Surname Crossen - Meaning and Origin
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Crossen: What does the surname Crossen mean?
The surname Crossen is of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic term "Mac an Chrosáin" which means "son of the cross". The name is indicative of a Christian background, typically associated with the followers of the Roman Catholic faith. The Crossen surname evolved over time retaining the connection with the cross, a key symbol in Christian iconography. Historically, names in Ireland bore a strong association with the tribe or clan's region, profession, or the status of the ancestors of the individual, so it is possible that the original Crossens held a place of importance in religious communities. It was first found in County Clare, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Today, the surname Crossen can be found in various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora, but it remains prevalent in Ireland.
Order DNA origin analysisCrossen: Where does the name Crossen come from?
The last name Crossen appears to have originated in Ireland. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name "Mac an Chrosáin" which translates to "son of the little cross". It was traditionally a patronymic name where "Crossan" was the diminutive of "cross", a baptismal name signifying "the son of Cross". The Crossan or Crosson clans are reported in Irish records as early as the 15th century in the region of Donegal, in the northern part of Ireland.
Presently, the name is found commonly in the United States, Ireland, and to a lesser extent in England and Australia. There are concentrations of individuals with the last name Crossen in specific areas such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York within the United States. Despite its distribution in these other areas, it is still considered a relatively rare surname in global terms.
Variations of the surname Crossen
The surname Crossen has multiple variants and spellings which may arise due to regional dialects, phonetic spelling, or translation from other languages. Some of the variations of this surname include Crosson, Crossan, Crosen, Crossin, Croxon and Cresson among others.
The name has an Irish origin, primarily from the Gaelic "Mac an Chrosáin," which translates to ‘son of the little cross.’ The Anglo-Norman version of the name was de Cruce, which comes from the word ‘cross,' hinting at a family history of Christianity or possibly a location near a significant cross or crucifix.
The patronymic nature of the name may give rise to the Mc/Mac surnames such as McCrossan, McCrossen, MacCrossen, MacCrossan, MacCrosan, and others.
The surname is particularly widespread in Northern Ireland. The spelling variations are more commonly found in areas where the language of the community has transformed or evolved over time due to foreign influence or migration, or where phonetic spelling based on local dialects has been used in written records. Therefore, even similar surnames such as Crosland or Crossland, hailing from different geographical origins, might not be related.
While tracking genealogical history, it may be helpful to explore all these variants to have a comprehensive understanding of the lineage.
Famous people with the name Crossen
- Richard Crossen: British composer of classical music specializing in vocal works and ballet scores.
- Ethan Crossen: Professional race car driver from Australia.
- Joe Crossen: Retired Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Don Crossen: Canadian football player and sports administrator.
- Cody Crossen: Professional mixed martial arts fighter.
- John Crossen: Professional NFL player who played for the New England Patriots.
- Riley Crossen: Professional figure skater currently competing in both singles and pairs.
- Sarah Crossen: Professional BMX freestyle biker.
- Caleb Crossen: Professional rugby union player from England.
- Gwen Crossen: American actress and singer, best known for her roles in musical theater.