Surname Crone - Meaning and Origin
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Crone: What does the surname Crone mean?
The last name Crone is a Flemish/Dutch surname with origins in the medieval Dutch word “kronen”, which means “crown” and could refer to a person of either royalty or someone who lived near a monarch’s ancestral seat. It is believed that the surname originated in an area known as De Fryske Wadden, an area once occupied by the Frisians and now divided between the Netherlands, Germany, and part of Denmark.
The etymology of the name makes it highly likely that the surname was initially used to refer to a powerful or influential person, perhaps a high-ranking family member or someone with a title of great importance. It is also possible that the surname was adopted by someone who lived or was employed by a lord in their castle.
Throughout history, Crone has been used as a nickname for a wise woman or a witch, likely because of its association with power or authority. In modern culture, the name Crone has taken on the classic witch imagery of the traditional fairy tales. However, there are many other interpretations and uses than this and the name’s long history should not be overlooked.
The surname Crone is still widely used throughout Europe and beyond as both a family name and a symbolic title. Regardless of its interpretation, it is undeniably a proud and noble last name with a long and mysterious background.
Order DNA origin analysisCrone: Where does the name Crone come from?
The last name Crone is most commonly found in the United States and Canada today. According to the US Census Bureau, the most recent data from 2020 indicates that there are at least 3,853 people with the last name Crone living in the US, with the majority of them located in California, Michigan, New York, and Washington. The last name is also found in Canada and can be traced back even further to Europe. In the United Kingdom, there are at least 50 instances of people with the last name Crone living in the UK, with the highest concentrations in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
The last name Crone may have originated from the Dutch word “Kroon,” meaning crown or a type of headwear or from the Middle English word “crane,” meaning heron or wading bird. It was particularly common in the Netherlands and is still found there today.
Throughout Europe, the Crone surname was commonly associated with a royal lineage, and as many Europeans immigrated to America, the name came along as part of their family history.
The last name Crone is also found in France, Ireland, Switzerland, and Germany. With the exception of France, most of these countries have a relatively small concentration of people with this name.
In recent years, the Crone name has become associated with witchy connotations due to the presence of the character Miss Robichaux in the popular TV series American Horror Story. Despite the fiction, this name is still very much alive and is used worldwide today.
Variations of the surname Crone
The surname Crone is of English and Dutch origins, usually deriving from the Middle English and Dutch word “Krona” or “Krohn” meaning “person of importance.” There are several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Crone, including Crones, Cron, Cronen, Cronin, Chinon, and Crowen.
The pre-1800s spellings of Crone were often Crones and Cron. Crones was derived from the Dutch spelling Krone, while Cron in Middle English came from the Dutch Kruen or Kroon, meaning crown.
In Ireland, especially, the Synnon-Cpresson variant is recorded. This name was thought to be derived from the Old Irish name “MacOsnachtan”, meaning “son of Osnachtan”. Osnachtan was the ancestor of the famous Irish family MacCronan. As a result, variants of the MacCronan bloodline in Ireland included MacCrone, Croun, Cronin, and Crony.
In Scotland, variants of the name such as Cron, Conon, and Chine were most numerous in the 16th and 17th centuries. These spellings came from the Gaelic O’Croinin, meaning “son of a hound of the sea”.
There have also been changes in spelling with time, includingoor Donnchadh O’Crone on to Connor (which is derived from the Greek term “Konnor”). During the 19th century, the variants of Cronin,Gronin, and Grone were more commonly used.
Variants of the name Crone also appear in Germany, Belgium, and France, but the origin is uncertain. Some of the most common surnames are Krone, Cronen, and Krahn.
Finally, in England, variants such as Crowen,Chinon, Crain, and Crane are also found.
In sum, the Crone surname can have many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Crones, Cron, Cronen, Cronin, Chinon, Crowen, MacCrone, Synnon-Cpresson, Conon, Chine, Gronin, Grone, Krone, Krahn, and Crane.
Famous people with the name Crone
- Janice Dean: American television meteorologist
- Molly Crone: British author and mythologist
- Thomas Crone: American freelance journalist
- Bryony Crone: British professional diver
- Eric Crone: American professional golfer
- Scott Crone: American ice hockey coach and player
- Hendrick Crone: Dutch painter
- Brooke La Grone: American contemporary artist
- Chantal Crone: Dutch field hockey player
- Rebecca Crone: American international development expert