Explore the Family Name Craig
The meaning of Craig
1. Scottish: topographic name for someone who lived near a steep or precipitous rock, Older Scots crag, craig. Compare the synonymous English Cragg. 2. Manx: either a shortened form of Gaelic Mac Concharraige ‘son of Cu Charraige (‘hound of the rock’) or possibly of Mac Thorveig ‘son of Thorveig’, from the Old Norse personal name Thórveig (from the god’s name Thórr + veig ‘pith, strength’).
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Craig in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Craig has seen some changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 307th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 332nd position, representing an 8.14% decrease in ranking. However, the total count of people with the surname Craig increased from 89,591 in 2000 to 92,507 in 2010, marking a growth of 3.25%. The proportion per 100,000 people also decreased from 33.21 in 2000 to 31.36 in 2010, indicating a drop of 5.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #307 | #332 | -8.14% |
| Count | 89,591 | 92,507 | 3.25% |
| Proportion per 100k | 33.21 | 31.36 | -5.57% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Craig
The Decennial U.S. Census data also indicates shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the surname Craig between 2000 and 2010. The majority of individuals identified as white, although this percentage decreased slightly from 81.17% in 2000 to 79.03% in 2010. The second largest group identified as black, with this percentage increasing from 14.47% to 15.15%. Those identifying as Hispanic also saw a significant increase, from 1.61% to 2.37%. There were also minor increases in those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native, while the portion identifying with two or more races saw a substantial increase from 1.57% to 2.06%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 81.17% | 79.03% | -2.64% |
| Black | 14.47% | 15.15% | 4.7% |
| Hispanic | 1.61% | 2.37% | 47.2% |
| Two or More Races | 1.57% | 2.06% | 31.21% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.68% | 0.78% | 14.71% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.5% | 0.61% | 22% |
Craig ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Craig is British & Irish, which comprises 56.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.6%) and Eastern European (3.9%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Nigerian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 56.0% |
| French & German | 21.6% |
| Eastern European | 3.9% |
| Other | 18.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Craig
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Craig have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.80% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.70% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.60% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 88.60% |
What Craig haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Craig is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-CTS241 and R-U152, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Fletcher, Hudson, Collins, Roberts, Evans, Mills, Owens, Winters, Edwards, Waters.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Craig surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Craig have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Craig" Surname 44.7%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Craig" Surname 27.8%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Craig" Surname 25.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Craig" Surname 36.2%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Craig?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Craig are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition