Surname Crerar - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Crerar: What does the surname Crerar mean?
The surname Crerar is of Scottish origin and is an anglicised form of the Gaelic name "MacRiocard", meaning "son of Riocard". Riocard is an old Scottish name derived from the Gaelic "riobicard" meaning "generous ruler". The surname Crerar would have been held by a family descended from a chieftain in Scotland during medieval times, one who was known for his generosity and kindness.
The Crerar name has been found in records dating back centuries ago to the region of Suth Wynd in Scotland, though modern Crerar families may hail from other parts of the country. It is more common to find the Crerar name in parts of Ireland as it has been shown to be present in counties such as Antrim and Donegal in historic records dating back to the 1500s.
The name Crerar is still quite popular in modern times. According to the 2019 United Kingdom Census, the name Crerar is ranked 37,388th in the list of most common surnames in the UK, with 1,941 individuals sharing the name. It is thought that members of the Crerar family tree in modern times are related to one another through the ancient root surname of MacRiocard. The people of the Crerar name are proud of their heritage, and many trace their lineage back to their original homeland of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisCrerar: Where does the name Crerar come from?
The last name Crerar is most commonly found in parts of Scotland today, especially in Midlothian and Perthshire. The surname is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, originating from 'Crear', an Anglo-Saxon name for a sandbank or a small river.
The area in Scotland associated with the name is an area of land called Carrick in Ayrshire, Scotland and its surrounding countryside. According to the 1851 census record, many of the Crerar's living in the area held prestigious positions including carpenter and joiner, teacher, farm tenants, and landowner.
The large concentration of the Crerar name is around the Falkirk area, near the Carse of Stirling. The distribution of the surname Crerar in Scotland at the end of the 17th century shows a narrow regional contrast with most individuals living in a concentrated area.
The Crerar name has also spread to other parts of the UK, such as England and Northern Ireland. There is also a concentration of the name Montreal, Canada and appears to have gone as far as South Africa. The Crerar name is also prominent in the USA. It is found scattered around the east coast, mainly in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts.
Variations of the surname Crerar
The surname Crerar is derived from the Gaelic spelling MacRhraire and is most commonly found in the Scottish Highlands. It is believed to have evolved from a similar name, MacRath or MacRagh, both of which were Anglicised to Crerar.
The standard spelling of the name is Crerar, but other variants of the surname exist, including MacRrair, MacReyer, MacRaar, MacCreer, MacRar, MacRarest, MacRere, and MacReor.
The interaction of Gaelic and English speakers in the Highlands often leads to these various spellings being seen within the same family. People who have the same origin but different spellings of the surname are likely related if their ancestral roots have been located to a specific region in the Highlands.
In addition to variants in spelling, the surname Crerar can take on other surnames depending on geographical location. In Scotland, surnames that are similar in origin to Crerar include Carrigan, Rainis, Frair, Ferar, and Varrier. In America, crerar is often seen as Crier or Krier. In Ireland, Crerar is sometimes found as Garrand, McCarron, or Travers.
Regardless of any changes in spelling or surname, family members with the same origin can trace their roots back to a relatively small area of Scotland, allowing them to stem questions of heritage and family history.
Famous people with the name Crerar
- John Crerar: a former British Army Brigadier and Co-Founder of the Crerar Group who served in the Middle East, North Africa and as an instructor for the Special Air Service Regiment.
- Robert Crerar: a former British Telecom Board Member, who was appointed General Manager of the London and East Regional Office in 1993.
- Jane Crerar: an American physician, business executive, and author who was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1998.
- Liz Crerar: an English actress, television presenter and producer who is widely known for her work in the BBC children's television series Grange Hill.
- James Crerar: a Canadian civil engineer who was the president of the Dominion Bridge Company, Ltd., from 1951 to 1965, and Chief Engineer of the Canadian National Railways from 1931 to 1947.
- William Crerar: a former Canadian broadcaster and businessman who served as Chairman of Canadian Pacific Limited from 1977 to 1987.
- Duncan Crerar: a Scottish professional association football player for Morton in the 1950s.
- Stephen Crerar: an Australian Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Melbourne.
- Harry Crerar: a Canadian general who served in World War II and was the Chief of the General Staff of the Canadian Army from 1943 to 1945.
- Marjorie Crerar: a former British-Australian politician who served as an MP for the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia between 1974 and 1977.