Criner
An occupational surname for a sieve or sifter maker, derived from the Middle English word "cryner" or "crynere."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,571 Americans carry the last name Criner. That puts it at #13,627 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.75 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 133,316 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Criner 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
2.6K
1 in 133,316
Census rank
#13,627
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.8
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
2.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 2,222 bearers of the surname Criner in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 13627th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Criner, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.0%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Criner
The surname CRINER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly in the county of Norfolk. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cryne," which means a small crevice or crack. This could indicate that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a particular geological feature or perhaps worked in a profession related to mining or quarrying.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the CRINER surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, a census-like record from the late 13th century. This document lists a man named Richard Criner, who was likely one of the first bearers of the name.
In the 15th century, the CRINER name appears in the records of the town of Great Yarmouth, located in Norfolk. A merchant named John Criner is mentioned in documents from the year 1457, suggesting that the family had established itself in the area by that time.
During the Tudor period, a notable figure with the CRINER surname was Sir William Criner, a courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII. Sir William was born in 1495 and died in 1560, and he is known to have been involved in negotiations with various European powers during his career.
Another prominent individual with the CRINER name was Robert Criner, a Puritan minister who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1620 and served as the pastor of a church in the town of Dedham, Essex, until his death in 1696.
In the 18th century, the CRINER surname appeared in the parish records of several villages in Norfolk and Suffolk, indicating that the name was still concentrated in the eastern regions of England at that time.
One notable bearer of the CRINER name during this period was Edward Criner, a scholar and author who was born in 1725. He wrote several works on topics such as philosophy and theology, and he is known to have been a respected figure in academic circles.
As the centuries passed, the CRINER surname spread to other parts of England and eventually to other parts of the world, as members of the family migrated to new territories. However, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in the eastern counties of England, where it likely originated from a small geographical feature or occupation related to the Old English word "cryne."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Criner
Among Census respondents with the surname Criner, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.0%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Two or More Races (3.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Criner 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 Criner surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White71.0%
- Black or African American21.0%
- Two or more races3.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Criner 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #13,627 | #13,627 | 0.0% |
| Count | 2,222 | 2,222 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.75 | 0.75 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Criner bearers went from 2,222 to 2,222 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #13,627 to #13,627.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Criner
FAQ
Criner surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Criner?
The surname Criner holds position #13,627 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 2,571 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.75 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Criner surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Criner, the largest self-reported group is White at 71.0%. The next largest groups are Black (21.0%) and Two or More Races (3.6%). 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.