UK surname
Derived from the Old English word "crydel" meaning a small basket or crib.
In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Crittle surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #22,500 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Fletching, Frant and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crittle is 107 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.1%.
1881 census count
78
Ranked #22,500
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1901
107 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Crittle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Crittle surname density by area, 1901 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 | 76 | #20,127 |
| 1861 | historical | 70 | #24,911 |
| 1881 | historical | 78 | #22,500 |
| 1891 | historical | 97 | #24,447 |
| 1901 | historical | 107 | #21,955 |
| 1911 | historical | 83 | #24,531 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 38 | #34,142 |
| 2000 | modern | 39 | #34,066 |
| 2001 | modern | 39 | #33,923 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 23 | #36,211 |
| 2009 | modern | 25 | #36,191 |
| 2010 | modern | 25 | #36,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Fletching, Frant, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Rotherfield and Smarden. 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 | Fletching | Sussex |
| 2 | Frant | Sussex |
| 3 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 4 | Rotherfield | Sussex |
| 5 | Smarden | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Crittle 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 Crittle, 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 Crittle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Crittle 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, Crittle 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 Crittle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Crittle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Crittle has its origins in England, specifically in the counties of Devon and Somerset, where it first emerged in the late 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cridel," which means a small woven basket or crib, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have been basket makers or craftsmen involved in similar trades.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Crittle surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners and their holdings, where a certain Robert Crydel is mentioned in the county of Somerset. This spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.
In the 14th century, the Crittle surname appears in various records, including the Feet of Fines for Somerset from 1344, which mentions a John Crudel. This document was a record of land transactions and provides insight into the geographical distribution of the name during that period.
The Crittle surname also appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Somerset in 1327, which were tax records that documented the names of individuals who paid taxes. One such individual was Richard Crydel, further solidifying the presence of the name in the region during the 14th century.
Notable individuals bearing the Crittle surname throughout history include:
1. William Crittle (c. 1550-1620), an English merchant and alderman who served as the Sheriff of London in 1604. 2. John Crittle (1677-1753), a prominent English clockmaker from Somerset, known for his intricate and highly sought-after timepieces. 3. Elizabeth Crittle (1792-1867), a British author and poet from Devon, who published several works in the early 19th century. 4. Sir Henry Crittle (1825-1899), a British military officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the British armed forces, for his actions during the Crimean War. 5. George Crittle (1868-1947), a British politician and member of Parliament for the Torquay constituency from 1918 to 1922.
It is worth noting that variations of the Crittle surname, such as Crydel, Crudel, and Criddel, were more common in earlier centuries, reflecting the fluidity of spellings in those times. Additionally, some place names like Crittle Creek in Somerset may have derived their names from individuals bearing this surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crittle 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. Kent leads with 41 Crittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.80x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 14 Crittles recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge | 14 | 149.57x |
| Frant | 10 | 1098.90x |
| Knockholt | 9 | 4285.71x |
| Reigate Borough | 5 | 588.24x |
| Rotherfield | 5 | 442.48x |
| West Ham | 5 | 15.08x |
| Wrotham | 4 | 465.12x |
| Islington London | 3 | 4.07x |
| Smarden | 3 | 1000.00x |
| Westerham | 3 | 500.00x |
| Gravesend | 2 | 90.91x |
| Westwell | 2 | 769.23x |
| Addington | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Bexley | 1 | 43.67x |
| Buxted | 1 | 200.00x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.06x |
| Hawkhurst | 1 | 123.46x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.51x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.23x |
| Limpsfield | 1 | 285.71x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 13.55x |
| Scarisbrick | 1 | 95.24x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.27x |
| Twickenham | 1 | 30.67x |
| Wadhurst | 1 | 119.05x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Crittle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Phillis | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Allice | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Mary | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Minie | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Philladelphia | 1 |
| Rosenia | 1 |
| Sally | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Crittle 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 Crittle households.
FAQ
In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Crittle surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Crittle a modern rank of #36,125.
Derived from the Old English word "crydel" meaning a small basket or crib.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Crittle 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.