Surname Crellin - Meaning and Origin
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Crellin: What does the surname Crellin mean?
The last name Crellin is of Cornish origin and is believed to be related to the old Cornish personal names "Creggan" and "Crollan".
The name likely comes from the Old British for ‘narrow valley’, which is a reference to the topographical features of Cornwall, UK, where the surname was very popular in the 11th century due to the rich and abundant natural resources of Cornwall and the significance of mining in the local economy.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, many people bearing the surname Crellin were engaged in mining, particularly for copper in the Gwennap area of Cornwall. In fact, many references to the Crellin family can be seen in records of St. Just and Egloshayle Mining Company, which date back to the 18th century.
In addition to mining, many members of the Crellin family were also involved in trading and commercial activities, and most notably were renowned for their vast maritime empire which spread throughout the Atlantic Ocean in the 1600s. They were also traders of the famous pink-and-white Irish flannel.
The name Crellin denotes an ancient Cornish heritage and lineage. It symbolises the industrial ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Cornish people who once laboured hard in the mines in search of copper and other materials. It also marks the maritime accomplishments and trading capabilities of the great maritime merchants of the days gone by. In short, the surname Crellin is a proud testimony to a vibrant social, economic, and cultural tradition in Cornwall, UK.
Order DNA origin analysisCrellin: Where does the name Crellin come from?
The surname Crellin is most commonly found in areas of the British Isles, particularly Cornwall in the south-west of England, the Isle of Man, and parts of Ireland. The Crellin surname dates back to the thirteenth century when it was first recorded in Cornwall; the name is thought to be derived from a place-name in Cornwall named 'Crovallan' and ultimately taken from an early-medieval Cornish word, 'Crolon', meaning a 'young child'.
The surname is now also found in Australia, with many of the earliest recorded Crellins having emigrated from the British Isles to the continent in the early 1800s. The family crest of the Crellin family is three silver chevronels (chevrons) on a red background, which is often used in family crests of British ancestry families.
The Crellin name is still sometimes found in Cornwall, Ireland and the Isle of Man; although numbers have been much reduced since its first recorded appearance, it flourished in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today, particularly in England, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to find someone bearing this surname as the population of Crellins continues to decline. However, a number of Crellins can still be found in Australia today, with many having spread out across various states, including New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
Variations of the surname Crellin
The surname Crellin is primarily a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Anglo-Norman personal name Crevolin, which was introduced into England in the form CREVOLINUS in the 11th century. Variants of the surname Crellin include Creilin, Crelin, Critchell, and Crevolynn.
The spelling of the surname Crellin has also varied greatly over the years. In some cases, the name has been rendered as Variyllyn, Le Crevolyn, Cruade Lyn, Cruilleyn, Cryfrey, and Krevillen. In England, the name is most common in the counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset.
Surnames of similar or related origin to Crellin are Paulin, Phelan, and Howlin. Paulin is derived from the French word paulin, which means little, and is a variant of Paul. Phelan is an anglicized version of the Irish name Pháilín, which originated from the Gaelic word pheal, meaning wolf or brave man. Howlin is derived from the Irish name Ó hAoghuill, which refers to descendants of Aoghuill, the grandson of Oilioll Olum, an ancient king.
In summary, the surnames Crellin, Creilin, Crelin, Critchell, Crevolynn, Variyllyn, Le Crevolyn, Cruade Lyn, Cruilleyn, Cryfrey, and Krevillen are all variants of the same origin. Additionally, surnames of related origin are Paulin, Phelan, and Howlin.
Famous people with the name Crellin
- Jodi Crellin: Former professional beach volleyball player, who competed on the Association of Volleyball Professionals Tour from 1991-2002.
- Mark Crellin: Professional British footballer who played for Southampton F.C from 1986-90, scoring 11 goals in 73 appearances.
- Reuben Crellin: British voice actor and writer best known for his work on such shows as Doctor Who, Torchwood, Upstairs Downstairs and Father Brown.
- Heather Crellin: British barrister specialising in family law and children representation, is currently Partner at Stewarts Law.
- Bob Crellin: English guitarist and keyboardist, most prominently associated with the indie rock band James.
- John Crellin: British actor known for his appearances in television shows such as Call the Midwife, Doctors, Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
- Paul Crellin: English actor best known for his work in the theater, the Royal Shakespeare Company production of The Watch and Antony and Cleopatra.
- John Crellin, Jr.: Aventura, Florida based real estate developer and entrepreneur.
- Kenneth Crellin: Research and teaching professor at Pacific Lutheran University and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Puget Sound.
- Thomas Crellin: American actor probably best known for his role as Pete Miller in the 2004 independent movie Garden State.