Surname Crowly - Meaning and Origin
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Crowly: What does the surname Crowly mean?
The last name Crowly is of English origin. Derived from the Old English pre-seventh century words "cruo" and "leah" it is thought to have meant one who dwelled at the creek clearing in the woods. In medieval times it might have been an occupational name for a person who lived in the wooded area near a stream or creek. It is also thought to come from the term "Kraw or Krowel" which is from an Old Germanic word for a corbel, a stone support used in building.
Throughout the centuries, the surname has referenced either a person who lived in a wooded area near a creek, a builder or an official in a royal household. Some Crowly's also trace their name to Irish immigrants who came to England during the Middle Ages and may have Anglicized their Gaelic surname O'Croilaigh.
Today, most people with the last name of Crowly are descendants of the original English or Irish immigrants. However, the surname has spread over the centuries and is now widespread in many parts of the world. The name may a reminder of the original strong ties to a location and of the journey made by their ancestors.
Order DNA origin analysisCrowly: Where does the name Crowly come from?
The last name Crowley is most commonly found in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In Ireland, the name has been around for centuries, with branches of the Crowley family having spread throughout the country. In the UK, it is most often found in England, Scotland, and Wales.
According to recent DNA analysis, the name has its origins in the Gaelic sept of Ua Cruadhlaoich (“descendants of Cruadhlaoich”). This name was derived from the oldest known form of Irish, Old Irish Gaelic, and is a patronymic name meaning “son of Cruadhlaoich”. In the 19th century, the last name Crowley began to spread to the United States, where it is now most prevalent in the eastern and southern parts of the country.
In the United States, a majority of Crowleys are of Irish or British descent, although the name is extremely common among people of other ethnic backgrounds, such as African American, Hispanic, German, and more. Here, the name is mostly found in Texas, New York, Massachusetts, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Outside of the United States, the Crowley surname is still commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It is also prominent in countries with large Irish diasporas, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Variations of the surname Crowly
The surname Crowly is a common variant of the Irish name Crowley. It is sometimes Anglicized as O'Crowley or Crowely.
The prefix O' in the surname Crowley is derived from the Irish language, and it is an old system used to distinguish ancestral lines. It is used as a prefixed that originally stemmed from the Irish word "Ua", which means "descendant of." Since the name originates from Ireland, the surname can also be found under the different Irish spellings, such as Ó Cruadhlaoich or Ó Cróileach.
The English spelling of the Irish family name is Crowley. Consequently, a variety of spelling variants can be found with the name, such as Crowly, Crowley, Crowly, Croly, Crolley, Crolee, Croley, Crowely, Crawley, Cruley, and so many others. If you look at the records in the U.S. Census archives, Crowley also appears as OrCrole, Croles, and Crules.
The main spellings of the surname are Crowley and Crowly. Both spellings can be found in various records and documents.
Surnames of the same origin as Crowley include O'Crowe, O'Crobart, O'Crodhe, O'Cruiseally, O'Cruickeshank, O'Crean, O'Corr, O'Corrigan, O'Cortey, O'Corcoran, and O'Creagh.
Crowley is an old Irish surname with deep roots in the Emerald Isle and the New World. Although Crowley is rare it is known throughout Ireland, Scotland, and England and the United States, but can also be found in many other parts of the world today.
Famous people with the name Crowly
- Aleister Crowley: Aleister Crowley (12 October 1875: 1 December 1947), born Edward Alexander Crowley, was a British writer, occultist, and mountaineer who founded the religion of Thelema in 1904. He was known as the “Great Beast 666”, and his writings are either revered or decried.
- Martin Crowley: Martin Crowley is a British stuntman and filmmaker. He is part of the elite UK stunt community and has performed on multiple high-profile films, including Mission: Impossible: Fallout, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Fast & Furious 6.
- Clive Crowley: Clive Crowley is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served in the Irish Senate from 1965 to 1969. He also served as the Leader of the Irish branch of the British–Irish Parliamentary Community between 1983 and 1987.
- Nigel Crowley: Nigel Crowley is an Irish sports editor and writer. He is a former editor of The Sunday Times Sport, and has held several other editorial positions for news publications in Ireland.
- Cliff Crowley: Cliff Crowley is a former Irish Gaelic footballer who from 1997 to 2004 played the game at a county level with county team Cavan. During his playing career he also won four Westmeath county championships with club team The Downs.