NameCensus.

UK surname

Creevy

A surname potentially derived from the Irish Gaelic word "criobh" meaning a tree branch or thicket.

In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Creevy surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 361, ranked #12,841, up from #30,738 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Telford and Wrekin, Bolton and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creevy is 364 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1705.0%.

1881 census count

20

Ranked #30,738

Modern count

361

2016, ranked #12,841

Peak year

2014

364 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creevy had 20 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,738 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016, ranked #12,841.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 73 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Creevy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creevy surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creevy 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 2 #33,133
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 20 #30,738
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 73 #26,069
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 320 #13,398
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 305 #13,594
2002 modern 311 #13,666
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 316 #13,402
2007 modern 332 #13,087
2008 modern 339 #13,022
2009 modern 356 #12,800
2010 modern 357 #13,036
2011 modern 352 #13,032
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 354 #13,079
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 358 #12,942
2016 modern 361 #12,841

Geography

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Where Creevys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Telford and Wrekin, Bolton, Knowsley, Lancaster and North Castlehill and Thorn. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Telford and Wrekin 021 Telford and Wrekin
2 Bolton 004 Bolton
3 Knowsley 010 Knowsley
4 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
5 North Castlehill and Thorn East Dunbartonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creevy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creevy

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Creevy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Creevy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Creevy 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

Creevy is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Creevy falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Creevy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Creevy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Creevy

The surname Creevy originated in Ireland, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "criadh," meaning "clay" or "earth," suggesting a possible connection to an occupation or location.

One of the earliest known references to the Creevy name can be found in the Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, where a John Creevy is mentioned in relation to land transactions in County Monaghan, Ireland, in the late 1500s.

Over the centuries, the Creevy surname has been spelled in various ways, including Creevey, Creavy, and Creavey, among others. These variations reflect the challenges of transcribing Irish names into English during the time when official record-keeping began.

In the 17th century, the Creevy family held a prominent position in County Monaghan, with their ancestral lands located in the parish of Tullycorbet. Notable figures from this period include Patrick Creevy, who was involved in local politics and landholding in the late 1600s.

Moving into the 18th century, the name Creevy gained recognition through the exploits of Thomas Creevy (1768-1838), an Irish politician and writer. Creevy served as a Member of Parliament for Thetford, Norfolk, and was known for his witty and acerbic observations on the political scene of his time.

Another notable figure was William Creevy (1786-1860), an Irish-born artist who gained acclaim for his landscape paintings and portraiture. Creevy's works can be found in several prestigious collections, including the National Gallery of Ireland and the Tate Britain in London.

In the 19th century, the Creevy surname also found its way to the United States, with several individuals bearing this name making their mark. One such person was John Creevy (1824-1901), a Union Army soldier who served during the American Civil War and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in battle.

As the centuries passed, the Creevy name continued to spread across Ireland, England, and beyond, with various individuals contributing to fields such as politics, arts, and military service, among others. While the specific origins of the name may be shrouded in the mists of time, the Creevy surname has left an indelible mark on the tapestry of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creevy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creevy 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. Lancashire leads with 12 Creevys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.46x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 12 5.46x
Middlesex 3 1.62x
Lanarkshire 2 3.34x
Cumberland 1 6.27x
Somerset 1 3.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 5 Creevys recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.20x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 5 67.20x
Bury 4 159.36x
Radcliffe 3 283.02x
Govan 2 13.50x
Islington London 2 11.14x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 128.21x
Rickergate 1 294.12x
St Clement Danes London 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Elizabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Alexander 1
Fredk. 1
John 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Creevy households.

FAQ

Creevy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creevy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Creevy surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creevy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 361 in 2016. That gives Creevy a modern rank of #12,841.

What does the Creevy surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from the Irish Gaelic word "criobh" meaning a tree branch or thicket.

What does the Creevy map show?

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