NameCensus.

UK surname

Crews

An occupational surname referring to a ship's crew member or one who works on boats or ships.

In the 1881 census there were 528 people recorded with the Crews surname, ranking it #6,497 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 583, ranked #8,899, down from #6,497 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Devonport Stonehouse, East, Newchurch and Lowestoft, Kirkley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Plymouth and Tower Hamlets.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crews is 643 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.4%.

1881 census count

528

Ranked #6,497

Modern count

583

2016, ranked #8,899

Peak year

1911

643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crews had 528 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,497 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016, ranked #8,899.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 643 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Crews surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crews surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crews 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 394 #6,105
1861 historical 389 #6,580
1881 historical 528 #6,497
1891 historical 584 #6,539
1901 historical 623 #6,862
1911 historical 643 #6,497
1997 modern 564 #8,501
1998 modern 582 #8,555
1999 modern 568 #8,755
2000 modern 562 #8,795
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 564 #8,811
2003 modern 537 #8,997
2004 modern 542 #8,956
2005 modern 524 #9,135
2006 modern 515 #9,277
2007 modern 518 #9,316
2008 modern 537 #9,126
2009 modern 558 #9,066
2010 modern 580 #8,999
2011 modern 563 #9,102
2012 modern 550 #9,167
2013 modern 570 #9,058
2014 modern 575 #9,068
2015 modern 573 #9,028
2016 modern 583 #8,899

Geography

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Where Crews' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Devonport Stonehouse, East, Newchurch, Lowestoft, Kirkley, London parishes and Fitzhead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Tower Hamlets and North Norfolk. 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 Devonport Stonehouse, East Devon
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 Lowestoft, Kirkley Suffolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Fitzhead Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 001 Isle of Wight
2 Isle of Wight 002 Isle of Wight
3 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
4 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
5 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crews

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crews

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crews, 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 Crews surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Crews 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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Crews 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

Crews 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

Crews falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crews

The surname Crews originated in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word "crue", which referred to a crew or group of people, particularly sailors or soldiers. The name likely arose from someone who was part of such a crew or group.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Crews can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Worcestershire from 1273, where it appears as "Crewe". Over time, various spellings emerged, including Crew, Crewes, and the modern form, Crews.

The surname Crews has been documented in various historical records throughout the centuries. In the 14th century, a John Crewe was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1344. Additionally, a William Crewe was mentioned in the Poll Tax Records of Yorkshire in 1379.

During the 16th century, the surname Crews appeared in several notable records. Sir Ranulf Crew (1558-1636) was an English politician and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1625 to 1626. Another prominent figure was Thomas Crew (1567-1633), an English clergyman who served as Bishop of Oxford from 1622 until his death.

In the 17th century, the Crews surname gained further prominence. Nathaniel Crew (1633-1721) was an English clergyman and academic who served as Bishop of Durham from 1701 until his death. He was also a noted benefactor of Lincoln College, Oxford.

The 18th century saw the rise of another notable figure, John Crew (1679-1751), an English landowner and politician who served as Member of Parliament for Brackley and Northamptonshire. Additionally, Samuel Crew (1742-1828) was an English Methodist minister and author who published several religious works.

Throughout history, the Crews surname has been linked to various place names in England, such as Crewe in Cheshire, which likely derived from the Old English word "crāwa" meaning "crow". The surname may also have connections to other locations like Crew Green in Cheshire and Crew Hill in Lincolnshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crews families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crews 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. Devon leads with 203 Crews' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 203 19.01x
Cornwall 77 13.26x
Somerset 40 4.84x
Kent 35 2.00x
Lancashire 34 0.56x
Hampshire 31 2.95x
Middlesex 21 0.41x
Suffolk 16 2.56x
Surrey 16 0.64x
Yorkshire 12 0.24x
Gloucestershire 7 0.70x
Bedfordshire 5 1.88x
Sussex 4 0.46x
Worcestershire 4 0.60x
Lanarkshire 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 1.32x
Essex 2 0.20x
Norfolk 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 3.27x
Staffordshire 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Dorset 1 0.30x
Durham 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 22 Crews' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.43x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 22 29.43x
Woolwich 17 26.28x
Lowestoft 16 54.20x
Plymouth St Andrew 16 19.45x
Stonehouse East 15 276.75x
Tavistock 14 115.04x
East Stonehouse 13 61.79x
Fitzhead 11 2340.43x
Carisbrooke 9 61.64x
Broughton In Salford 8 14.37x
Exminster 8 208.33x
Gillingham 8 22.17x
Hampstead London 8 10.01x
Newton Abbot St Mary 8 89.29x
Putney 8 34.20x
St Merryn 8 833.33x
Halse 7 985.92x
Kenn 7 421.69x
Leeds 7 2.44x
Newlyn 7 282.26x
Wigan 7 8.23x
Clist St Mary 6 1875.00x
Exeter Heavitree 6 75.38x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 27.75x
Perranzabuloe 6 119.76x
St Clement 6 99.01x
St Just In Roseland 6 236.22x
Hatherleigh 5 187.97x
Luton 5 10.87x
Plympton Maurice 5 247.52x
Portsea 5 2.43x
St Helens 5 65.36x
Topsham 5 99.21x
Truro St Mary 5 102.46x
Woolfardisworthy 5 322.58x
Brighton 4 2.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 4.22x
Brixham 4 32.34x
Egg Buckland 4 219.78x
Gerrans 4 254.78x
Honiton 4 67.68x
Hulme 4 3.15x
Ilfracombe 4 36.40x
Lambeth 4 0.89x
Lewisham 4 4.28x
Liverpool 4 1.08x
Marytavy 4 254.78x
Okehampton 4 99.26x
St Columb Minor 4 81.97x
Tormoham 4 8.85x
West Derby 4 2.25x
Whippingham 4 50.25x
Winkleigh 4 186.92x
Chudleigh 3 88.50x
Foots Cray 3 89.55x
Govan 3 0.73x
Gwinear 3 108.70x
Leigh 3 36.90x
Littleham 3 38.41x
Maker 3 55.87x
Milverton 3 98.36x
Morwenstow 3 211.27x
Pannal 3 61.48x
Plympton St Mary 3 48.62x
St Issey 3 252.10x
St Mewan 3 167.60x
Stogumber 3 137.61x
Ugborough 3 116.28x
Great Yarmouth 2 3.06x
Hound 2 28.01x
Moss Side 2 6.24x
Paddington London 2 1.06x
Padstow 2 51.81x
Rainhill 2 51.28x
Royal Navy 2 3.83x
Shoreditch London 2 0.90x
St Saviour 2 23.81x
Stapleton 2 10.48x
Warrington 2 2.77x
Withycombe Rawleigh 2 35.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 34
Thomas 20
George 18
James 16
Henry 13
Charles 9
Richard 9
Robert 9
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Samuel 4
Joseph 3
Philip 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Belneerino 1
Courtney 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Himmsaud 1
Isaac 1
J.S. 1
Jas. 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Marcus 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
R.H. 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Rt.G. 1
Samson 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Theodosius 1

FAQ

Crews surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crews surname in 1881?

In 1881, 528 people were recorded with the Crews surname. That placed it at #6,497 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crews surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 583 in 2016. That gives Crews a modern rank of #8,899.

What does the Crews surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a ship's crew member or one who works on boats or ships.

What does the Crews map show?

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