NameCensus.

UK surname

Cryan

An Irish surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Croidheáin, meaning "descendant of Croidheán".

In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Cryan surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 323, ranked #13,997, up from #18,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Govan Combination and Earsdon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, North Tyneside and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cryan is 342 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 201.9%.

1881 census count

107

Ranked #18,982

Modern count

323

2016, ranked #13,997

Peak year

1998

342 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cryan had 107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016, ranked #13,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cryan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cryan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cryan 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 31 #27,734
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 107 #18,982
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 137 #19,032
1911 historical 120 #20,447
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 342 #12,739
1999 modern 313 #13,587
2000 modern 320 #13,360
2001 modern 315 #13,291
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 285 #14,295
2004 modern 288 #14,254
2005 modern 291 #14,105
2006 modern 282 #14,459
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 280 #14,823
2009 modern 301 #14,386
2010 modern 313 #14,289
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 332 #13,713
2014 modern 333 #13,770
2015 modern 328 #13,840
2016 modern 323 #13,997

Geography

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Where Cryans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Govan Combination, Earsdon, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, North Tyneside, Kingston upon Hull, St. Helens and Rotherham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Earsdon Northumberland
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 004 Bolsover
2 North Tyneside 002 North Tyneside
3 Kingston upon Hull 025 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 St. Helens 009 St. Helens
5 Rotherham 028 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cryan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cryan

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Cryan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Cryan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Cryan 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

Cryan is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cryan falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cryan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Cryan

The surname Cryan is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic word "cráin," which means "tree" or "wood." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, possibly as early as the 12th century, in the areas of counties Mayo and Sligo in the west of Ireland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cryan surname can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where it is mentioned in reference to a battle that took place in the year 1256. The name appears to have been associated with various locations in Ireland, including the townlands of Cryantrasna and Cryanbeg in County Mayo.

In the 16th century, the Cryan family was prominent in the area of Connaught, particularly in County Mayo. A notable member of the family during this time was Tadg Cryan, a chieftain and landowner who lived in the late 16th century. Records from this period also show variations in the spelling of the surname, such as Cryne and Crayne.

During the 17th century, the Cryan surname spread beyond its original homeland in the west of Ireland. In 1659, a John Cryan was recorded as a landowner in County Tipperary. By the 18th century, the name had become more widespread across Ireland, with Cryans residing in counties such as Dublin, Kilkenny, and Cork.

One of the most famous individuals with the Cryan surname was Michael Cryan (1847-1925), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament who represented the constituency of North Mayo from 1900 to 1918. Another notable figure was Patrick Cryan (1875-1955), a Catholic priest and educator who served as the president of Maynooth College in County Kildare.

Other notable Cryans throughout history include John Cryan (1863-1944), an Irish-born American labor leader and trade unionist; Martin Cryan (1836-1905), an Irish nationalist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for County Mayo; and James Cryan (1877-1954), an Irish-born American businessman and financier who co-founded the National Dairy Products Corporation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cryan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cryan 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. Lancashire leads with 35 Cryans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.83x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 35 2.83x
Lanarkshire 12 3.56x
Yorkshire 11 1.06x
Argyllshire 8 27.54x
Durham 8 2.58x
Midlothian 8 5.72x
Northumberland 8 5.15x
Renfrewshire 6 7.42x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 33.09x
Derbyshire 2 1.22x
Anglesey 1 5.41x
Cheshire 1 0.43x
Essex 1 0.49x
Hampshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmore Kilbride in Argyllshire leads with 8 Cryans recorded in 1881 and an index of 434.78x.

Place Total Index
Kilmore Kilbride 8 434.78x
Seaton Delaval 8 588.24x
South Leith 8 50.86x
Bishopwearmouth 7 26.27x
Maryhill 7 105.90x
Everton 6 15.21x
Little Lever 6 379.75x
Paisley Middle Church 6 127.39x
Wigan 6 34.68x
Lochrutton 5 2272.73x
Wardleworth 5 70.62x
Bradford 3 51.72x
Cadder 3 120.48x
Sheffield 3 9.11x
Toxteth Park 3 7.15x
Birkdale 2 63.90x
Birkin 2 2857.14x
Glossop Dale 2 26.14x
New Monkland 2 20.04x
Saddleworth 2 25.06x
Sturton Grange 2 10000.00x
Aldershot 1 13.95x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.70x
Chester St Bridget 1 256.41x
Elton 1 23.36x
Manchester 1 1.80x
Micklefield 1 400.00x
Rhoscolyn 1 625.00x
Seaton Carew 1 161.29x
Wakefield 1 12.59x
West Derby 1 2.76x
West Ham 1 2.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Margaret 3
Amelia 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Barbera 1
Bridget 1
Catharine 1
Delir 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Eva 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Michael 5
Patrick 5
James 3
Andrew 2
Peter 2
Thomas 2
Daniel 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Pat 1
Roger 1
Thos. 1
William 1

FAQ

Cryan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cryan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Cryan surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cryan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 323 in 2016. That gives Cryan a modern rank of #13,997.

What does the Cryan surname mean?

An Irish surname derived from the Irish Gaelic name Ó Croidheáin, meaning "descendant of Croidheán".

What does the Cryan map show?

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