Surname Crafford - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Crafford: What does the surname Crafford mean?
The surname Crafford is of English origin and it generally refers to someone from the varied locations named Crawford in England or Scotland. The name primarily derives from Old English roots, specifically the elements "crawa," meaning "crow," and "ford," meaning "ford or river crossing." Thus, it may have initially been granted as a topographic name for someone who lived near a ford frequented by crows or as a habitational name for someone from any of the places named Crawford. Like many surnames, the spelling has evolved over the centuries due to factors such as regional dialects and phonetic spelling, ultimately resulting in variations such as Crafford. Surnames also often served to distinguish individuals by occupation, location, characteristic, or ancestry, providing a convenient means of identification in the times when record-keeping was not widespread and standardized.
Order DNA origin analysisCrafford: Where does the name Crafford come from?
The surname Crafford originated from England. It is a variant spelling of the English surname Crawford, which is derived from a place name, meaning "crow ford" in Old English. This surname was originally used to refer to a person from a place called Crawford, in the county of Lancashire. Other variations of this surname include Crauford and Crawfurd.
Crafford is not a very common surname today. However, it might be found more frequently in countries that have a significant English-speaking population and historical connections to England, like the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, as well as in England itself. Despite the potential geographical spread, this surname remains relatively rare. It is essential to note that the frequency of a surname can change over time due to various factors, including migration and intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Crafford
The surname Crafford might have multiple variants and spellings due to many factors such as regional pronunciations, translations, or even simple spelling errors over time. Some known variants and alternative spellings for this surname include Crawford, Craford, Crawforde, Crayford, Crafforde, and Crawfford. The surname Crawford, being the most common variant, is of Scottish origin, specifically derived from the place-name "Crawford" in Lanarkshire. This place name is believed to be composed of the Gaelic elements "crawa", meaning crow, and "ford", meaning ford, which is a shallow part of a river.
On a related note, the surname may also vary based on different countries' languages. In French, it could appear as Créfort or Crefford. In other languages, the name might be phonetically spelled to match the pronunciation in that language, for example, it might appear as "Kraford" in German. Furthermore, it's possible that the surname might have been completely translated in some contexts, for example into "Crowriver" or "Ravenstream".
Surnames often change and evolve over time, and as such, it's possible that other variations of the Crafford surname exist.
Famous people with the name Crafford
- Kimberly Crafford: South African actress and attorney.
- Jayne Crafford: British actress who was a part of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Jessica Crafford: South African artist, photographer and storyteller.
- Lance Crafford: South African composer and pianist.
- Neill Crafford: South African footballer.
- Lineo Crafford: South African television personality and actress.
- Frédéric Crafford: Belgian entrepreneur and former politician.
- Yolande Crafford: South African artist and designer.
- Tigran Crafford: Armenian violist from the Tsintsadze Quartet.
- Akinobu Crafford: Japanese pianist and opera singer.
- Francis Crafford: American entrepreneur and real estate investor.
- Jody Crafford: South African event and project manager.
- Leon Crafford: South African actor, comedian, and radio presenter.
- Marius Crafford: South African media executive.
- Amohelang Crafford: South African artist and model.
- Takako Crafford: Japanese film director and screenwriter.