NameCensus.

UK surname

Cruickshank

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "crooked hill" or "crooked point of land."

In the 1881 census there were 3,375 people recorded with the Cruickshank surname, ranking it #1,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,096, ranked #1,329, up from #1,349 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Old Deer, Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Keith and Fife Keith, Huntly and Deer and Mormond.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cruickshank is 5,143 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.0%.

1881 census count

3,375

Ranked #1,349

Modern count

5,096

2016, ranked #1,329

Peak year

2010

5,143 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cruickshank had 3,375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,349 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,096 in 2016, ranked #1,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,113 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Cruickshank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cruickshank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cruickshank 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 2,251 #1,304
1861 historical 2,507 #1,166
1881 historical 3,375 #1,349
1891 historical 3,617 #1,326
1901 historical 4,113 #1,371
1911 historical 534 #7,458
1997 modern 4,636 #1,413
1998 modern 4,773 #1,420
1999 modern 4,790 #1,431
2000 modern 4,766 #1,427
2001 modern 4,646 #1,435
2002 modern 4,772 #1,429
2003 modern 4,687 #1,415
2004 modern 4,743 #1,394
2005 modern 4,780 #1,364
2006 modern 4,816 #1,353
2007 modern 4,885 #1,350
2008 modern 4,967 #1,339
2009 modern 5,077 #1,344
2010 modern 5,143 #1,353
2011 modern 5,039 #1,356
2012 modern 4,973 #1,345
2013 modern 5,043 #1,349
2014 modern 5,088 #1,347
2015 modern 5,093 #1,338
2016 modern 5,096 #1,329

Geography

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Where Cruickshanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Old Deer, Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Old Machar and Huntly. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Keith and Fife Keith, Huntly, Deer and Mormond, Cruden and Rural Keith and Strathisla. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Old Deer Aberdeen
2 Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie Elgin
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen
5 Huntly Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Keith and Fife Keith Moray
2 Huntly Aberdeenshire
3 Deer and Mormond Aberdeenshire
4 Cruden Aberdeenshire
5 Rural Keith and Strathisla Moray

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cruickshank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cruickshank

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Cruickshank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Cruickshank household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Cruickshank 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

Cruickshank is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cruickshank falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cruickshank 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 Cruickshank, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cruickshank

The surname Cruickshank has its origins in Scotland, emerging in the 13th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "cruic," meaning "bent" or "crooked," and "shank," referring to a leg or shank. The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with a deformed or crooked leg.

The earliest known bearer of the name was Gillebrid Cruikshanks, who was mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a record of Scottish nobles and landowners who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

The Cruickshank name appeared in various historical records throughout the centuries, including the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in the 14th century and the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland in the 16th century.

One notable Cruickshank was Alexander Cruickshank (c. 1609-1675), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as a regent at the University of St. Andrews and later as a minister in the parishes of Logy and Arbirlot.

Another prominent figure with this surname was William Cruickshank (1745-1800), a Scottish philosopher and author who wrote extensively on logic and metaphysics. He served as Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Marischal College in Aberdeen.

In the 19th century, Robert Cruickshank (1789-1856) was a Scottish naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys of the coasts of South America and the Arctic regions. He also served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1833 to 1834.

John Cruickshank (1857-1925) was a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and was involved in various mining and agricultural ventures.

