NameCensus.

UK surname

Cribb

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of baskets, cribs, or animal enclosures.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Cribb surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 728, ranked #7,474, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wookey and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Caerphilly and Poole.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cribb is 760 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.6%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

728

2016, ranked #7,474

Peak year

1999

760 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cribb had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016, ranked #7,474.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 655 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cribb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cribb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cribb 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 348 #6,765
1861 historical 337 #7,564
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 509 #7,323
1901 historical 557 #7,470
1911 historical 655 #6,408
1997 modern 729 #7,021
1998 modern 750 #7,100
1999 modern 760 #7,072
2000 modern 734 #7,231
2001 modern 729 #7,128
2002 modern 731 #7,248
2003 modern 710 #7,296
2004 modern 714 #7,273
2005 modern 687 #7,460
2006 modern 678 #7,557
2007 modern 708 #7,353
2008 modern 707 #7,426
2009 modern 726 #7,418
2010 modern 739 #7,457
2011 modern 745 #7,351
2012 modern 753 #7,198
2013 modern 750 #7,344
2014 modern 747 #7,403
2015 modern 741 #7,377
2016 modern 728 #7,474

Geography

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Where Cribbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wookey, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Martock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Caerphilly, Poole, Ipswich and Great Yarmouth. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wookey Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Martock Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
2 Caerphilly 007 Caerphilly
3 Poole 017 Poole
4 Ipswich 014 Ipswich
5 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cribb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cribb

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cribb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Cribb is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cribb falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cribb

The surname Cribb is of English origin and is believed to have originated from the Old English word "crybbe," meaning a crib or a manger. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as an occupational surname for someone who worked with cribs or made them.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. One of the earliest known references to the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a Richard Crybbe from Oxfordshire.

During the medieval period, the surname Cribb appeared in various spellings, including Crybbe, Cribbe, and Crybbe, reflecting the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time. It is worth noting that the name shares similarities with the place name Cribbs Causeway, a suburb of Bristol, which may indicate a connection between the surname and a specific location.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Cribb. One such person was Thomas Cribb (1781-1848), an English bare-knuckle boxer who held the heavyweight championship of England from 1810 to 1811 and was known for his victories over prominent fighters of his era.

Another notable figure was Sir Harry Cribb (1851-1936), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the steel industry in South Wales. He was knighted in 1920 for his services to industry and his charitable work.

In the literary world, Marjorie Cribb (1906-1996) was a Canadian author and illustrator of children's books, known for her contributions to Canadian literature and her vivid depictions of rural life in Ontario.

Robert Cribb (1869-1952) was an English-born Australian cricketer who played domestic cricket for New South Wales and was part of the Australian national team that toured England in 1896.

The surname Cribb has also been associated with various places and locations over time. For example, Cribbs Meadow in Gloucestershire, England, is believed to have derived its name from the surname, indicating a connection between the name and a specific geographic area.

While the surname Cribb may not be as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that spans centuries and can be traced back to the medieval period in England. Its origins and various spellings reflect the evolution of language and naming conventions over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cribb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cribb 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. Middlesex leads with 85 Cribbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.91x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 85 1.91x
Somerset 62 8.66x
Hampshire 59 6.47x
Surrey 39 1.80x
Dorset 36 12.33x
Kent 28 1.84x
Lancashire 26 0.49x
Sussex 22 2.93x
Gloucestershire 18 2.06x
Glamorgan 15 1.94x
Lincolnshire 10 1.41x
Hertfordshire 8 2.61x
Staffordshire 8 0.53x
Yorkshire 8 0.18x
Essex 7 0.80x
Suffolk 7 1.29x
Monmouthshire 5 1.55x
Herefordshire 4 2.19x
Cheshire 2 0.20x
Wiltshire 2 0.51x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Isle of Man 1 1.21x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbotsbury in Dorset leads with 17 Cribbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1140.94x.

Place Total Index
Abbotsbury 17 1140.94x
Wookey 14 886.08x
Barton St David 13 2549.02x
Islington London 13 3.02x
Mile End Old Town London 13 13.73x
Portsea 13 7.28x
St Pancras London 13 3.63x
Camberwell 12 4.22x
Alverstoke 11 33.33x
Liverpool 11 3.43x
Great Grimsby 10 22.15x
Martock 10 215.05x
Neath 10 63.45x
Blandford Forum 9 156.25x
Poole St James 9 82.04x
Ramsgate 9 36.33x
Battersea 8 4.89x
Birdham 8 1126.76x
Bishop Stortford 8 78.13x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 9.74x
Hastings Holy Trinity 8 144.67x
Wolverhampton 8 6.93x
Clapham 7 12.59x
Gorleston 7 50.87x
Warblington 7 193.37x
Wedmore 7 150.21x
Hammersmith London 6 5.48x
Kirkdale 6 6.76x
Northwood 6 46.23x
Potter Newton 6 77.12x
Rochester St Margaret 6 37.50x
St Andrew Holborn London 6 31.15x
Wells St Cuthbert 6 122.70x
Lymington 5 74.63x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 26.67x
Plumstead 5 9.88x
St Woollos 5 13.93x
Bow London 4 7.06x
Broughton In Salford 4 8.29x
Dorstone 4 588.24x
Holdenhurst 4 16.73x
Hove 4 12.15x
Kensington London 4 1.62x
Llanwonno 4 14.37x
Newington 4 2.43x
Newport 4 80.81x
St Anne Soho London 4 15.75x
Bristol St Paul In 3 12.91x
Chelsea London 3 2.24x
Croydon 3 2.49x
Fulham London 3 4.65x
Great Bolton 3 4.29x
Greenwich 3 4.24x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 63.56x
St Gilesin Fields London 3 79.79x
St Paul Covent Garden 3 67.42x
Tottenham 3 4.23x
Bridgewater 2 10.29x
Carisbrooke 2 15.80x
Clifton 2 4.54x
Edgware 2 161.29x
Hollington 2 74.91x
Holy Trinity 2 1.89x
Kingsclere 2 48.08x
Richmond 2 6.59x
Romsey Infra 2 64.72x
Streatham 2 6.06x
Tranmere 2 5.54x
Walcot 2 5.25x
Wanstead 2 13.00x
West Derby 2 1.30x
Barking 1 3.89x
Bristol St George 1 2.48x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.44x
Felstead 1 33.22x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.77x
Lambeth 1 0.26x
Little Warley 1 81.97x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 16.95x
Weston Super Mare 1 5.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 33
George 19
Henry 14
Robert 10
Charles 9
James 9
Thomas 9
Arthur 8
Albert 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Isaac 4
Joseph 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Stephen 3
Barnabus 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Luke 2
Reginald 2
Reuben 2
Stanley 2
Walter 2
Cecil 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Harriett 1
Hezekiah 1
Jesse 1
Josiah 1
Oliver 1
Preston 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Rob.W.E. 1
Ronald 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Weskine 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Cribb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cribb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Cribb surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cribb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 728 in 2016. That gives Cribb a modern rank of #7,474.

What does the Cribb surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of baskets, cribs, or animal enclosures.

What does the Cribb map show?

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