NameCensus.

UK surname

Cressey

An English surname referring to someone from the town of Cressy in France.

In the 1881 census there were 397 people recorded with the Cressey surname, ranking it #8,010 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 695, ranked #7,750, up from #8,010 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Hornchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cressey is 756 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.1%.

1881 census count

397

Ranked #8,010

Modern count

695

2016, ranked #7,750

Peak year

1999

756 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cressey had 397 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,010 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 695 in 2016, ranked #7,750.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 628 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Cressey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cressey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cressey 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 273 #8,212
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 397 #8,010
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 588 #7,179
1911 historical 628 #6,604
1997 modern 719 #7,096
1998 modern 741 #7,172
1999 modern 756 #7,105
2000 modern 745 #7,140
2001 modern 730 #7,118
2002 modern 745 #7,146
2003 modern 697 #7,403
2004 modern 692 #7,479
2005 modern 711 #7,237
2006 modern 730 #7,132
2007 modern 720 #7,271
2008 modern 719 #7,328
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 720 #7,612
2011 modern 715 #7,570
2012 modern 661 #7,966
2013 modern 675 #7,973
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 687 #7,839
2016 modern 695 #7,750

Geography

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Where Cresseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Hornchurch and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Norwich. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hornchurch Essex
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
2 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Norwich 002 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cressey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cressey

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Cressey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Cressey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cressey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cressey is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cressey

The surname CRESSEY has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cresse," meaning watercress, and "ey," meaning island or region. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a watercress-growing area or marsh.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cressie." This entry likely refers to a place or landholding associated with the name. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form, CRESSEY.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Cressy who held lands in Lincolnshire. Another notable bearer of the name was John Cressey, born around 1590, who served as a captain in the English Civil War and was knighted for his service to King Charles I.

During the 17th century, the CRESSEY surname spread to various parts of England, including Yorkshire and Norfolk. One prominent individual from this era was Hugh Cressey (1605-1674), a Benedictine monk and religious writer known for his works on Catholic theology.

In the 18th century, the name appears in connection with several places, such as Cressey Hall in Staffordshire and Cressey Farm in Northamptonshire. This suggests that the name may have been associated with landowners or influential families in these areas.

In more recent history, notable bearers of the CRESSEY surname include Edward Cressey (1796-1870), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and George Cressey (1773-1847), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theological subjects.

While the CRESSEY name is not among the most common surnames, it has a long and varied history in England, reflecting its medieval roots and connections to various regions and notable individuals over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cressey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cressey 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. Yorkshire leads with 151 Cresseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.91x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 151 3.91x
Lincolnshire 98 15.75x
Essex 42 5.47x
Middlesex 35 0.90x
Lancashire 12 0.26x
Kent 11 0.83x
Dorset 10 3.91x
Somerset 9 1.44x
Surrey 8 0.42x
Hampshire 3 0.38x
Staffordshire 3 0.23x
Suffolk 3 0.63x
Sussex 3 0.46x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.81x
Durham 2 0.17x
Gloucestershire 2 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 35 Cresseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.73x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 35 37.73x
Hornchurch 14 371.35x
New Malton 13 282.00x
South Kelsey 12 1463.41x
West Ham 12 7.07x
Barrow On Humber 11 304.71x
Scunthorpe 11 392.86x
Trent 9 1451.61x
Leeds 8 3.67x
Sheffield 7 5.70x
Barton St Mary 6 192.31x
Brightside Bierlow 6 7.93x
Crofton 6 631.58x
Doncaster 6 21.29x
Rise 6 2222.22x
Roxby Cum Risby 6 1071.43x
Sculcoates 6 9.81x
Bowling 5 13.09x
Carleton In Pontefract 5 1111.11x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 36.10x
Glanford Brigg 5 225.23x
Hibaldstow 5 467.29x
Manningham 5 10.52x
Market Rasen 5 143.68x
Tonbridge 5 10.44x
Upper Hallam 5 149.25x
Winterton 5 233.64x
Clapham 4 8.22x
Heeley 4 34.13x
Hook 4 47.17x
Islington London 4 1.06x
Louth 4 28.05x
Marnhull 4 215.05x
Mile End Old Town London 4 4.83x
North Kelsey 4 357.14x
North Ockendon 4 909.09x
Skidby 4 833.33x
Spittlegate 4 46.46x
St George Bloomsbury 4 17.91x
St Swithin Lincoln 4 40.90x
Upminster 4 250.00x
Accrington 3 7.14x
Bigby 3 625.00x
Burton Upon Trent 3 9.76x
Caistor 3 120.97x
Child Okeford 3 265.49x
Coddenham 3 275.23x
Ellerker 3 769.23x
Enfield 3 11.75x
Haslingden 3 15.69x
Laindon 3 697.67x
Manchester 3 1.44x
Norton In Malton 3 64.10x
Okeford Fitzpaine 3 365.85x
Shoreditch London 3 1.78x
Toxteth Park 3 1.92x
Westminster St Margaret 3 15.98x
Wheatley 3 225.56x
Coulsdon 2 57.97x
East Ham 2 14.03x
Gloucester St John Baptist 2 40.57x
Goxhill 2 130.72x
Horsham 2 15.69x
Long Riston 2 408.16x
Milton 2 101.01x
Patrington 2 109.29x
St Andrewthe Less 2 7.10x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.92x
St Luke London 2 3.20x
St Marylebone London 2 0.96x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 2 11.16x
Tottenham 2 3.23x
Ulceby 2 132.45x
Wakefield 2 6.75x
York Holy Trinity 2 60.06x
Eckington 1 6.76x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.02x
Hackney London 1 0.46x
Leigh 1 37.45x
Westoe 1 1.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 21
George 13
James 12
Joseph 11
Charles 10
Robert 9
Thomas 8
Arthur 7
Henry 6
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Auther 1
Borman 1
Chas.Girdham 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.Morgan 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gordon 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Isaac 1
Jn. 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Luke 1
Moses 1
Robt. 1
Silas 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Cressey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cressey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 397 people were recorded with the Cressey surname. That placed it at #8,010 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cressey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 695 in 2016. That gives Cressey a modern rank of #7,750.

What does the Cressey surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone from the town of Cressy in France.

What does the Cressey map show?

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