UK surname
An English locational surname referring to someone from Critchet in Somerset.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Critchett surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bedminster, Dunkeswell and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Critchett is 116 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.7%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1911
116 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Critchett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Critchett surname density by area, 1911 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 | 28 | #28,274 |
| 1861 | historical | 43 | #28,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 91 | #23,921 |
| 1911 | historical | 116 | #20,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 80 | #29,554 |
| 1998 | modern | 85 | #29,439 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 90 | #29,314 |
| 2003 | modern | 89 | #29,380 |
| 2004 | modern | 83 | #30,352 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 80 | #32,670 |
| 2011 | modern | 79 | #32,743 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 81 | #33,061 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bedminster, Dunkeswell, London parishes, Roath and St Dunstan Stepney. 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 | Bedminster | Somerset |
| 2 | Dunkeswell | Devon |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Roath | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Critchett 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 Critchett, 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 Critchett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Critchett 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, Critchett 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 Critchett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Critchett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Critchett is of English origin, and it is believed to have first emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "crycce," meaning a crutch, and "hett," meaning a hat or hood. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone who wore a distinctive hat or hood, or perhaps used a crutch or staff.
The earliest known recorded instance of the name Critchett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, where a person named William Critchett is mentioned. During this time, the name was also spelled as Crychett, Crychette, and Crichet, indicating the variations in spelling and pronunciation that were common in medieval England.
In the 14th century, records show that the Critchett family held lands in the county of Shropshire, particularly in the areas around the villages of Cressage and Kenley. The name is also associated with the village of Crichett in Dorset, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname.
One notable early figure with the surname Critchett was Sir John Critchett, who lived in the late 15th century and served as a member of the English Parliament representing the borough of Bridgnorth in Shropshire in 1472 and 1478.
Another significant individual was Robert Critchett, who was born in 1588 in Kenley, Shropshire. He was a prominent farmer and landowner in the region and is mentioned in several parish records and land deeds from the early 17th century.
In the 18th century, the Critchett family had established themselves as wealthy landowners and merchants in the city of Bristol. Notable members include Thomas Critchett (1701-1773), a successful merchant and alderman of Bristol, and his son, also named Thomas Critchett (1733-1809), who was a prominent banker and philanthropist in the city.
Other notable bearers of the surname include William Critchett (1829-1905), a renowned English ophthalmologist who made significant contributions to the field of eye surgery, and Sir George Critchett (1861-1943), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1919 to 1928.
While the surname Critchett is not among the most common in England today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval era, with various branches of the family leaving their mark in different regions and fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Critchett 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. Middlesex leads with 26 Critchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.04x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 14 Critchetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 143.88x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedminster | 14 | 143.88x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 14 | 102.19x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 16.63x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 4 | 64.83x |
| Roath | 4 | 78.59x |
| Honiton | 3 | 405.41x |
| Northampton All Sts | 3 | 146.34x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 3 | 94.94x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 8.73x |
| Bromley | 2 | 59.70x |
| Colyton | 2 | 392.16x |
| Stoke Damerel | 2 | 21.32x |
| Ardingly | 1 | 294.12x |
| Axminster | 1 | 158.73x |
| Dalwood | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Farlington | 1 | 370.37x |
| Shute | 1 | 769.23x |
| Westonsuper Mare | 1 | 476.19x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Critchett 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 Critchett 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 Critchett households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Shoemaker | 2 |
| Actor | 1 |
| Actress | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Butter Factor | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Com Trav | 1 |
| Dairyman | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Gardener (M) | 1 |
| Grocer &c | 1 |
| Grocers Wife | 1 |
| Inn Keeper | 1 |
| Librarian In Bank Of England | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Milliners Apprentice | 1 |
| Oculist F.R.C.S.Lond. | 1 |
| Oculist M.A.Cantab. F.R.C.S.E. | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Retired Butcher | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Shipping Clerk | 1 |
| Shoe Fitter | 1 |
| Silk Merchant's Porter | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Zinc Worker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Critchett surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Critchett a modern rank of #33,100.
An English locational surname referring to someone from Critchet in Somerset.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Critchett 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.