NameCensus.

UK surname

Crisp

An English occupational surname referring to someone who curled or crimped hair or fabric.

In the 1881 census there were 4,151 people recorded with the Crisp surname, ranking it #1,089 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,000, ranked #1,354, down from #1,089 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kidderminster and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Rhondda Cynon Taf and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crisp is 5,755 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.5%.

1881 census count

4,151

Ranked #1,089

Modern count

5,000

2016, ranked #1,354

Peak year

1911

5,755 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crisp had 4,151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,089 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,000 in 2016, ranked #1,354.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,755 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crisp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crisp surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Crisp 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 2,715 #1,083
1861 historical 2,448 #1,192
1881 historical 4,151 #1,089
1891 historical 4,480 #1,053
1901 historical 5,266 #1,071
1911 historical 5,755 #910
1997 modern 5,456 #1,195
1998 modern 5,576 #1,217
1999 modern 5,590 #1,227
2000 modern 5,572 #1,222
2001 modern 5,429 #1,228
2002 modern 5,518 #1,236
2003 modern 5,298 #1,254
2004 modern 5,244 #1,261
2005 modern 5,116 #1,274
2006 modern 5,049 #1,294
2007 modern 5,071 #1,299
2008 modern 5,077 #1,312
2009 modern 5,170 #1,317
2010 modern 5,248 #1,326
2011 modern 5,143 #1,334
2012 modern 5,003 #1,337
2013 modern 5,144 #1,329
2014 modern 5,135 #1,337
2015 modern 5,065 #1,344
2016 modern 5,000 #1,354

Geography

Back to top

Where Crisps are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Rhondda Cynon Taf, County Durham and Babergh. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 010 Waveney
2 Waveney 012 Waveney
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 County Durham 027 County Durham
5 Babergh 010 Babergh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Crisp

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Crisp

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Crisp is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crisp 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

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

Meaning and origin of Crisp

The surname Crisp originated in England and can be traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "crisp," which means "curly" or "crisp." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone with curly hair or a crisp, brisk demeanor.

The earliest known record of the name Crisp dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Crispin." This spelling variation suggests that the name may have had Norman-French influences as well. Over time, the surname evolved into its modern form, "Crisp."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir William Crisp, a prominent landowner in Kent, England, who lived in the 13th century. In the 14th century, there are records of a Richard Crisp, a merchant from London, who was involved in the wool trade.

During the Tudor period, the Crisp family held significant influence in Suffolk, England. John Crisp (1590-1663) was a prominent Puritan minister and a member of the Westminster Assembly, which played a crucial role in the English Civil War and the establishment of the Commonwealth.

Another notable figure was Samuel Crisp (1619-1700), an English Particular Baptist minister known for his writings on the doctrine of free grace. He was a vocal opponent of the Calvinist doctrine of limited atonement.

In the 18th century, Sir Nicholas Crisp (1699-1780) was a prominent politician and served as the Member of Parliament for Winchelsea, Sussex. He was also a respected architect and designed several buildings in London.

The Crisp name has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Crisp's Farm in Kent and Crisp's Green in Hertfordshire. These place names likely originated from families bearing the Crisp surname who owned or lived in those areas.

