NameCensus.

UK surname

Creswell

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "spring or stream by a cress-covered well."

In the 1881 census there were 951 people recorded with the Creswell surname, ranking it #4,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 429, ranked #11,214, down from #4,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include High Peak, Waverley and Petershill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Creswell is 1,006 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.9%.

1881 census count

951

Ranked #4,065

Modern count

429

2016, ranked #11,214

Peak year

1901

1,006 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Creswell had 951 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016, ranked #11,214.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,006 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Creswell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Creswell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Creswell 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 784 #3,406
1861 historical 573 #4,600
1881 historical 951 #4,065
1891 historical 912 #4,525
1901 historical 1,006 #4,735
1911 historical 785 #5,548
1997 modern 481 #9,584
1998 modern 492 #9,715
1999 modern 479 #9,987
2000 modern 458 #10,281
2001 modern 439 #10,447
2002 modern 429 #10,858
2003 modern 427 #10,720
2004 modern 420 #10,889
2005 modern 402 #11,137
2006 modern 390 #11,459
2007 modern 404 #11,290
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 439 #10,911
2010 modern 438 #11,140
2011 modern 438 #11,017
2012 modern 452 #10,619
2013 modern 450 #10,831
2014 modern 458 #10,749
2015 modern 439 #11,035
2016 modern 429 #11,214

Geography

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Where Creswells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to High Peak, Waverley, Petershill, Richmond upon Thames and Oldham. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 High Peak 002 High Peak
2 Waverley 015 Waverley
3 Petershill Glasgow City
4 Richmond upon Thames 023 Richmond upon Thames
5 Oldham 015 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Creswell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Creswell

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

Creswell is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Creswell

The surname Creswell is of English origin, derived from a place name referring to a "well or spring on a hill crest." The name is thought to have originated in the county of Derbyshire during the Anglo-Saxon period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Cressuuelle" in Derbyshire. This suggests the surname has its roots in the 11th century or earlier.

In the 13th century, various spellings of the name can be found in old records, such as "Creswelle," "Cressewell," and "Creswall." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling of surnames during that time.

The first recorded bearer of the surname was William de Creswell, who lived in Derbyshire in the late 12th century. Another early notable figure was Sir Hugh Creswell, a knight who fought in the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403 during the Glyndŵr Rising against King Henry IV.

During the 16th century, the surname Creswell spread to other parts of England, particularly the counties of Staffordshire and Yorkshire. One notable bearer from this period was Sir Creswell Levinz (1627-1701), an English judge and lawyer who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas.

In the 17th century, the surname found its way to the American colonies. One of the earliest settlers with the name was Thomas Creswell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another notable figure was Joseph Creswell (1743-1831), a British-born American portrait painter known for his works depicting prominent figures of the American Revolution.

