UK surname
Derived from a nickname for someone with curly hair, from the Middle English word "cris" meaning "curly."
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Criss surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Hadleigh and Beckley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Criss is 124 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.0%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
124 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Criss surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Criss surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 90 | #18,317 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 38 | #29,914 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 35 | #34,418 |
| 2000 | modern | 32 | #34,705 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 36 | #35,620 |
| 2011 | modern | 45 | #35,112 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 43 | #35,271 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 45 | #35,161 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Hadleigh, Beckley, Berkeley and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Hadleigh | Suffolk |
| 3 | Beckley | Sussex |
| 4 | Berkeley | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Criss surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Criss, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Criss surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Criss household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Criss is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Criss is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Criss, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Criss has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cryss," which means "cross." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a crossroads or a person who worked as a guide or porter at a crossing point.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1212, where a person named William Crys is mentioned. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the surname over time.
In the 13th century, the name is found in various records across different counties in England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, which mentions a Robert Crys. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296 also reference a John Crys.
During the medieval period, the name was sometimes associated with place names like Cresswell in Northumberland or Cressy in Lincolnshire, indicating that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.
One notable historical figure bearing the Criss surname was Richard Criss, a Member of Parliament for Taunton in Somerset during the 16th century, serving from 1554 to 1555.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records, such as the baptism of John Criss in Staplehurst, Kent, in 1618, and the marriage of Thomas Criss and Anne Pulman in Croydon, Surrey, in 1635.
Another prominent individual with the Criss surname was Sir Nicholas Crispe (1598-1666), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the establishment of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.
Moving into the 18th century, the Criss surname continued to be documented, with individuals like William Criss (1720-1785), a English clergyman and writer who published several religious works.
In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like Frederic Criss (1846-1914), an English-born Australian politician who served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
Throughout history, the Criss surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Crys, Cryss, Crisse, and Crysse, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping and regional dialects of the time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Criss surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 7 Criss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 7 | 7.88x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 2.28x |
| Surrey | 4 | 3.12x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.15x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.64x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 8.08x |
| Sussex | 2 | 4.51x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 7 Criss' recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | 7 | 102.49x |
| Ratcliffe London | 4 | 275.86x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 13.07x |
| Beckley | 2 | 1818.18x |
| Leeds | 2 | 13.58x |
| Peterborough | 2 | 111.73x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 12.76x |
| Bradford | 1 | 15.85x |
| Goudhurst | 1 | 400.00x |
| Heaton | 1 | 769.23x |
| Islington London | 1 | 3.92x |
| Little Bolton | 1 | 24.88x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 66.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Criss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Criss surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Criss households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Chimney Sweep | 1 |
| Fitter (Engine) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Nurse Domestic | 1 |
| Pawn Brokers Assistant | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Shoe Dealer | 1 |
| Tinman | 1 |
| Trimmer At Upholster | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Criss surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Criss a modern rank of #35,224.
Derived from a nickname for someone with curly hair, from the Middle English word "cris" meaning "curly."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Criss bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.