Lastly, John Cruickshank (1926-2016) was a Scottish actor and playwright known for his roles in television series such as Dr. Finlay's Casebook and Sutherland's Law, as well as for his contributions to Scottish theatre.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Cruickshank throughout history, a name with deep roots in Scotland and a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cruickshank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cruickshank 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 1,711 Cruickshanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.32x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 1,711 56.32x
Banffshire 380 55.84x
Morayshire 288 56.50x
Angus 100 3.29x
Midlothian 98 2.23x
Kincardineshire 92 23.03x
Lanarkshire 84 0.79x
Middlesex 70 0.21x
Inverness-shire 68 6.94x
Lancashire 56 0.14x
Perthshire 36 2.45x
Durham 32 0.33x
Fife 30 1.54x
Ross-shire 30 3.33x
Surrey 26 0.16x
Stirlingshire 23 1.90x
Renfrewshire 22 0.87x
Hampshire 20 0.30x
Kent 17 0.15x
Northumberland 16 0.33x
Orkney 12 3.32x
Somerset 11 0.21x
Berwickshire 10 2.52x
Dunbartonshire 10 1.13x
East Lothian 8 1.84x
Warwickshire 8 0.10x
Yorkshire 8 0.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 1.47x
Peeblesshire 7 4.54x
Roxburghshire 7 1.18x
Wigtownshire 7 1.61x
Berkshire 6 0.24x
Cheshire 6 0.08x
Essex 6 0.09x
Argyllshire 5 0.55x
Cumberland 5 0.18x
Devon 5 0.07x
Isle of Man 5 0.82x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.55x
Monmouthshire 4 0.17x
Clackmannanshire 3 1.11x
Selkirkshire 3 1.01x
Sussex 3 0.05x
Gloucestershire 2 0.03x
Northamptonshire 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 0.51x
Westmorland 2 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Denbighshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.15x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Staffordshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 264 Cruickshanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.62x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 264 41.62x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 238 41.87x
Peterhead 102 63.49x
Cromdale 86 209.71x
Keith 75 103.39x
Cruden 73 186.61x
Gamrie 71 93.46x
Newhills 71 114.13x
Old Deer 65 112.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 63 3.56x
Ellon 57 136.43x
Knockando 54 260.62x
Turriff 50 101.96x
New Deer 45 81.82x
Huntly 44 89.01x
Forgue 43 157.57x
Dundee 42 3.70x
Monquhitter 38 120.83x
Fraserburgh 35 40.93x
Fyvie 34 68.58x
Govan 33 1.26x
Longside 33 90.96x
King Edward 31 88.55x
Barony 30 1.12x
Mortlach 30 90.28x
Abernethy Kincardine 29 167.82x
Elgin 29 29.25x
Kintore 28 106.06x
Rothiemay 28 181.46x
Slains 27 190.68x
Inverurie 26 75.67x
Fordyce 25 51.06x
Auchterless 23 95.36x
Grange 21 105.42x
Banff 20 33.84x
Dyce 20 152.79x
Foveran 20 86.96x
Kemnay 20 108.58x
Udny 20 108.58x
Tarves 19 66.11x
Forres 18 33.59x
Glasgow 18 0.96x
Strichen 18 68.18x
Fetteresso 17 27.16x
Rothes 17 68.38x
Banchory Ternan 16 46.32x
Duthil 16 85.56x
Marnoch 16 43.79x
Rathven 16 12.52x
Rayne 16 110.88x
Brechin 15 12.56x
Daviot 15 259.52x
Rathen 15 47.11x
Tyrie 15 39.33x
Boyndie 14 62.11x
Chapel Of Garioch 14 64.75x
Skene 14 69.48x
Aberlour 13 60.24x
Botriphnie 13 165.18x
Duffus 13 28.94x
Inverness 13 5.28x
New Spynie 13 70.84x
Kensington London 12 0.66x
St Pancras London 12 0.45x
St Vigeans 12 7.31x
Toxteth Park 12 0.91x
Monymusk 11 84.55x
Strathmiglo 11 47.39x
Abbey 10 2.58x
Banchory Devenick 10 26.80x
Hackney London 10 0.54x
Maryculter 10 83.06x
Oyne 10 92.59x
Urquhart 10 41.51x
Denny 9 13.98x
Dingwall 9 35.52x
Kinfauns 9 134.73x
Leslie 9 153.32x
Southampton St Mary 9 2.13x
Stirling 9 5.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 16
Mary 12
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 6
Isabella 6
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Ann 5
Annie 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Maggie 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Barbara 3
Catherine 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Martha 3
Charlotte 2
Elizth. 2
Harriet 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Robina 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Cecile 1
Christian 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Ethelwin 1
Euphemia 1
Harriett 1
Harrietta 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Hephzibah 1
Ida 1
Isabelle 1
Janet 1
Jannet 1
Jennette 1
Willender 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 21
James 16
George 12
Robert 6
Alexander 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
David 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Andrew 2
Douglas 2
Duncan 2
Edward 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Alex 1
Alexd. 1
Arthur 1
Ch.M. 1
Chas. 1
Donald 1
Edwin 1
Fletcher 1
Fredick 1
G. 1
Gregor 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
J.M. 1
Janet 1
Jas. 1
Jn. 1
Jno. 1
Johnny 1
Kery 1
Lawrence 1
Lewis 1
Malcolm 1
Percival 1
Robt. 1
Thomas 1
W.A. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Cruickshank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cruickshank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,375 people were recorded with the Cruickshank surname. That placed it at #1,349 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cruickshank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,096 in 2016. That gives Cruickshank a modern rank of #1,329.

What does the Cruickshank surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "crooked hill" or "crooked point of land."

What does the Cruickshank map show?

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