Surname Crawly - Meaning and Origin
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Crawly: What does the surname Crawly mean?
The last name Crawly is of English origin and it is derived from a geographical locality. It is believed to originate from any of the several places in England named Crawley. The name Crawley itself is formed from Old English elements - "crawa," which means "crow," and "leah," meaning "wood," "clearing," or "meadow." So, the surname Crawly could mean "crow's wood" or "crow's meadow." Like many English surnames, Crawly would have originally been a name given to a person dwelling in or near such a geographical feature, effectively meaning "one who lives near the crow's wood or meadow." Throughout history, it has been spelled in various ways including Crawley, Crawly, and Crowley, among others.
Order DNA origin analysisCrawly: Where does the name Crawly come from?
The surname Crawly is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from a place name in the United Kingdom. It is generally believed to be topographic, from Old English 'crawe' meaning 'crow', and 'leah', referring to a 'woodland clearing', suggesting that the original bearers of the name lived in or near a field or clearing frequented by crows.
The surname has several variations including Crawley, Crawlie, and Crayley. The earliest recorded instances place the surname in counties Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire in the 13th century. A town named Crawley in Sussex is also documented in the Domesday Book of 1086.
Today, the surname Crawly is commonly found in English-speaking countries particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Canada. It remains most prevalent in the United Kingdom. Despite its dispersal, it is not overly common. Internet sources suggest it ranks around the 39,244th most common surname in the world and is borne by approximately 6500 people globally.
Variations of the surname Crawly
The surname Crawly, often used in English-speaking regions, is thought to be of topographic origin derived from Middle English elements - "crawe" (crow) and "leah" (wood clearing). It can refer to someone residing near a notable crow-infested wood or significant field.
Its variants possibly include Crawley, Crawleigh, Crawlie, Crawlee, Craley, Crowley, Crauly, and Cralley. These arise due to regional accents, spelling errors, and differing interpretations over time. Some might even drop the "w" and use Carly.
The surname has utilized different spellings throughout history, including in historical documents and records. Possible historical spellings include Crawlay, Crawle, Crawlai, Crawli, and the Latinized form, "de Crauleia" from the 13th century.
Moreover, the existence of places called Crawley in Hampshire, Herefordshire, Sussex, and West Sussex, has affected the surname's geographical spread and variation. In these cases, the habitational surname refers to individuals originating from these locations.
Notably, similar-origin surnames could be Birdsey (wood with birds), Oakley (oak wood clearing), and Hadley (heather meadow). These, like Crawly, are English topographic or locational surnames. An Irish equivalent, Crowley, originating from Ó Cruadhlaoich, relates to hardy or successful warriors but often gets mistaken due to phonetic similarity.
Famous people with the name Crawly
1) Arthur Crawly: He was involved in the British film industry during the early part of the 20th century. 2) Beatrice Crawly: A socialite popular in the 1930s and 1940s. 3) Newman Crawly: A film producer known for his work in the British film industry. 4) Aidan Crawley: He was a British journalist, television executive and Member of Parliament. 5) Earl of Grantham Robert Crawley: A fictional character from the popular television series "Downton Abbey". 6) Andrew Crawley: A British business executive known for his work in IAG Cargo and British Airways. 7) Jonathan Crawley: An Australian rugby player. 8) Kathryn Crawley: A 1964 Olympic Athlete in track and field. Please note that this list includes both fictional and real-life persons. Also, Crawley is a quite common surname, so there could be many more less-known individuals with that last name in various fields.