Surname Cranford - Meaning and Origin
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read moreCranford: What does the surname Cranford mean?
The last name Cranford is an English toponymic surname of old Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the name of a place. It is believed to have originated from the town of Cranford in Middlesex, England. This hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 under the reign of William the Conqueror.
The name Cranford is thought to derive from the Old English words 'cran' and 'ford', which means 'crane' and 'a shallow place to cross a river or stream', respectively. This combination refers to a ford where cranes interacted on the banks of a stream or river, making Cranford a very descriptive surname.
Throughout the centuries, the Cranford surname has spread throughout Great Britain and to many other countries around the world. Those who bear this surname can be found in England, Scotland, Ireland, North America, Australia, and beyond.
Although Cranford is not a particularly common surname, it is steeped in history and has long-standing roots in the old Anglo-Saxon culture of England. Those who bear the surname can take pride in the fact that their roots can be traced back centuries and today they can still see references to the place of their ancestors, thanks to that special stretch of water and the cranes who come to visit.
Order DNA origin analysisCranford: Where does the name Cranford come from?
The last name Cranford is most common within the United Kingdom, specifically in England. According to the website Forebears, Cranford is the 1,438th most popular surname in England and Wales, with a population of 5,689,497 people.
The name Cranford appears to have derived from Old English, combining two elements: ‘cran’ meaning crane, or wild fowl, and ‘ford’ meaning a shallow part of a river or a crossing point over a river. This suggests that early Cranfords inhabited an area with a river, and potentially earned their living hunting fowl.
Today, the majority of the Cranfords within the UK live in the south of England, in the counties of Hampshire, West Sussex, Berkshire, and Buckinghamshire. Beyond the UK, the name Cranford appears in several parts of the US, especially in the state of Texas, and in Australia in the states of New South Wales and Victoria.
While most common in the UK, the last name Cranford likely originates from the same root in each location; be it an area inhabiting a river and cranes, or an area now known as Cranford.
Variations of the surname Cranford
The surname Cranford is a topographical surname derived from the Old English given name ‘Cran’ which means cranes, and a ford, meaning a body of water. The name is believed to have originated in a place with multiple cranes passing through a ford.
Variants of Cranford include Cranfurd, Cranfard, Cranferd, Cranfort, Cranfard and Geraldy. The Cranfurd spelling is currently the most common form of the Cranford name.
Spellings include Cranfford, Cranfil, Cranforde, Cranfote, Cranfutt and Crantord.
Surnames which are believed to have the same origin as Cranford include Craneford, Cranefoot, Craneforth, Craneyford, Cranmer, Cranmore, Cranston, Cranstone, Cranstoun and Cranwell.
The name Cranford has also been seen as part of double-barrel names. These include Cranford-Smith, Leybourne-Cranford and Marriott-Cranford.
Cranford is found in Great Britain, particularly in Devon, London, Gloucestershire, Essex, and Northamptonshire and can also be found in the United States and Canada.
Famous people with the name Cranford
- Johnny Cranford — American former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Babe Cranford — American professional golfer who was one of a group of thirteen golfers who founded the Professional Gold Association in 1968
- Kristen Cranford — American professional tennis player
- A.J. Cranford — American country music singer
- Don Cranford — Former mayor of Gaffney, South Carolina
- Richard Cranford — American actor
- Ron Cranford — American chiropractor and political activist
- Terry Cranford — Former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Roman Cranford — Canadian former professional ice hockey player
- Wayne Cranford — American former professional baseball player