Surname Craige - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Craige: What does the surname Craige mean?
The last name Craige originated from Scotland as an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Macraig from the 12th century. The Macraig clan was native to Argyll and were proud warriors who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the wars against England. The name is derived from the Gaelic creag which means “rock” implying that the ancient ancestors of the Craige clan were warriors who were as strong and unyielding as a rock.
In the 16th century, the Craige name started to spread and become more popular in the Lowlands, where it became anglicized in various forms such as Craig, Craigh, and Craige. The Craige name eventually found its way to Ulster where many Scots-Irish immigrants had gone after being forced out of their homeland by the Government.
Today, the surname Craige is found all across the world, with Craige families in Scotland, Ireland, England, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America. In Scotland, Craige was one of the top 1000 surnames in 2019, ranked at 667th most popular.
There are many variations of the Craige surname, which reflect its Gaelic and Anglican influence, and many members of the Craige family have gone on to gain significant social prominence due to their achievements in various fields. Regardless of where they are in the world, those with the Craige last name are proud to be part of a rich and noble heritage that has been preserved throughout the generations.
Order DNA origin analysisCraige: Where does the name Craige come from?
The last name Craige is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. In the United States, the highest concentrations of Craige can be found in the Midwestern and Southern states, such as Ohio, Missouri, and Virginia. It is also found in large numbers in states which had histories of mass immigration, such as New York, Massachusetts, and Florida.
In terms of Canada, the largest concentrations are found in central provinces such as Ontario and Quebec. It is also found in smaller numbers in the maritime provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
Craige is a relatively uncommon surname worldwide, with estimated numbers ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. According to the Social Security Administration, Craige is the 17,297th most popular surname in the United States. The surname is also popular in England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, as well as countries such as China, India, and Japan.
Overall, Craige is most often a surname of British origin, and is relatively uncommon in the modern world. However, the surname can still be found today in large numbers in the United States and Canada, particularly in certain states and provinces.
Variations of the surname Craige
The surname Craige is derived from the Scottish town of Craigie. It is a habitational name derived from the Gaelic creag meaning ‘rock’ or ‘cliff’. Common variants of the name Craige include Craig, Creig and Creigh.
Craig, the most popular variant of the name Craige, is often shortened to a single "e" in some regions. Other spellings for the name include Creig, Creigh, Creg, Craige, Crayg, Kryg and Krayk.
The many variations of spellings and surnames may have developed from particular regional dialects and due to the fact that many individuals, when submitting their names for record-keeping, may have spelled it phonetically.
The surnames Cregg and Creometime can also be derived from the same origin as Craige. These variations may have been developed from the Gaelic term “creag” meaning ‘rock’ or ‘cliff’.
Another surname variation of Craige is Craigger or Cregar. This name was likely to have developed from a Gaelic term “creag gharraidh” meaning ‘stony enclosure’.
It is also possible for those with the surname Craige to have related family branches with the surnames Craigie, MacGregor, Cragg, Kilcregg, and Cruikshank.
Overall the surname Craige has a wide variety of spellings and branches which have developed and survived over the centuries. While the origin of the name was Gaelic, it has been adapted through many dialects and spellings.
Famous people with the name Craige
- Wilma Craige: a British playwright and theatre director known for her work on critically acclaimed stage plays like Pie in the Sky and Strange Fruit.
- Johnny Craige: a former Major League Baseball player who played for three teams between 1952 and 1958.
- Chris Craige: an award-winning filmmaker and TV producer with many credits to his name, including popular shows such as The Price is Right, Afraid of the Dark, and leather & Lace.
- Douglas Craige: a Scottish author known for his adventure-themed novels for teens and young adults, like Twenty Thousand Anomalies and Other Strange and Fantastic Tales.
- Bobby Craige: the lead singer and songwriter for the British rock band Aftermath who had several popular albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
- David Craige: a Scottish songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose jazz-infused melodies are featured on many popular records throughout Europe.
- Bryan Craige: a British comedian known for his stand-up specials and various appearances in popular films and TV shows, such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
- Diana Craige: a prominent designer who created many of the iconic costumes seen in the classic films Grease and Rocky Horror Picture Show.
- Holly Craige: a British actress who has appeared on both the big and small screens, including roles in the popular TV series Doctor Who and the movie Clueless.
- Charles Craige: a Scottish artist whose landscape paintings and photography have been exhibited in galleries around the world and are held in the permanent collections of many museums.