Find out how popular the last name Creed is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Creed.

Creed, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Creed surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Creed in America

Creed is the 7096th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Creed surname appeared 4,718 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Creed.

We can also compare 2010 data for Creed to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Creed

The surname Creed is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'creda', meaning belief or creed. It is thought to have originated as a nickname for a devout person, or one who adhered strictly to their religious beliefs.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Creed dates back to the late 12th century, appearing in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1191. This early record suggests that the name was already well-established in England by that time.

In the 13th century, the name Creed appeared in various forms, such as Crede, Creede, and Creed, reflecting the varying spellings of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was John Crede, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292.

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 contain several references to individuals with the surname Creed, including Robert Crede from Oxfordshire and William Crede from Cambridgeshire. These records provide valuable insights into the geographical distribution of the name during the medieval period.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Creed gained prominence through several notable figures. One such individual was Sir James Creed (1551-1624), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. Another was Sir William Creed (1610-1697), a prominent English politician who served as Secretary of State during the reign of Charles II.

In the 18th century, the name Creed was associated with the English poet and playwright, William Creed (1701-1775), who is remembered for his contributions to the development of English literature. Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Creed (1732-1803), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Headmaster of Westminster School.

The 19th century saw the continued prominence of the Creed surname, with individuals such as Henry Creed (1824-1901), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of railways in India, and William Creed (1866-1945), a Canadian politician and lawyer who served as the Premier of Nova Scotia from 1923 to 1925.

Throughout its history, the surname Creed has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including religious figures, politicians, merchants, scholars, and professionals, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Creed

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Creed.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Creed was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Creed has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Creed was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Creed, please contact us.

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