NameCensus.

UK surname

Crittenden

From an English place name meaning "creekside valley," or referring to someone living near a creek in a valley.

In the 1881 census there were 279 people recorded with the Crittenden surname, ranking it #10,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 615, ranked #8,539, up from #10,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maidstone, Swale and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crittenden is 655 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.4%.

1881 census count

279

Ranked #10,230

Modern count

615

2016, ranked #8,539

Peak year

2010

655 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crittenden had 279 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016, ranked #8,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 504 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Crittenden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crittenden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crittenden 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 206 #11,725
1881 historical 279 #10,230
1891 historical 346 #9,920
1901 historical 443 #8,804
1911 historical 504 #7,787
1997 modern 599 #8,153
1998 modern 614 #8,252
1999 modern 614 #8,314
2000 modern 611 #8,322
2001 modern 608 #8,220
2002 modern 633 #8,133
2003 modern 633 #7,986
2004 modern 632 #8,004
2005 modern 630 #7,971
2006 modern 636 #7,939
2007 modern 630 #8,056
2008 modern 633 #8,071
2009 modern 632 #8,252
2010 modern 655 #8,190
2011 modern 645 #8,202
2012 modern 618 #8,395
2013 modern 624 #8,477
2014 modern 634 #8,421
2015 modern 632 #8,380
2016 modern 615 #8,539

Geography

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Where Crittendens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, St Werburgh and Maidstone, Linton, Loddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maidstone, Swale, Medway, Rother and Wealden. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
2 Swale 015 Swale
3 Medway 027 Medway
4 Rother 007 Rother
5 Wealden 017 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crittenden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crittenden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Crittenden, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Crittenden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Crittenden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Crittenden is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Crittenden is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Crittenden

The surname Crittenden is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "criddan" and "denu," meaning "chalky valley." This indicates that the earliest bearers of the name likely resided in a chalky valley region.

The name first appeared in historical records in the late 11th century Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the reign of William the Conqueror. Several entries list individuals with variations of the name, such as Cridandene and Critandene, residing in counties like Kent and Sussex.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was John de Crittenden, born around 1220 in Kent. He was a landowner and held estates in the village of Crittenden, which likely took its name from the family.

In the 14th century, Richard Crittenden, born in 1312 in Sussex, was a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was known for his involvement in the wool trade and his philanthropic efforts.

During the Tudor period, Sir Thomas Crittenden (1505-1581) was a notable figure. Born in Kent, he served as a Member of Parliament and was appointed Sheriff of Kent in 1557.

The Crittenden family also had a presence in the American colonies. John Crittenden (1787-1863), born in Woodford County, Kentucky, was a prominent lawyer, politician, and Governor of Kentucky from 1848 to 1850.

Another notable American with the surname was John Jordan Crittenden (1809-1891), born in Russellville, Kentucky. He served as a United States Senator from Kentucky and was a prominent figure in the Union Army during the Civil War.

While the name has evolved in spelling over the centuries, with variations like Crittenden, Crittendon, and Crittington appearing, the origins can be traced back to the chalky valleys of southern England in the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crittenden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crittenden 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. Kent leads with 153 Crittendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.48x.

County Total Index
Kent 153 16.48x
Sussex 54 11.77x
Surrey 30 2.26x
Middlesex 12 0.44x
Essex 11 2.05x
Hampshire 10 1.79x
Lincolnshire 4 0.92x
Cheshire 3 0.50x
Devon 2 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Malling in Kent leads with 22 Crittendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 990.99x.

Place Total Index
East Malling 22 990.99x
Tonbridge 16 47.78x
Snodland 15 570.34x
Chatham 14 54.79x
Udimore 14 3500.00x
West Ham 11 9.27x
Camberwell 9 5.18x
Canterbury St Mary N 9 1428.57x
Tandridge 9 1578.95x
Aylesford 8 311.28x
Cranbrook 8 203.56x
Hawkhurst 8 276.82x
Ore 8 233.92x
Aldershot 7 37.45x
East Farleigh 6 384.62x
Ewhurst 6 588.24x
Hartfield 6 413.79x
Maidstone 6 21.69x
Croydon 5 6.79x
Cuxton 5 1351.35x
Hastings St Leonards 5 74.18x
Milton In Gravesend 5 35.92x
Sittingbourne 5 68.21x
St George Hanover Square 5 10.43x
Egham 4 49.14x
Great Grimsby 4 14.48x
Boughton Monchelsea 3 294.12x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.19x
Hollington 3 184.05x
Hound 3 79.16x
Icklesham 3 370.37x
Rye 3 68.81x
Tenterden 3 91.74x
West Malling 3 143.54x
Beckenham 2 16.47x
Brighton 2 2.16x
Frindsbury 2 57.14x
Macclesfield 2 7.49x
Shebbear 2 235.29x
St George Bloomsbury 2 12.81x
Teddington London 2 32.41x
Willesborough 2 80.00x
Wittersham 2 240.96x
Adlington 1 125.00x
Allhallows 1 344.83x
Bermondsey 1 1.23x
Brenenden 1 84.03x
Canterbury St Mary 1 16.05x
Chertsey 1 11.67x
Esher 1 53.76x
Hastings All Sts 1 23.15x
Hastings St Clement 1 23.15x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 10.21x
Linton 1 123.46x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.73x
Speldhurst 1 21.14x
Subdeanery 1 28.74x
Westminster St John 1 3.02x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.62x
Wrotham 1 32.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Fanny 7
Ann 5
Clara 5
Emily 5
Emma 5
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Annie 3
Frances 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Sophia 3
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
Winifred 2
Anne 1
Anni 1
Audry 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elina 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ella 1
Ellisa 1
Felicia 1
Florence 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mahala 1
Mahula 1
Nellie 1
Olive 1
Philadelphia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 16
William 15
James 14
John 12
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Stephen 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Edward 4
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Joseph 3
Frederic 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Bertram 1
C. 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.George 1
Frank 1
Fredr. 1
Herbert 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Pierce 1
Robt. 1
Samson 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Crittenden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crittenden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 279 people were recorded with the Crittenden surname. That placed it at #10,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crittenden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016. That gives Crittenden a modern rank of #8,539.

What does the Crittenden surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "creekside valley," or referring to someone living near a creek in a valley.

What does the Crittenden map show?

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