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

Cranwell, 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 Cranwell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cranwell in America

Cranwell is the 103181st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cranwell surname appeared 174 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Cranwell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cranwell 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 Cranwell

The surname Cranwell is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the early medieval period in the county of Lincolnshire. The name is derived from the Old English words "cran," meaning "crane," and "well," referring to a spring or stream. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place near a stream or body of water frequented by cranes.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Cranwell can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Cranewelle," referring to a settlement in Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Cranwell, who was a prominent landowner in the village of Cranwell, Lincolnshire. His family likely took their surname from the place name, solidifying the association between the name and the locality.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Cranwell surname spread to other parts of England, particularly in the neighboring counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Notable individuals from this period include Sir William Cranwell (1564-1635), a member of the English gentry and landowner in Nottinghamshire.

In the 18th century, the Cranwell name gained prominence with the birth of Sir John Cranwell (1720-1798), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was known for his bravery and leadership.

Another notable figure was Sir Stafford Cranwell (1865-1944), a British Air Marshal and one of the pioneers of the Royal Air Force. He played a significant role in the development of military aviation and served as the first Chief of the Air Staff from 1919 to 1923.

In more recent history, Sir Philip Cranwell (1918-1984) was a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1971 to 1976, during a period of heightened tensions between the West and the Soviet bloc.

While the surname Cranwell has its roots in Lincolnshire, it has since spread across England and other parts of the world through migration and family connections. The name remains a testament to its long history and association with the English countryside and the village from which it originated.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cranwell

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

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 Cranwell 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 Cranwell 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 Cranwell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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