Surname Crookshanks - Meaning and Origin

Crookshanks: What does the surname Crookshanks mean?

Crookshanks is actually most famously known as the name of Hermione Granger's cat in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. However, as a surname, its origins aren't fully clear. It appears to be of Scottish or Northern English origin and could possibly be a locational surname derived from a place named Crookshanks. That being said, the specific meaning of "Crookshanks" is not readily available. If we examine the components of the name, "crook" could refer to a bend or hook, and "shanks" refers to the part of the leg between the knee and ankle, commonly used to refer to legs generally. So, "Crookshanks" could potentially mean "bent legs" or "crooked legs". This interpretation seems to fit Rowling's character well, as Crookshanks the cat is described as having a squashed face, a bottlebrush tail, and slightly crooked legs. It should be noted that these are speculations and the true meaning cannot be confirmed without further evidence.

Crookshanks: Where does the name Crookshanks come from?

Crookshanks is a unique and less common surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from the Old English elements "crooked" (crōc) and "shanks" (sceanca or scanca), believed to be a nickname for someone with crooked legs or a peculiar gait. This is reflective of the convention in ancient Britain, where surnames often evolved as a way to sort people into groups by occupation, place of origin, or personal characteristics.

While the surname Crookshanks can be found around the world today due to migration, it is not considered common in any specific region. In literature, it is best known as the name of Hermione Granger's pet cat in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The use of the Crookshanks name for a cat with a squashed face and a distinctive gait is a playful continuation of the surname's original meaning. However, this literary association does not reflect a larger trend of people with the Crookshanks surname living in a particular geographic area in the contemporary world.

Variations of the surname Crookshanks

Crookshanks is a surname with potential English and Scottish origins. Its variants and alternative spellings, although not heavily prevalent, might include Crookshanke, Crookshank, Crookeshank, and Crookshink. In certain online databases, you could also find the spellings Cruckshanks, Crokshanks, and Crukshanks.

Derived from Old English words, the name is considered to be topographical and could possibly denote someone who lived by a bent river. Additionally, the surname could be a nickname for a person with particularly long, thin legs, as "crook" refers to a bend or curve and "shank" refers to the part of the leg between the knee and ankle.

"Surname" was sometimes spelled "Shanks", which are also occupational nicknames for a butcher and a maker of legs for chairs and tables, mainly made from woods.

Please note that while Crookshanks is a recognized surname in real life, it is also famously known as the name of Hermione Granger's cat in the Harry Potter series. While this could increase the popularity of the name, it doesn't affect its etymology or potential variants.

Famous people with the name Crookshanks

• Evanna Lynch: Irish-born English actress best known for her role in the Harry Potter films as Luna Lovegood.
• Jaiden Crookshanks: Actor, Producer, Writer and Director known for Satisfaction, The Lost Years and The Love Movement.
• Gwen Crookshanks: British actress most famous for her role as Gwendolyn in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass.
• Craig Crookshanks: Australian actor best known for his roles in the films The Road to Perdition and The Last King of Scotland.
• Liz Crookshanks: British actress and director, known for her roles in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Wuthering Heights and Pride and Prejudice.
• Thomas Crookshanks: English actor and comedian best known for his impressions in George of the Jungle and the animated series The Boondocks.
• Emily Crookshanks: Singer and multi-instrumentalist most recently known for her single “Wanna Fly”.
• Ian Crookshanks: British-born actor, best known for his roles in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella.
• Alan Crookshanks: British actor well-known for his roles in The Chronicles of Narnia films and War Horse.
• Harriet Crookshanks: British actress who has appeared in a variety of television shows and films such as The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Ancient Rome: Rise of an Empire.

Other surnames

Crookshank