Throughout history, the Crisp surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, ministers, politicians, and architects. While the name originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Crisp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crisp 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 687 Crisps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 687 1.69x
Norfolk 502 8.04x
Suffolk 431 8.72x
Surrey 292 1.48x
Yorkshire 255 0.63x
Essex 198 2.47x
Warwickshire 179 1.75x
Cambridgeshire 153 5.95x
Northamptonshire 148 3.88x
Lincolnshire 124 1.91x
Kent 121 0.87x
Worcestershire 114 2.15x
Durham 113 0.94x
Northumberland 102 1.69x
Staffordshire 99 0.72x
Leicestershire 83 1.84x
Gloucestershire 78 0.98x
Somerset 73 1.12x
Lancashire 58 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 56 1.02x
Derbyshire 44 0.69x
Hampshire 38 0.46x
Wiltshire 37 1.03x
Bedfordshire 35 1.66x
Berkshire 27 0.89x
Hertfordshire 19 0.68x
Sussex 17 0.25x
Glamorgan 11 0.16x
Devon 10 0.12x
Cheshire 9 0.10x
Cumberland 9 0.26x
Herefordshire 8 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.39x
Fife 4 0.17x
Royal Navy 4 0.83x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.25x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.22x
Brecknockshire 1 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.09x
Merionethshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.03x
Wigtownshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 77 Crisps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 77 1.96x
Birmingham 74 2.17x
Lambeth 61 1.72x
Ealing 57 15.71x
Aston 55 1.95x
Great Yarmouth 54 10.44x
St Pancras London 54 1.65x
Lowestoft 50 21.40x
Shoreditch London 48 2.73x
Kidderminster Borough 44 14.18x
Camberwell 42 1.62x
Newington 37 2.47x
Stanton All Sts 37 649.12x
Bermondsey 32 2.65x
Bishopwearmouth 32 3.09x
Bethnal Green London 30 1.70x
Leicester St Margaret 29 2.64x
St Marylebone London 29 1.34x
Tottenham 29 4.48x
Cheltenham 28 4.56x
Clerkenwell London 26 2.71x
Hackney London 26 1.14x
Nottingham St Mary 26 1.84x
Sheffield 26 2.03x
Bradford On Avon 25 21.75x
Brightside Bierlow 24 3.04x
Bow London 22 4.26x
Hammersmith London 22 2.20x
St George Hanover Square 22 3.08x
Kensington London 21 0.93x
Swavesey 21 127.43x
Walthamstow 21 7.28x
West Ham 21 1.19x
Heigham 20 5.97x
Streatham 20 6.64x
Beccles 19 23.87x
Deptford St Paul 19 1.78x
Marston Trussell 18 629.37x
St Andrewthe Less 18 6.13x
Mile End Old Town London 17 1.97x
Westoe 17 2.48x
Basford 16 6.34x
Clee With Weelsby 16 11.26x
Doncaster 16 5.44x
Leeds 16 0.70x
West Newton 16 350.11x
Weston 16 31.84x
Erith 15 10.99x
Seamer In Stokesley 15 438.60x
Southwark St George Martyr 15 1.84x
Wethersfield 15 74.22x
Aldeburgh 14 47.83x
Hadleigh 14 29.18x
South Lynn 14 19.87x
Stoke Newington London 14 4.43x
Chelsea London 13 1.06x
Docking 13 66.19x
Hornsey 13 2.53x
Newchurch 13 3.30x
Orford 13 81.56x
Rotherhithe 13 2.59x
Sutton Coldfield 13 12.08x
Swaffham Prior 13 115.04x
Bromley London 12 1.34x
Hampstead London 12 1.90x
Handsworth 12 3.55x
Holy Trinity 12 1.24x
Kings Norton 12 2.52x
Norwich St Julian 12 45.64x
Raydon 12 162.60x
Scarborough 12 3.28x
South Creake 12 84.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 0.83x
Thaxted 12 45.11x
Burton Upon Trent 11 3.43x
Cannock 11 4.60x
Chediston 11 218.69x
Finchley 11 7.07x
Kirkley 11 26.59x
West Derby 11 0.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 246
Elizabeth 139
Sarah 135
Alice 92
Emma 85
Eliza 72
Emily 72
Ann 66
Annie 65
Ellen 63
Jane 53
Hannah 45
Louisa 42
Maria 37
Ada 35
Edith 34
Harriet 34
Caroline 31
Charlotte 31
Martha 28
Susan 25
Clara 24
Florence 23
Margaret 23
Fanny 20
Frances 17
Kate 17
Lucy 17
Harriett 16
Agnes 15
Anne 15
Susannah 15
Catherine 14
Amy 13
Gertrude 13
Ethel 12
Rebecca 12
Isabella 10
Matilda 10
Rosa 10
Rose 10
Amelia 9
Rachel 9
Sophia 9
Susanna 9
Eleanor 8
Elizth. 8
Dinah 7
Esther 7
Jessie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 239
John 229
George 173
James 114
Charles 107
Henry 97
Thomas 89
Robert 84
Joseph 66
Alfred 55
Arthur 51
Edward 51
Frederick 51
Walter 42
Samuel 39
Albert 35
Harry 28
Herbert 28
Ernest 20
Frank 16
Wm. 12
Francis 11
Isaac 11
Fred 10
Geo. 10
Percy 10
Richard 10
Thos. 10
Daniel 9
Edwin 9
Stephen 8
Edmund 6
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Christopher 5
Horace 5
Nathaniel 5
Noah 5
Tom 5
Willie 5
Adam 4
Alexander 4
Benjamin 4
David 4
Fred. 4
Hugh 4
Josiah 4
C. 3
Jesse 3
Jno. 3

FAQ

Crisp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crisp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,151 people were recorded with the Crisp surname. That placed it at #1,089 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crisp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,000 in 2016. That gives Crisp a modern rank of #1,354.

What does the Crisp surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who curled or crimped hair or fabric.

What does the Crisp map show?

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