NameCensus.

UK surname

Cribben

English surname transferred from Irish Gaelic Ó Cribín meaning "descendant of the little stooping person."

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Cribben surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 114, ranked #28,515, down from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, Dover and Basildon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cribben is 123 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.5%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

114

2016, ranked #28,515

Peak year

2005

123 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Cribben had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016, ranked #28,515.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 53 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cribben surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cribben surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cribben 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 44 #30,838
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 112 #26,044
2000 modern 109 #26,381
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 119 #26,637
2010 modern 122 #26,876
2011 modern 117 #27,334
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 108 #29,379
2014 modern 104 #30,365
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 114 #28,515

Geography

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Where Cribbens 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 Tonbridge and Malling, Dover and Basildon. 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 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
2 Dover 011 Dover
3 Dover 012 Dover
4 Basildon 022 Basildon
5 Dover 014 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cribben

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cribben

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cribben is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cribben is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cribben falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cribben is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cribben

The surname Cribben originates from Ireland, with roots dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Irish word "cribín," meaning "little chest" or "little basket," potentially indicating an occupation or trade associated with the name's early bearers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cribben name appears in the Irish Annals, a collection of historical manuscripts documenting significant events in Ireland. The Annals of the Four Masters, compiled in the 17th century, mention a "Cribben O'Reilly" in the year 1586, suggesting the name's presence during the late medieval period.

In the late 16th century, the surname Cribben can be found in records from County Cavan, located in the northern part of Ireland. This region is thought to be the historical homeland of the Cribben family, with many early bearers of the name originating from this area.

During the 17th century, the Cribben name gained prominence through the exploits of Edmond Cribben (1612-1675), a prominent Irish soldier who fought for the Catholic Confederates in the Irish Confederate Wars. His military service and valor were well-documented, further establishing the Cribben name in Irish history.

Another notable figure bearing the Cribben surname was Patrick Cribben (1764-1847), an Irish-born Catholic priest who served in the Diocese of Philadelphia, United States. He played a crucial role in establishing several churches and educational institutions in Pennsylvania during the early 19th century.

In the realm of literature, the Cribben name is represented by James Cribben (1832-1912), an Irish-American author and journalist. Born in County Cavan, he emigrated to the United States and became a prominent figure in the Irish-American community, publishing works that celebrated Irish culture and heritage.

The name Cribben has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Cribben Townland in County Monaghan and Cribben Bridge in County Cavan. These locations likely derived their names from early Cribben settlers or landowners in those areas.

Throughout history, the Cribben surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Cribbin, Cribbon, and Cribbins. These variations reflect the fluidity of surnames during earlier periods and the influence of regional dialects and scribal interpretations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cribben families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cribben 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. Kent leads with 27 Cribbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.56x.

County Total Index
Kent 27 16.56x
Middlesex 7 1.46x
Lancashire 4 0.71x
Cumberland 3 7.29x
Durham 2 1.41x
Stirlingshire 2 11.34x
Fife 1 3.53x
Royal Navy 1 17.54x
Surrey 1 0.43x
Yorkshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deal in Kent leads with 17 Cribbens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1223.02x.

Place Total Index
Deal 17 1223.02x
Charlton 5 462.96x
St George In East London 4 88.89x
Cleator 3 175.44x
Ramsgate 3 112.78x
St Giles In Fields London 3 128.21x
Esh 2 194.17x
Maghull 2 833.33x
Minster In Sheppey 2 74.07x
Stirling 2 90.09x
Forgan 1 185.19x
Lambeth 1 2.40x
Leeds 1 3.74x
Royal Navy 1 20.53x
Toxteth Park 1 5.21x
West Derby 1 6.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Alice 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Emma 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Michael 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 4
James 3
Thos. 3
Frederick 2
John 2
Charles 1
Edward 1
Fred. 1
Henry 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Thomas 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 Cribben households.

FAQ

Cribben surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cribben surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Cribben surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cribben surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 114 in 2016. That gives Cribben a modern rank of #28,515.

What does the Cribben surname mean?

English surname transferred from Irish Gaelic Ó Cribín meaning "descendant of the little stooping person."

What does the Cribben map show?

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