NameCensus.

UK surname

Crispin

Derived from a medieval French nickname meaning "curly-haired" or referring to someone with curly hair.

In the 1881 census there were 647 people recorded with the Crispin surname, ranking it #5,514 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 787, ranked #7,014, down from #5,514 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Westminster and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crispin is 828 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.6%.

1881 census count

647

Ranked #5,514

Modern count

787

2016, ranked #7,014

Peak year

1998

828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crispin had 647 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,514 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016, ranked #7,014.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 814 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Crispin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crispin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crispin 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 451 #5,469
1861 historical 374 #6,826
1881 historical 647 #5,514
1891 historical 604 #6,353
1901 historical 708 #6,230
1911 historical 814 #5,405
1997 modern 800 #6,538
1998 modern 828 #6,578
1999 modern 817 #6,684
2000 modern 820 #6,639
2001 modern 784 #6,748
2002 modern 808 #6,722
2003 modern 788 #6,731
2004 modern 767 #6,908
2005 modern 743 #7,012
2006 modern 748 #6,996
2007 modern 744 #7,100
2008 modern 750 #7,104
2009 modern 765 #7,136
2010 modern 818 #6,887
2011 modern 803 #6,927
2012 modern 780 #7,002
2013 modern 787 #7,058
2014 modern 799 #7,011
2015 modern 782 #7,069
2016 modern 787 #7,014

Geography

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Where Crispins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston and Sandford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Westminster, Torbay, Castle Point and Mid Devon. 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 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
5 Sandford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 002 Teignbridge
2 Westminster 001 Westminster
3 Torbay 013 Torbay
4 Castle Point 001 Castle Point
5 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crispin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crispin

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Crispin 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

Crispin is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crispin

The surname Crispin originated in France and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the first name Crispin, which itself comes from the Latin word "crispus" meaning "curly-haired".

One of the earliest records of the name Crispin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears in various spellings such as Crispin, Crispyn, and Crispine. These entries suggest that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

The name Crispin is also associated with the legend of the Christian saints Crispin and Crispinian, who were martyred in the 3rd century AD. Their feast day, celebrated on October 25th, was a popular occasion for shoemakers to hold festivals and parades, as the saints were believed to be the patron saints of shoemakers.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Crispin was Geoffroy Crispin, a Norman nobleman who lived in the late 11th century. He was a prominent figure during the reign of William the Conqueror and held lands in Somerset, England.

Another notable figure with the surname Crispin was Thomas Crispin (c. 1400 - c. 1460), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford in the mid-15th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Crispin was found in various spellings such as Crispen, Crispine, and Crispyn. One bearer of the name during this period was Sir Henry Crispin (c. 1520 - 1575), an English politician and Member of Parliament.

The name Crispin also has associations with various place names in England, such as Crispin Street in London and Crispin Lane in Yorkshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Crispin who lived in or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the surname Crispin include the English poet and playwright Robert Crispin (1669 - 1728), and the French author and journalist Jacques Crispin (1598 - 1663), who was a prominent figure in the Fronde, a series of civil wars in France during the 17th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crispin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crispin 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 209 Crispins recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.86x.

County Total Index
Devon 209 15.86x
Middlesex 149 2.35x
Yorkshire 38 0.61x
Lancashire 36 0.48x
Kent 32 1.48x
Surrey 28 0.91x
Cornwall 23 3.21x
Hampshire 18 1.39x
Gloucestershire 14 1.13x
Lincolnshire 12 1.19x
Derbyshire 11 1.11x
Sussex 11 1.03x
Anglesey 9 8.02x
Glamorgan 8 0.73x
Lanarkshire 8 0.39x
Essex 6 0.48x
Somerset 6 0.59x
Staffordshire 6 0.28x
Cheshire 5 0.36x
Berkshire 4 0.84x
Midlothian 4 0.47x
Suffolk 4 0.52x
Wiltshire 4 0.71x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.17x
Royal Navy 1 1.33x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 37 Crispins recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.45x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 37 13.45x
Mile End Old Town London 18 13.36x
Kensington London 16 4.55x
Ermington 15 313.15x
Sandford 14 434.78x
Malborough 12 229.01x
St Marylebone London 12 3.55x
Alton 11 112.47x
Hackney London 11 3.10x
St Pancras London 11 2.16x
Bishops Nympton 10 398.41x
Crayford 10 106.04x
Derby St Werburgh 10 17.47x
South Pool 10 1162.79x
Holyhead 9 43.02x
Mile End New Town London 9 71.94x
Rattery 9 1046.51x
Rotherhithe 9 11.51x
Bothwell 8 14.41x
Bradninch 8 215.05x
Clifton 8 12.74x
East Peckham 8 178.17x
Hinderwell 8 149.53x
Hulme 8 5.10x
Liverpool 8 1.75x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 7.88x
Boston 7 22.79x
Brighton 7 3.25x
Dodbrooke 7 267.18x
Newton St Cyres 7 378.38x
Southwark St Saviour 7 21.51x
St Austell 7 28.57x
Stokenham 7 188.68x
Swansea Higher 7 60.98x
Broad Clist 6 131.87x
Edmonton 6 11.76x
Everton 6 2.51x
Kenton 6 144.23x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 6 222.22x
Stoke Canon 6 652.17x
Wolverhampton 6 3.65x
Bristol St Paul In 5 15.11x
Holbeck 5 12.03x
Hunslet 5 5.11x
Islington London 5 0.81x
Linthorpe 5 13.35x
Liscard 5 19.86x
Plymstock 5 72.46x
Shoreditch London 5 1.82x
Tormoham 5 8.97x
Walton On Hill 5 12.29x
Bulmer Stittenham 4 571.43x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 23.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.17x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 17.57x
Kenwyn 4 21.34x
Lewisham 4 3.47x
Paignton 4 39.88x
Portsea 4 1.57x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.59x
Toxteth Park 4 1.57x
West Ham 4 1.45x
Winkfield 4 50.70x
Algarkirk 3 265.49x
Bingley 3 7.51x
Broadhempston 3 243.90x
Butterleigh 3 1153.85x
Chelsea London 3 1.57x
Crediton 3 24.02x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.80x
East Portlemouth 3 447.76x
Great Bolton 3 3.02x
Hammersmith London 3 1.92x
Illogan 3 15.81x
Lowestoft 3 8.24x
Phillack 3 32.43x
Redruth 3 14.79x
St Gilesin Fields London 3 55.97x
Totnes 3 38.91x
West Alvington 3 162.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 53
William 52
Thomas 19
James 15
George 12
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Edwin 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Harry 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Charles 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Albert 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
David 2
Elam 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Michael 2
Silas 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Anthony 1
Augustus 1
Bertram 1
Chas 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Fred 1
Gerald 1
Gilbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Isaaih 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Owen 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Samuel 1
Wm.K. 1

FAQ

Crispin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crispin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 647 people were recorded with the Crispin surname. That placed it at #5,514 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crispin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 787 in 2016. That gives Crispin a modern rank of #7,014.

What does the Crispin surname mean?

Derived from a medieval French nickname meaning "curly-haired" or referring to someone with curly hair.

What does the Crispin map show?

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