NameCensus.

UK surname

Cruickshanks

From a Scottish surname referring to someone who lived near a place with a winding stream.

In the 1881 census there were 487 people recorded with the Cruickshanks surname, ranking it #6,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 930, ranked #6,144, up from #6,914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gatehouse, Letham and Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cruickshanks is 944 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.0%.

1881 census count

487

Ranked #6,914

Modern count

930

2016, ranked #6,144

Peak year

2010

944 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cruickshanks had 487 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016, ranked #6,144.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 866 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Cruickshanks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cruickshanks surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Cruickshanks 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 360 #6,569
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 487 #6,914
1891 historical 749 #5,317
1901 historical 866 #5,290
1911 historical 118 #20,649
1997 modern 842 #6,288
1998 modern 862 #6,364
1999 modern 859 #6,430
2000 modern 848 #6,468
2001 modern 845 #6,366
2002 modern 852 #6,448
2003 modern 837 #6,417
2004 modern 837 #6,420
2005 modern 855 #6,286
2006 modern 884 #6,119
2007 modern 917 #6,008
2008 modern 917 #6,054
2009 modern 926 #6,117
2010 modern 944 #6,151
2011 modern 944 #6,094
2012 modern 916 #6,162
2013 modern 932 #6,181
2014 modern 935 #6,204
2015 modern 929 #6,185
2016 modern 930 #6,144

Geography

Back to top

Where Cruickshanks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gatehouse, Letham, Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond, Central and South Inch and Arbroath Harbour. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gatehouse Dumfries and Galloway
2 Letham Perth and Kinross
3 Hillyland, Tulloch and Inveralmond Perth and Kinross
4 Central and South Inch Perth and Kinross
5 Arbroath Harbour Angus

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Cruickshanks

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Cruickshanks

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Cruickshanks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Cruickshanks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cruickshanks 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

Cruickshanks 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

Cruickshanks falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cruickshanks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cruickshanks, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cruickshanks

The surname Cruickshanks has its roots in Scotland, emerging in the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish town of Cruickshank in Aberdeenshire, which itself derived its name from the Gaelic words "cruic" meaning "bend" and "shank" meaning "a point of land projecting into a river or sea." The name likely referred to the town's location near a bend in a river or coastline.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1329, where a Robert de Cruykschank is mentioned. The name appeared in various spellings throughout the centuries, including Cruickshanc, Crukschank, and Cruykshanks, reflecting regional dialects and variations in spelling conventions.

In the 16th century, the Cruickshanks clan was prominent in Aberdeenshire, with several members holding positions of influence within the local community. Notable figures from this period include Alexander Cruickshanks (c. 1500-1570), a prominent merchant and landowner, and William Cruickshanks (c. 1520-1585), a respected minister and scholar.

The name also found its way into historical records outside of Scotland. In the 17th century, a Robert Cruickshanks (1638-1701) emigrated to Ireland and became a successful merchant in Dublin. His descendants continued to play a role in Irish society for several generations.

As the Scottish diaspora spread across the globe, the Cruickshanks name traveled with it. In the 18th century, John Cruickshanks (1720-1780) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, serving as a colonel in the Continental Army. Another notable bearer of the name was Alexander Cruickshanks (1785-1856), a Scottish-born artist and engraver who worked in London and became renowned for his landscape paintings.

In the 19th century, the Cruickshanks surname gained further recognition through individuals like William Cruickshanks (1815-1891), a Scottish engineer who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines, and Evelyn Cruickshanks (1850-1920), a British writer and journalist known for her works on women's rights and social issues.

