Find out how popular the last name Crabtree is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Crabtree.

Crabtree, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Crabtree surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Crabtree in America

Crabtree is the 1354th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Crabtree surname appeared 26,104 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 9 people would have the surname Crabtree.

We can also compare 2010 data for Crabtree to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Crabtree

The surname Crabtree originates from England, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from a place name, referring to individuals who lived near a crab tree or a small apple tree. The earliest recorded spelling of the name is believed to be "de Crabbetreo", found in the Hertfordshire tax rolls of 1273.

The name's origins can be traced back to the Old English words "crab" and "treow", meaning "wild apple tree". It is believed that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a specific crab tree or a place where such trees grew abundantly. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been from areas with a significant presence of crab apple trees or orchards.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Crabtree appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Crabbetreo" in Staffordshire. This entry provides evidence of the name's long history and its association with specific locations in England.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Crabtrewe" and "Crabetreu", reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. The name Crabtree is also associated with several place names in England, such as Crabtree Hill in Herefordshire and Crabtree Lane in Lancashire.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Crabtree include:

1. William Crabtree (1610-1644), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of planetary motion and eclipses.
2. John Crabtree (1637-1714), an English Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Antrim in Ireland.
3. Robert Crabtree (1821-1908), an English railway engineer and inventor who is credited with developing the first practical method for preserving food using canning.
4. Lotta Crabtree (1847-1924), an American actress and entertainer who gained fame for her performances in the United States and Europe during the late 19th century.
5. Benny Crabtree (1919-2009), an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1940s.

The surname Crabtree has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the Old English language and associated with specific locations in England. Despite its age, the name continues to be carried on by individuals worldwide, serving as a testament to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Crabtree

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Crabtree.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Crabtree was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Crabtree has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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