As the surname spread across the English-speaking world, it gave rise to various place names, such as Creswell in Derbyshire and Creswell in Staffordshire. These places likely derived their names from the original bearers of the Creswell surname who settled in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Creswell throughout history include Lavinia Creswell (1794-1871), a British author and poet; Samuel Creswell (1865-1941), an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire; and Esther Creswell (1915-2010), an American children's book author known for her works featuring the character "Ollie the Owl."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Creswell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Creswell 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. Staffordshire leads with 126 Creswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 126 4.00x
Middlesex 118 1.27x
Surrey 66 1.45x
Lancashire 64 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 56 4.46x
Essex 55 2.99x
Derbyshire 51 3.49x
Warwickshire 51 2.17x
Gloucestershire 43 2.35x
Yorkshire 38 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 32 5.68x
Leicestershire 27 2.61x
Sussex 27 1.72x
Herefordshire 26 6.80x
Durham 22 0.79x
Kent 22 0.69x
Worcestershire 22 1.81x
Suffolk 21 1.85x
Cheshire 16 0.78x
Shropshire 10 1.24x
Aberdeenshire 9 1.04x
Somerset 9 0.60x
Hampshire 8 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.02x
Northumberland 6 0.43x
Huntingdonshire 5 2.70x
Oxfordshire 4 0.69x
Berkshire 3 0.43x
Hertfordshire 3 0.47x
Norfolk 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 1.80x
Bedfordshire 1 0.21x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Devon 1 0.05x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 38 Creswells recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.70x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 38 15.70x
Great Marlow 23 151.12x
Aston 22 3.40x
Birmingham 17 2.17x
Haswell 17 85.51x
Lambeth 16 1.97x
Salford 15 4.61x
Codnor Loscoe 14 121.11x
Nottingham St Mary 14 4.31x
St Pancras London 13 1.73x
Kensington London 12 2.31x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 3.59x
West Derby 12 3.71x
Whitwick 12 91.25x
Islington London 11 1.22x
Mitcham 11 38.30x
Clerkenwell London 10 4.54x
Radford 10 15.66x
Sedgley 10 8.55x
Stanford 10 1063.83x
West Ham 10 2.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 9 5.57x
Lenton 9 30.40x
Bridgewater 8 19.63x
Brighton 8 2.52x
Clun 8 139.86x
Ealing 8 9.60x
Great Warley 8 191.85x
Hove 8 11.60x
Isleworth 8 19.30x
Runcorn 8 16.86x
Stoke Orchard 8 1428.57x
Walsall Foreign 8 4.92x
Amblecote 7 78.04x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.73x
Brightside Bierlow 7 3.86x
Camberwell 7 1.18x
Chinley Bugsworth 7 182.29x
Derby St Peter 7 15.05x
Hereford All Sts 7 39.95x
Ilkeston 7 17.10x
Kemerton 7 448.72x
Kingswinford 7 6.12x
Liverpool 7 1.04x
Nottingham St Peter 7 49.96x
St George Hanover Square 7 4.26x
Wolstanton 7 7.32x
Wolverton 7 59.98x
Bolehall Glascote 6 60.24x
Bromsgrove 6 14.64x
Chingford 6 135.14x
Croydon 6 2.38x
Edmonton 6 7.99x
Elswick 6 5.42x
Elton 6 15.69x
Friern Barnet 6 29.21x
Great Coggeshall 6 62.70x
Heyshott 6 419.58x
Hoyland Nether 6 26.48x
Hucknall Torkard 6 18.83x
Kirkdale 6 3.22x
Leicester St Leonard 6 61.29x
Litchurch 6 10.21x
Normanton 6 21.61x
Stonehouse 6 57.75x
Tamworth 6 35.65x
Wednesbury 6 7.63x
Bristol St George 5 5.91x
Chelsea London 5 1.78x
Cheltenham 5 3.54x
Dilwyn 5 148.81x
Dudley 5 3.38x
Great Staughton 5 139.28x
Hackney London 5 0.96x
Harborne 5 4.96x
Henhull 5 1041.67x
Monkwearmouth 5 18.83x
Newington 5 1.45x
Pelsall 5 53.42x
Shoreditch London 5 1.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Sarah 40
Elizabeth 33
Ann 19
Alice 17
Annie 16
Jane 14
Charlotte 13
Eliza 13
Margaret 13
Ellen 12
Emma 12
Emily 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 10
Maria 10
Hannah 8
Catherine 7
Anne 6
Caroline 6
Florence 6
Julia 6
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Frances 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Sophia 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Minnie 3
Phoebe 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Elisabeth 2
Esther 2
Lilian 2
Lilly 2
Lousia 2
Magt. 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Rosa 2
Ruth 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 39
James 38
Thomas 37
Henry 25
George 24
Joseph 18
Charles 14
Alfred 12
Samuel 12
Edward 11
Robert 11
Albert 10
Arthur 10
Richard 9
Frederick 7
Benjamin 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Frank 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Christopher 2
Cleophes 2
David 2
Fredk. 2
Jacob 2
Jos. 2
Mark 2
Martin 2
Saml. 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Benjamn. 1
Caleb 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Eliza 1
Jeremiah 1
Jerrald 1

FAQ

Creswell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Creswell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 951 people were recorded with the Creswell surname. That placed it at #4,065 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Creswell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 429 in 2016. That gives Creswell a modern rank of #11,214.

What does the Creswell surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in England meaning "spring or stream by a cress-covered well."

What does the Creswell map show?

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