Surname Cresap - Meaning and Origin
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Cresap: What does the surname Cresap mean?
The last name "Cresap" is of English origin, deriving from the Old Norse name "Krisap," which is a variant of the name "Krisp." In Old Norse, "Krisp" refers to someone who is curly-haired or crisp. The evolution of the name into "Cresap" likely occurred after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, as the language and naming conventions merged. The Cresap surname is relatively rare and appears most frequently in the United States, which may have been due to emigration from England. Some notable individuals with the Cresap surname include 18th-century American colonist Thomas Cresap and American Revolutionary War officer Michael Cresap. The meaning of the surname can provide some insight into the lineage, history, characteristics, or profession of the person's ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisCresap: Where does the name Cresap come from?
The surname Cresap is of English origin. Born from the culture that once thrived in a place known as Derbyshire, the surname is a local-type surname that was given to a person who resided near a notable physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Cresap can be traced back to Crich, a parish in the county of Derbyshire, where the family has held a family seat from ancient times.
Today, Cresap is not a very common surname. However, it can be found more frequently in the United States, mostly centered around the Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. People with this surname settled early in America's history, particularly in the states of Maryland and Ohio. One prominent figure, Colonel Thomas Cresap, was a notable Maryland frontiersman in the 18th century. Despite its relatively low prevalence, the Cresap family has played a significant role in those areas' history and development.
Overall, while Cresap is not a predominant last name in any particular country, it remains notable within certain regions of the United States.
Variations of the surname Cresap
The surname Cresap originates from British Isles, specifically from England. Variations of this surname can be accredited mainly to phonetic spellings, synonyms, and language differences throughout history. Some common and associated spelling variations of this surname include Creasap, Creesop, Creesap, Cressop, and Krisap. Some more distant relations and deviations might include Creep, Crisp, and Cresp.
It's also worth noting that Cresap might be shortened or altered over generations due to immigration and cultural adaptation, leading to shortened versions like Cres, Sap, or even Sapiente, considering the Latin root "Cresap" which means "increasing or growing".
In some cases, individuals with the Cresap surname also might have changed the spelling of their name in order to assimilate into a new culture, creating other variants as well. Thus there may be many other variations unrecorded. New versions of this surname continue to be produced due to modern-day name-changing practices, so it's virtually impossible to document every variation of Cresap. However, the listed spellings and variants are the most commonly recognized ones.
Famous people with the name Cresap
- Thomas Cresap: Known as a prominent colonial American frontiersman and a noted figure in the gateway to the West.
- Daniel Cresap Jr: He was the son of Thomas Cresap, and was known as a successful farmer, trader and land speculator.
- Michael Cresap: He was another son of Thomas Cresap and got recognition to some extent as the leader of a group of potential settlers to western lands.
- Bernarr Cresap: An American football player who played one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League.
- Linda Cresap: A former Republican member of the North Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 2006.
- Col. Cresap: A figure in the early history of the American West who played a key part in Lord Dunmore’s War and the American Revolution in Ohio Country.