plant that grows in water or damp soil. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for a person who grew or sold cress.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a John Cresse. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records maintained by the English government to keep track of landowners and their holdings.

Another early mention of the name comes from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, which list a Richard Cresse as a taxpayer. These rolls were records of taxes collected by the English Crown and provide valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across different regions.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various forms, including Cressie, Cressy, and Cressey, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. One notable figure from this period was William Cressy (c. 1430-1492), a Benedictine monk and scholar who was born in Yorkshire.

As the name spread across England, it also became associated with certain place names. For example, the village of Cress in Derbyshire may have contributed to the surname's prevalence in that area. Similarly, the surname Cresswell, which shares a common root, is believed to have originated from a place name in Northumberland.

Over the centuries, several individuals with the surname Crees have made their mark in various fields. One such person was John Crees (1768-1839), an English engraver and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. Another notable figure was Sir William Crees (1876-1949), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of the Panama Canal.

In the realm of literature, the surname is associated with Sarah Crees (1880-1965), a British novelist and poet who wrote several works inspired by her native Cornwall. Additionally, Sir Norman Crees (1899-1982), a British diplomat and author, served as the British Ambassador to Poland from 1945 to 1948.

While the surname Crees may have evolved from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on various aspects of history, from literature and art to engineering and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crees families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crees 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 151 Crees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.00x.

County Total Index
Somerset 151 21.00x
Devon 47 5.05x
Wiltshire 44 11.14x
Hampshire 39 4.26x
Warwickshire 30 2.66x
Sussex 27 3.58x
Surrey 25 1.15x
Worcestershire 17 2.91x
Middlesex 15 0.34x
Dorset 14 4.77x
Lancashire 14 0.26x
Staffordshire 11 0.73x
Glamorgan 5 0.64x
Gloucestershire 5 0.57x
Kent 3 0.20x
Cheshire 2 0.20x
Monmouthshire 2 0.62x
Royal Navy 2 3.76x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Cornwall 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 17 Crees' recorded in 1881 and an index of 157.70x.

Place Total Index
Brixham 17 157.70x
Aston 15 4.83x
Frome 13 75.58x
Etchilhampton 12 4615.38x
West Bromwich 11 12.74x
Beckington 10 704.23x
Bedminster 10 14.80x
Norton St Philip 10 1282.05x
Sedghill 10 3448.28x
Charterhouse Hinton 9 1071.43x
Cloford 9 3000.00x
Great Bookham 9 538.92x
Hapton 9 271.90x
Portishead 9 168.54x
Street 9 231.36x
Birmingham 8 2.13x
Ermington 8 236.69x
Longdon 8 987.65x
Portsea 8 4.46x
Caterham 7 72.77x
Croydon 7 5.79x
Marston Bigott 7 1272.73x
Shepton Mallet 7 86.74x
West Lydford 7 1707.32x
Witham Friary 7 945.95x
Berkley 6 1200.00x
Hemington 6 674.16x
Kington Langley 6 689.66x
Nunney 6 384.62x
Selsey 6 431.65x
Wellow 6 283.02x
Alderbury 5 268.82x
Cheddar 5 138.12x
Kings Somborne 5 260.42x
Llanfabon 5 122.85x
St Mary Kalendar 5 261.78x
Subdeanery 5 87.57x
Wolborough 5 42.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 4.85x
Bromsgrove 4 20.37x
Corton Denham 4 769.23x
East Dean 4 1481.48x
Exminster 4 119.76x
Great Malvern 4 32.87x
Kensington London 4 1.61x
Rugby 4 26.25x
Southampton St Mary 4 6.95x
Stoke Gabriel 4 408.16x
Wanstrow 4 800.00x
Westbury 4 43.38x
Bridport 3 49.67x
Eastbourne 3 8.66x
Enfield 3 10.24x
Lyme Regis 3 85.47x
Plymouth Charles The 3 7.32x
Salford 3 1.92x
Warblington 3 82.64x
Westhampnett 3 375.00x
Arundel 2 47.39x
Bedwellty 2 3.51x
Bishops Cannings 2 136.99x
Child Okeford 2 155.04x
Ilminster 2 39.84x
Lymington 2 29.72x
Old Stratford 2 31.35x
Portsmouth 2 9.49x
Royal Navy 2 4.39x
Rumbolds Wyke 2 144.93x
South Bersted 2 31.20x
St Peter Colebrook 2 155.04x
Standerwick 2 1666.67x
Sturminster 2 70.42x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 15.79x
Turnworth 2 1111.11x
Twickenham 2 10.44x
Walcot 2 5.22x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 22.78x
Woolwich 2 3.55x
Falmouth 1 5.59x
Lewes St John Southover 1 19.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 30
William 28
James 17
Charles 15
George 15
Thomas 14
Henry 12
Frederick 8
Edward 7
Joseph 6
Arthur 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Harry 3
Isaac 3
Sidney 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
A. 1
Abel 1
Alan 1
Archibald 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
F.Sydney 1
F.Willie 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Gilbert 1
Henery 1
Infant 1
Isiac 1
Jacob 1
Jas.W. 1
Jesse 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Seward 1
Sidwell 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Crees surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crees surname in 1881?

In 1881, 457 people were recorded with the Crees surname. That placed it at #7,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crees surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 549 in 2016. That gives Crees a modern rank of #9,292.

What does the Crees surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English term meaning "to increase or grow".

What does the Crees map show?

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