NameCensus.

UK surname

Crick

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bend or twist in a river.

In the 1881 census there were 1,788 people recorded with the Crick surname, ranking it #2,427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,977, ranked #3,255, down from #2,427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cockfield, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kettering, East Cambridgeshire and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crick is 2,517 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.6%.

1881 census count

1,788

Ranked #2,427

Modern count

1,977

2016, ranked #3,255

Peak year

1911

2,517 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crick had 1,788 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,977 in 2016, ranked #3,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,517 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crick 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 1,167 #2,418
1861 historical 1,060 #2,651
1881 historical 1,788 #2,427
1891 historical 2,014 #2,289
1901 historical 2,308 #2,359
1911 historical 2,517 #2,036
1997 modern 2,199 #2,825
1998 modern 2,246 #2,867
1999 modern 2,252 #2,876
2000 modern 2,230 #2,890
2001 modern 2,177 #2,892
2002 modern 2,182 #2,942
2003 modern 2,107 #2,971
2004 modern 2,095 #2,991
2005 modern 2,034 #3,031
2006 modern 2,047 #3,023
2007 modern 2,047 #3,058
2008 modern 2,055 #3,073
2009 modern 2,083 #3,110
2010 modern 2,139 #3,093
2011 modern 2,091 #3,120
2012 modern 2,044 #3,132
2013 modern 2,070 #3,151
2014 modern 2,059 #3,188
2015 modern 2,012 #3,221
2016 modern 1,977 #3,255

Geography

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Where Cricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cockfield, London parishes, St Pancras and Luton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kettering, East Cambridgeshire and Mid Suffolk. 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 Cockfield Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Luton Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kettering 002 Kettering
2 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
3 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire
4 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
5 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crick

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Crick is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Crick is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crick

The surname Crick is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cricc," which means a creek or a small stream. This surname first emerged in the counties of Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, where it referred to individuals who lived near a small watercourse or stream.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Crick dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cric" and "Crice." These early spellings reflect the pronunciation of the name during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname Crick appeared in various forms, including "Criche," "Cryche," and "Cricke," reflecting the regional dialects and variations in spelling during that time. One notable early bearer of the name was William de Crike, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1199.

The surname Crick is also associated with several place names in England, such as Crick in Northamptonshire, Crick in Monmouthshire, and Crick Hollow in Shropshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Crick throughout history are:

1. Francis Crick (1916-2004), the renowned British molecular biologist, biophysicist, and neuroscientist, best known for co-discovering the structure of the DNA molecule with James Watson in 1953.

2. John Crick (1588-1644), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Pattishall in Northamptonshire.

3. Sir Michael Crick (1938-2017), a British journalist and author, known for his biographies of prominent political figures such as Michael Heseltine and Jeffrey Archer.

4. Oliver Crick (1912-2005), a British mathematician and logician who made significant contributions to the field of mathematical logic.

5. Walter Crick (1857-1941), an English artist and engraver, renowned for his wood engravings and illustrations for books.