While the name has its origins in Scotland, it has since spread across the globe, with Cruickshanks families found in various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The surname continues to carry the legacy of its Scottish roots, reflecting the rich history and cultural heritage of the region from which it emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Cruickshanks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cruickshanks 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. Lanarkshire leads with 135 Cruickshanks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.77x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 135 8.77x
Midlothian 84 13.17x
Angus 69 15.65x
Renfrewshire 25 6.78x
Morayshire 15 20.28x
Stirlingshire 15 8.54x
Dunbartonshire 14 10.94x
Durham 13 0.92x
Lancashire 13 0.23x
Fife 10 3.55x
Surrey 9 0.39x
West Lothian 9 12.55x
Banffshire 8 8.10x
Aberdeenshire 7 1.59x
Kent 7 0.43x
Perthshire 6 2.81x
Ayrshire 5 1.40x
Buteshire 5 17.34x
Caithness 5 7.67x
Dumfriesshire 5 4.75x
Inverness-shire 5 3.52x
Kincardineshire 5 8.63x
Middlesex 3 0.06x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Nairnshire 2 13.76x
Argyllshire 1 0.75x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Cumberland 1 0.24x
East Lothian 1 1.59x
Essex 1 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.45x
Northumberland 1 0.14x
Orkney 1 1.91x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.66x
Royal Navy 1 1.76x
Wigtownshire 1 1.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 49 Cruickshanks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.87x.

Place Total Index
Govan 49 12.87x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 36 14.03x
Glasgow 34 12.44x
Barony 26 6.67x
Liff Benvie 22 32.86x
Dundee 16 9.72x
Falkirk 14 34.06x
South Leith 14 19.51x
Old Monkland 13 21.28x
Edinburgh St Georges 10 75.59x
Kirriemuir 10 91.91x
Edinburgh New 9 181.82x
Edinkillie 9 466.32x
Montrose 9 33.67x
Beddington 8 89.19x
Dunfermline 8 18.46x
Paisley High Church 8 27.24x
Shotts 7 38.00x
Kirkdale 6 6.31x
Rathven 6 32.35x
Throston 6 220.59x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 6.06x
Boness 5 50.61x
Canisbay 5 116.82x
Droylsden 5 27.13x
Faversham 5 32.28x
Kilbarchan 5 44.60x
New Kilpatrick 5 41.08x
Rothesay 5 35.79x
Stracathro 5 625.00x
West Greenock 5 7.55x
Abercorn 4 281.69x
Dawdon 4 22.96x
Duddingston 4 31.25x
Dumbarton 4 22.46x
Edinburgh Canongate 4 24.65x
Maryhill 4 13.27x
Abernethy 3 107.53x
Benholm 3 120.48x
Durrisdeer 3 166.67x
Edinburgh Greenside 3 35.59x
Lochwinnoch 3 54.55x
Middleton Tyas 3 333.33x
Westoe 3 3.74x
Aberlour 2 63.90x
Abernethy Kincardine 2 79.68x
Cumbernauld 2 28.53x
Dalmellington 2 19.08x
East Kilbride 2 30.35x
Forres 2 25.74x
Inverarity 2 140.85x
Inverness 2 5.59x
Lasswade 2 13.72x
Laurencekirk 2 59.52x
Lochmaben 2 43.38x
Logierait 2 53.19x
Nairn 2 22.68x
Neilston 2 10.80x
Row 2 12.08x
St Quivox 2 16.60x
St Vigeans 2 8.40x
Woolwich 2 3.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 1.09x
Barnes 1 10.19x
Croy Dalcross 1 35.59x
Dalkeith 1 7.95x
Dunblane 1 19.57x
Elgin 1 6.95x
Everton 1 0.56x
Firth Stenness 1 44.44x
Haddington 1 10.74x
Inverkeillor 1 36.63x
Middle Greenock 1 9.93x
Milford Haven 1 81.30x
Paisley Middle Church 1 4.66x
Rafford 1 57.80x
Ratcliffe London 1 3.80x
St Pancras London 1 0.26x
Wanstead 1 6.08x
Whithorn 1 20.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 4
Mary 4
Margaret 3
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 2
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Kat 1
Maud 1
Mina 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
William 3
Andrew 2
George 2
James 2
Jas. 2
Robert 2
Alex 1
Charles 1
Francis 1
Gilbert 1
Philip 1
Wm.Mason 1

Top occupations

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 Cruickshanks households.

FAQ

Cruickshanks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cruickshanks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 487 people were recorded with the Cruickshanks surname. That placed it at #6,914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cruickshanks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 930 in 2016. That gives Cruickshanks a modern rank of #6,144.

What does the Cruickshanks surname mean?

From a Scottish surname referring to someone who lived near a place with a winding stream.

What does the Cruickshanks map show?

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