NameCensus.

UK surname

Crutch

An occupational surname referring to a maker of crutches or walking sticks.

In the 1881 census there were 177 people recorded with the Crutch surname, ranking it #13,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #13,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Woodstock, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf, West Oxfordshire and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Crutch is 214 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 42.4%.

1881 census count

177

Ranked #13,889

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1911

214 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Crutch had 177 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Crutch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Crutch surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Crutch 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 177 #13,889
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 126 #23,461
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 134 #23,358
2001 modern 129 #23,557
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 122 #24,628
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 125 #24,398
2006 modern 124 #24,750
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 124 #26,582
2011 modern 118 #27,192
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 114 #28,608
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Crutchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Woodstock, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Lewisham, Chesterton and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rhondda Cynon Taf, West Oxfordshire, Hounslow, Epping Forest and Windsor and Maidenhead. 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 Woodstock Oxfordshire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 Lewisham London (South Districts)
4 Chesterton Oxfordshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 013 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire
3 Hounslow 020 Hounslow
4 Epping Forest 005 Epping Forest
5 Windsor and Maidenhead 011 Windsor and Maidenhead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Crutch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Crutch

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

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Crutch is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Crutch is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Crutch falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Crutch

The surname Crutch is of English origin, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "crycc", meaning a staff or support for those with physical impairments. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who used a crutch or had a physical disability that required the use of a crutch.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Crutch can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1195, which lists a "Willelmus Crutche". The surname is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, referencing a "Johannes Crutche".

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Crutche, Crouche, and Crouche, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Essex.

The surname Crutch has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Robert Crutch, who was born in Northamptonshire in the late 15th century and served as a member of the English Parliament in 1529.

Another notable figure was William Crutch, born in 1636 in Wiltshire, who was a prominent clergyman and author of several religious works in the 17th century. His book, "The Divine Prospect" (1677), was widely read and influential during his time.

In the 18th century, John Crutch (1726-1798) was a renowned English watchmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of marine chronometers and other timekeeping devices.

The 19th century saw the rise of Samuel Crutch (1810-1879), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Corn Exchange in Bristol and the Halifax Piece Hall.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Arthur Crutch (1915-1995) was a distinguished British journalist and war correspondent, covering major events such as World War II and the Korean War for various news organizations.

While the surname Crutch is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from politicians and clergymen to inventors and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Crutch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Crutch 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. Middlesex leads with 34 Crutchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 1.97x
Oxfordshire 31 29.08x
Kent 22 3.73x
Lancashire 19 0.93x
Buckinghamshire 17 16.29x
Surrey 17 2.02x
Berkshire 12 9.26x
Worcestershire 8 3.55x
Carmarthenshire 5 6.87x
Hampshire 4 1.13x
Devon 2 0.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Cumberland 1 0.67x
Essex 1 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.84x
Wiltshire 1 0.65x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 19 Crutchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.49x.

Place Total Index
Lewisham 19 60.49x
Wootton 10 1562.50x
Croydon 8 17.13x
Islington London 8 4.78x
Hackney London 7 7.23x
Kidderminster Foreign 7 219.44x
Winkfield 7 325.58x
Chesterton 6 3157.89x
Everton 6 9.19x
Thame 6 309.28x
Wycombe 6 77.12x
Llanelly 5 30.51x
Battersea 4 6.30x
Liverpool 4 3.21x
North Hincksey 4 2857.14x
Shabbington 4 1904.76x
Stoke Newington London 4 29.74x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 29.15x
Kensington London 3 3.13x
Poplar London 3 9.21x
Rotherhithe 3 14.06x
Shoreditch London 3 4.01x
St Gilesin Fields London 3 205.48x
Warrington 3 12.35x
Watlington 3 275.23x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 12.55x
Epsom 2 48.78x
Kidlington 2 240.96x
Lee 2 23.39x
Marldon 2 666.67x
Stadhampton 2 909.09x
Stanwell 2 156.25x
Toxteth Park 2 2.88x
Twyford 2 606.06x
Aldershot 1 8.44x
Bray 1 26.25x
Calbourne 1 263.16x
Chalfont St Giles 1 133.33x
Chelsea London 1 1.92x
Denham 1 135.14x
Garston 1 16.53x
Hitcham 1 416.67x
Keston 1 227.27x
Lee 1 1428.57x
Nettlebed 1 256.41x
Rickergate 1 31.75x
St Swithin Winchester 1 1111.11x
St Thomas Winchester 1 40.00x
Swindon 1 8.45x
Taplow 1 158.73x
Wanstead 1 16.75x
Watford 1 10.83x
Wheatley 1 166.67x
Worcester St Martin 1 32.89x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
John 11
James 8
Thomas 8
George 5
Henry 5
Albert 4
Herbert 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Abraham 1
Auther 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Heney 1
Horace 1
Wm.A.J. 1

FAQ

Crutch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Crutch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 177 people were recorded with the Crutch surname. That placed it at #13,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Crutch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Crutch a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Crutch surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker of crutches or walking sticks.

What does the Crutch map show?

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