The surname Crick has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and has been associated with notable individuals across various fields, including science, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crick 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. Suffolk leads with 293 Cricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.77x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 293 13.77x
Middlesex 287 1.64x
Essex 176 5.10x
Northamptonshire 106 6.45x
Norfolk 91 3.39x
Cambridgeshire 84 7.59x
Lancashire 76 0.37x
Surrey 76 0.89x
Devon 70 1.92x
Yorkshire 66 0.38x
Leicestershire 55 2.84x
Huntingdonshire 45 12.97x
Kent 44 0.74x
Sussex 40 1.36x
Hertfordshire 29 2.41x
Lincolnshire 29 1.04x
Durham 28 0.54x
Buckinghamshire 23 2.18x
Bedfordshire 21 2.32x
Staffordshire 20 0.34x
Somerset 19 0.68x
Oxfordshire 18 1.67x
Derbyshire 17 0.62x
Hampshire 16 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.47x
Caernarfonshire 9 1.27x
Warwickshire 9 0.20x
Herefordshire 7 0.98x
Angus 6 0.37x
Gloucestershire 6 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.39x
Shropshire 2 0.13x
Wiltshire 2 0.13x
Banffshire 1 0.28x
Denbighshire 1 0.15x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 0.48x
Rutland 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 53 Cricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.77x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 53 3.77x
West Ham 52 6.83x
Bury St Edmunds St James 38 66.85x
Cockfield 38 681.00x
Heigham 35 24.28x
Lynton 29 400.00x
Desborough 25 202.59x
Glemsford 25 167.22x
Shoreditch London 23 3.04x
Islington London 22 1.30x
Willingdon 22 294.12x
Geddington 21 396.98x
Diss 20 86.88x
Hanslope 19 200.21x
Barnsley 18 10.08x
Mile End Old Town London 18 4.84x
Kirtling 17 346.23x
Lambeth 17 1.12x
Alconbury 16 388.35x
Croft 16 465.12x
Peterborough 16 13.45x
Bressingham 15 493.42x
Mildenhall 15 66.34x
Great Glenn 14 272.37x
Paddington London 14 2.18x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 13 32.55x
Colchester St Giles 13 38.15x
Lidgate 13 522.09x
Poplar London 13 3.94x
Rushden 13 59.14x
Tawstock 13 201.24x
Wickhambrook 13 162.50x
Battersea 12 1.87x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.91x
Heanton Punchardon 12 451.13x
Offley 12 153.26x
Great Bradley 11 509.26x
Leicester St Margaret 11 2.33x
Luton 11 7.02x
St Luke London 11 3.93x
Wanstead 11 18.21x
Bradfield 10 204.08x
Dover St James 10 38.28x
Kensington London 10 1.03x
Newmarket St Mary 10 61.24x
St Andrewthe Less 10 7.91x
St Giles In Fields London 10 11.67x
Todmorden Walsden 10 18.01x
Watford 10 10.71x
Wood Ditton 10 108.11x
Bexley 9 17.08x
Bishopwearmouth 9 2.02x
Bricett 9 596.03x
Camberwell 9 0.81x
Chelmsford 9 15.21x
Hampstead London 9 3.31x
Sapiston 9 573.25x
Walsall Foreign 9 2.95x
Ynyscynhaiarn 9 27.36x
Boston 8 9.44x
Cowlinge 8 196.56x
Eastbourne 8 5.90x
Houghton 8 262.30x
Lancaster 8 6.49x
Millbrook 8 8.87x
Northampton All Sts 8 14.35x
Oldham 8 1.20x
Rusholme 8 14.47x
St Andrew Holborn London 8 10.58x
Westminster St John 8 3.76x
Bulwell 7 13.67x
Burton Extra 7 20.70x
Enfield 7 6.11x
High Littleton 7 151.19x
Horringer 7 176.77x
Leominster 7 23.61x
St Marylebone London 7 0.75x
Tankersley 7 54.22x
Tottenham 7 2.52x
Woodford 7 17.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 101
John 86
George 75
James 53
Thomas 47
Charles 43
Henry 31
Arthur 29
Alfred 26
Robert 23
Harry 20
Walter 20
Edward 18
Albert 17
Frederick 16
Joseph 16
Samuel 14
Herbert 12
Richard 11
Ernest 10
Fredrick 9
David 8
Francis 6
Stephen 6
Frederic 5
Philip 5
Edwin 4
Fredk. 4
Harold 4
Horace 4
Percy 4
A. 3
Abraham 3
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Isaac 3
Jeremiah 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Asumon 2
Chas. 2
Ezekiel 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Jefferey 2
Lewis 2
Nathan 2

FAQ

Crick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,788 people were recorded with the Crick surname. That placed it at #2,427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,977 in 2016. That gives Crick a modern rank of #3,255.

What does the Crick surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a bend or twist in a river.

What does the Crick map show?

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