Crichton
A Scottish surname derived from lands near the town of Crichton in Midlothian.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,159 Americans carry the last name Crichton. That puts it at #15,777 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.63 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 158,756 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Crichton surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
2.2K
1 in 158,756
Census rank
#15,777
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,847 bearers of the surname Crichton in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15777th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Crichton, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Crichton
The surname Crichton has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "crìch" meaning boundary and "tun" meaning farm or settlement, suggesting a location near a border or territorial limit. The name is associated with the Crichton family, who held lands in Midlothian, Scotland.
The earliest recorded instance of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists William de Crichton as a landowner who swore fealty to Edward I of England. In the 14th century, Sir William Crichton was a prominent Scottish nobleman and Lord Chancellor of Scotland under King James II.
The Crichton name is also linked to the historic Crichton Castle, located in Midlothian, which was the ancestral seat of the Crichton family for centuries. The castle dates back to the 14th century and played a significant role in Scottish history, hosting several notable events and figures.
In the 16th century, Robert Crichton of Eliok (c. 1520 - c. 1580) was a Scottish nobleman and Lord Advocate of Scotland, known for his involvement in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots. Another notable figure was James Crichton (c. 1560 - 1582), also known as "The Admirable Crichton," a Scottish scholar, polymath, and talented swordsman.
The surname Crichton has also been associated with several other historical figures, including Sir Evan Crichton (c. 1540 - c. 1619), a Scottish military commander and diplomat, and Andrew Crichton (c. 1790 - 1855), a Scottish naval officer and explorer who participated in several Arctic expeditions.
Throughout its history, the Crichton surname has been spelled in various ways, including Creighton, Crighton, and Creychtoun, reflecting the regional variations and evolving spellings over time. The name has also been linked to several place names, such as Crichton in Midlothian and Crichton in Dumfries and Galloway, further emphasizing its Scottish origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Crichton
Among Census respondents with the surname Crichton, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Crichton bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Crichton surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.6%
- Black or African American7.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander4.5%
- Two or more races3.3%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.3%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Crichton surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #16,341 | #15,777 | 3.5% |
| Count | 1,623 | 1,847 | 13.8% |
| Per 100K | 0.60 | 0.63 | 5.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Crichton bearers went from 1,623 to 1,847 (+13.8% change). The surname moved up 564 positions in the national ranking, going from #16,341 to #15,777.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Crichton
FAQ
Crichton surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Crichton?
The surname Crichton holds position #15,777 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,159 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.63 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Crichton surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Crichton, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.6%. The next largest groups are Black (7.4%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (4.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.