Find out how popular the first name Crawford has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Crawford by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Crawford is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Crawford being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 52 male babies and 8 female babies born with the name Crawford.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 8 baby girls were named Crawford in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Crawford

The name Crawford originated from the Gaelic language spoken in Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the elements "cru," meaning "bloody," and "ford," referring to a river crossing or ford. The name likely emerged during the medieval period in the regions where Gaelic was spoken.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Crawford can be found in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle dating back to the 15th century. The chronicle mentions a person named Crunford, which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Crawford.

During the Middle Ages, the name Crawford was associated with notable figures in Scottish and Irish history. One such individual was Sir Reginald Crawford, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, a prominent bearer of the name was David Crawford (c. 1525-1600), a Scottish Protestant reformer and educator who helped establish the first Scottish university in Aberdeen.

Another historical figure with the name Crawford was William Crawford (1676-1742), a Scottish-born American soldier and surveyor who played a significant role in the early exploration and settlement of the American colonies.

In the 19th century, Samuel Wylie Crawford (1829-1892) was a notable American Presbyterian minister and educator who served as the fourth president of Allegheny College in Pennsylvania.

More recently, the name Crawford has been carried by individuals such as Joan Crawford (1904-1977), the iconic American actress who starred in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and Cindy Crawford (born 1966), the supermodel and actress known for her successful modeling career and business ventures.

While the name Crawford has its roots in the Celtic languages of Scotland and Ireland, it has since spread and been adopted in various parts of the world, particularly in English-speaking countries. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic word elements that reflect the rugged terrain and river crossings of the regions where the name first emerged.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Crawford was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Crawford, please contact us.

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