Surname Crowse - Meaning and Origin

Crowse: What does the surname Crowse mean?

The last name Crowse is believed to have originated in the southwest of England in the mid-14th century. It is derived from the Old English word “cros”, which means cross, as well as “oc” from the Middle English word “hoc”, which refers to a hissing sound. It is believed that the surname made its way to England from Normandy sometime during or before the Norman Conquest.

The meaning of the last name Crowse has varied slightly over the centuries, but it is generally thought to refer to someone who was a messenger or courier, such as an early mail carrier, someone whoaping stone. They were also sometimes referred to as “crosiers”, which refers to someone who was a caretaker of the parish church.

Crowse has also come to be associated with being a good guard or trustworthy courier, due to its origin in the early mail service. It is also the origin of the phrase “to crowse”, which refers to taking care and responsibility of something important.

Today, the surname Crowse is still quite rare, having many different spellings. The spellings of the name have changed over the centuries and include Crosse, Crose, Croose, and Cross. The name is found mostly in the English counties of Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset, as well as in southern Ireland.

Crowse: Where does the name Crowse come from?

The last name Crowse is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in the East Midlands region. In England, the surname is most commonly found in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Leicestershire. Crowse is less common in other parts of the UK, and is not found much elsewhere around the world.

In terms of population, the most populous area where Crowse is commonly found is Nottinghamshire. According to the UK 2011 Census, the top 10 towns with the most Crowse households included Nottingham, Mansfield, Northampton, Grantham, Worksop, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Derby, Corby, Goole, and Newark. This accounts for nearly 64 percent of the total Crowse population in the UK2011, making Nottinghamshire the most Crowse-populated area.

The Crowse surname has interesting roots, with the name stemming from the Old Norse phrase “kros” meaning “cross”. This suggests that people with the Crowse surname came from a place where there was a cross, or perhaps a family that had adopted the symbol of a cross as their crest.

Despite its origins, the Crowse surname has done quite well over the centuries, remaining a relatively common surname in the East Midlands region of the UK, with the 2021 Census estimates putting the number of Crowse households at around 250 in the area.

Variations of the surname Crowse

The surname Crowse is an Old English name derived from the pre-7th-century word "cros," which means cross. Several spelling variants and surname derivatives of the name are found in the historical record, including Crowse, Crosse, Cross, Crosseman, Crossman, Crane, and Crease.

The earliest known spelling of Crowse is recorded in the Oxfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1279 as Henry le Crouce. Variations in spelling occurred due to regional dialects as well as incorrect entries caused by misspelled hand-written manuscripts. By the 16th century, the surname had spread to other parts of the country, with Moor's Norfolk quaint marriage record from 1576 containing a record of one James Crosse.

The earliest record of the surname Crane was found in the 16th century, with an entry for one John Crane listed in the List of Somerset Landholders in 1565. The surname Crease was also first documented during the early 1500s. Records show that this stem came to England from Flanders (present-day Belgium), with the first occurrence being one Thomas Crease listed in the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Somerset.

Most of these surnames are considered to be part of a larger family of last names sharing the same origin--perhaps with Crosse and Cross being the closest variants and Crane and Crease distant derivatives. The surnames themselves, however, all have slightly different roots. For example, Crane and Crease are thought to be derived from the Middle English word "crane," while Cross and Crosse come from the Middle English "crous."

Regardless of their specific etymology, all of these surnames owe their creation to the same source--the Old English word "cros," or "cross." They are all considered variants of the same origin and used to designate people bearing the same last name.

Famous people with the name Crowse

• Sheryl Crow: an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
• Melissa Crowse: an English singer and songwriter.
• John Crowse: an English organist and composer of the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Clayton Crowse: an Australian actor and singer.
• W. Scott Crowse: a renowned American geologist who specialized in seismology.
• Phil Crowse: an English soccer player who played for Tottenham Hotspur in the 1950s.
• Tony Crowse: an English drummer and member of the 1983-84 version of The Alan Parsons Project.
• Cheyenne Crowse: an actress and dancer who starred in the musical film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
• Geoff Crowse: an Australian radio presenter who has broadcast on ABC Radio in several states.
• Stephen Crowse: a British architect and urban designer who specialises in regeneration projects.

Other surnames

CrowsonCrowston