Surname Crotty - Meaning and Origin

Crotty: What does the surname Crotty mean?

Crotty is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin, derived from the Gaelic term "Mac Cruitín," which translates as "son of Cruitín." This patronymic name Cruitín is known to be a diminutive form of "Cruit," meaning "harp," thus it could ostensibly denote a descendent of a small harpist. Therefore, the surname Crotty might relate to an ancestor who was a musician or harp player.

Crotty is commonly found in County Clare and Waterford in Ireland. The Crotty clan has a rich narrative in Irish folklore, including Cumara Crotty and the notorious outlaw, William Crotty, alias "Crotty the Robber," who lived in the Comeragh Mountains in the 18th century. Some members of the Crotty family migrated during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, and consequently, this surname is also prevalent amongst the Irish diaspora, notably in English-speaking countries.

Crotty: Where does the name Crotty come from?

The surname Crotty is of Irish origin and traces its roots back to the Gaelic "Mac Cruitín," which translates to "son of the hunchback." The last name was first found in Clare, a county on the west coast of Ireland, where the Crotty family held a family seat from ancient times.

In the 12th century, the narrative of the Crotty family interweaves with the history of the MacNamara clan, a powerful family in County Clare. A branch of the Crotty family eventually split off from the MacNamaras, establishing themselves as an independent clan.

Today, the surname Crotty is most common in Ireland, and to where the vast majority of emigrants from the family travelled, North America, specifically the United States, Canada, and Australia. Within Ireland, the name is primarily found in Munster province, particularly in County Waterford and County Clare. The vast diaspora of the Crotty family around the globe following the Great Famine in the mid-19th century makes it difficult to pin down, but it appears that concentrations of people with the Crotty surname remain in these areas.

Variations of the surname Crotty

The surname Crotty is of Irish origin and primarily found in County Clare and County Waterford. There are several variants and spellings of the Crotty surname. Some of these include Crotti, Crottie, Croty, Cropdy, Crottie, and possibly even Cratty or Croatty.

The name Crotty is derived from the Gaelic "O'Crotaigh," which means 'victorious'. It is also derived from the Irish surname Crótaigh (O’Crótaigh, O’Cróthaigh) whose English version is Crotty. The Gaelic prefix "O" implies 'descendant of,' suggesting the name was initially a patronymic. Forms with Mac- are rare and mainly found on the border of Co. Clare and Co. Tipperary.

It is important to keep in mind that spelling variations of this family name occurred as scribes recorded names according to how they were pronounced, and pronunciation shifted over time and from region to region. Additionally, different branches of a family often chose different spellings, and immigration to English-speaking countries during the time of mass migration often resulted in further changes to names.

Lastly, there might be some association with the surnames Croton, Crouton, Crotten, and Crottin, but these arguably have different origins. In conclusion, numerous variations, spellings, and surnames can be associated with the Crotty surname.

Famous people with the name Crotty

• Michael Crotty: An Australian basketball player for the Adelaide 36ers.
• Conor Crotty: An Irish rugby union player for Connacht in the Pro14.
• Sarah Crotty: An Australian women's basketball player who represented her country in the Olympics.
• Mark Crotty: An Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne.
• John Crotty: A retired American professional basketball player who had a prolific career in the NBA.
• Jerry Crotty: An award-winning documentary filmmaker from Ireland.
• Dan Crotty: An American painter and mixed-media artist.
• David Crotty: An American actor known for his role in Hollywood movies and TV shows.
• Claire Crotty: A Canadian actress and film producer.
• Peter Crotty: Irish Gaelic footballer.
• Thomas B. Crotty: An American businessman and former principal owner of the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League.
• Kristin Crotty: She is known for working as a second assistant director on major films.
• James Crotty: Famous economist and professor.
• Catherine Crotty: (1918-1943) was a war nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service.
• Mike Crotty: He is a jazz musician, arranger, composer and conductor who has worked with the U.S. Air Force Band.

Other surnames

Crottie