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

Cronkite, 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 Cronkite surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Cronkite in America

Cronkite is the 78316th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Cronkite surname appeared 244 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 Cronkite.

We can also compare 2010 data for Cronkite 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 Cronkite

The surname Cronkite is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern regions. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "crunc," which means "twisted" or "bent," and may have referred to someone who lived near a winding stream or a crooked path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a person named "Crunchet," which is likely an early variant of the modern spelling.

In the 13th century, records show the name spelled as "Crunkyt" and "Cronkyt," indicating its evolution over time. It's worth noting that surnames were not standardized until much later, and spellings often varied based on regional dialects and the preferences of scribes.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Cronkite was John Cronkite, who was born in Yorkshire, England, around 1520. He was a merchant and landowner, and his descendants continued to reside in the Yorkshire area for several generations.

Another notable figure was Sir Walter Cronkite, who was born in Berkshire, England, in 1645. He was a military officer and served in the English Civil War, fighting for the Royalist cause. His actions during the Siege of Colchester in 1648 earned him knighthood.

In the 18th century, the Cronkite family spread to various parts of the British Isles, and some members eventually emigrated to North America. One such individual was James Cronkite, born in Scotland in 1742, who settled in Virginia and fought in the American Revolutionary War.

The name Cronkite has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Cronkite Hill in Yorkshire and Cronkite Farm in Gloucestershire, suggesting that some branches of the family may have taken their names from these locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Cronkite include Walter Leland Cronkite Jr., the renowned American broadcast journalist who was born in 1916 and passed away in 2009. He is best known for his coverage of major historical events, including the Vietnam War and the Apollo space program.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it provides insight into the rich history and origins of the surname Cronkite, tracing its roots back to medieval England and highlighting some of the individuals who have carried this name throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Cronkite

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

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

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

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