Surname Crowford - Meaning and Origin

Crowford: What does the surname Crowford mean?

The surname Crowford is of Old English origin and is a variant of the name Crawford, derived from a place name. It is comprised of two elements: "crawa," meaning crow, and "ford," meaning a ford, which is a shallow place in a river or stream that people can cross. Thus, it possibly denoted someone who lived near a Ford frequented by crows. Crawford is a common surname in Bunbury, Cheshire, in North West England. Therefore, the last name Crowford likely refers to geographical characteristics of ancestral homes, as is common with many surnames of English origin. It's also plausible that it could relate to a trade or occupation linked to such geographical features. It's important to note that spelling variations in early English names are common, due to lack of standardization, the mixing of languages, and different regional dialects. Hence, Crowford and Crawford might be used interchangeably.

Crowford: Where does the name Crowford come from?

The last name Crowford is most likely a variant of the surname Crawford, which has ancient Scottish origins. It is derived from the Gaelic "creag" which means "rock", and "pord" which translates to "dirty place or muddy place". The name could possibly also have locational roots from places called Crawford in Lanarkshire or possibly Crawfordjohn in Dumfriesshire.

One of the first records of the Crawford surname is in the 12th century when Reginald de Craufurd served as a witness to a charter by a Scottish king. The Crowfords or Crawfords are also associated with a clan in Scotland that played significant roles in their history.

Today, the Crowford last name is not very common. However, its variation Crawford is more widespread, primarily found in English-speaking countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. In Scotland, the Crawford surname continues to be fairly common, especially among those of Scottish descent. The Crowford surname may still be seen in these regions, but to a much lesser extent.

Variations of the surname Crowford

The surname Crowford most likely originated from the English place name Crawford, derived from Old English elements "crawa," meaning crow, and "ford," meaning ford. It is assumed that these places were fords frequented by crows. Some researchers propose that the surname 'Crowford' could be a spelling variant of 'Crawford'.

Apart from Crowford and Crawford, other spelling variants could include Craufurd, Crafford, Crawfort, Crawfford, Craford, Crawforde, and Crawferd. English surnames in the Middle Ages underwent considerable spelling variations. This is attributed to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules.

In terms of surnames originating from the same root, one could expect to find surnames that are derived from places where crows frequent or from common locations such as fords. Examples could include Crawley (from 'crow' and 'lea' which means wood or clearing), Croft (from Old English 'croft' meaning a small enclosed field), and Ford.

It's important to note that the exact variants and their frequency can vary significantly based on geo-locations and local linguistic influences.

Famous people with the name Crowford

• Ashley Crawford: Australian landscape painter and portraitist.
• Steve Crawford: American actor and writer.
• Lorne Crawford: Canadian media personality.
• Chris Crawford: American computer game designer.
• Liza Crawford: British film, television and theatre actress.
• Alexis Crawford: American actress and writer.
• William Crawford: American soldier during the War of 1812 and a recipient of the Medal of Honor.
• Cheryl Crawford: American theatrical producer.
• David Crawford: Canadian politician, 22nd Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
• Abigail Crawford: American model and fashion designer.
• Joanna Crawford: British actress and writer.
• John C. Crawford: American United States Air Force Four Star General and Chief of Staff.
• Mischa Crawford: British Broadway actor and performer.
• Paul Crawford: Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
• Jeff Crawford: Canadian professional football player.
• Andrew Crawford: Irish Green Party politician, Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
• Leander Crawford: American film producer and actor.
• Sam Crawford: American baseball outfielder who played in the Major League Baseball from 1899 to 1917.
• Hattie Crawford: Canadian actor and comedienne.
• Helen Crawford: Australian actress, writer and television presenter.

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