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

Crayton, 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 Crayton surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Crayton in America

Crayton is the 6022nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Crayton surname appeared 5,709 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Crayton.

We can also compare 2010 data for Crayton 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 Crayton

The surname Crayton has its roots in England, originating in the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "crawe" meaning crow and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a settlement associated with crows.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Crawetun." This record suggests that the name was already established in parts of England before the Norman Conquest.

The name underwent various spelling variations over the centuries, including Crauton, Craughton, and Crawton, before settling on the modern form of Crayton. These variations reflect the regional dialects and pronunciation differences across different areas of England.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Crayton serving as a knight in the court of King Edward I. This early reference indicates that the name had gained some prominence by that time.

During the 16th century, the Crayton family held lands in Northamptonshire, where they were considered among the county's notable gentry. Sir John Crayton (1520-1584) was a prominent figure in this lineage, serving as a member of Parliament and as a justice of the peace.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Crayton (1670-1738), a renowned English architect who designed several churches and country houses in the Baroque style. His works include St. Mary's Church in Warwick and Eastbury Manor House in London.

In the 18th century, the surname gained recognition beyond England's borders. Benjamin Crayton (1738-1814) was an American statesman who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress and later as the fourth Governor of South Carolina.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir Reginald Crayton (1818-1892), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a respected writer and historian, publishing several influential works on military strategy and tactics.

While the surname Crayton has its origins in England, it has since spread across various parts of the world, carried by individuals and families who have contributed to various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Crayton

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

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

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

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