Crow
An English occupational surname referring to a person who tended or hunted crows, or had glossy black hair.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 28,003 Americans carry the last name Crow. That puts it at #1,482 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 8.17 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 12,240 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Crow surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
28K
1 in 12,240
Census rank
#1,482
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
8.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
24K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 24,089 bearers of the surname Crow in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 8.17 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1482nd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Crow, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (2.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Crow
The surname Crow is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "crawe", meaning "crow" or "raven". The name likely originated as a nickname for a person with dark hair or complexion, or perhaps as a reference to someone who lived near a place where crows congregated.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Crow can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mentions a person named William Crowe. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also contain entries for individuals with the surname Crow, such as Robert Crowe and Reginald Crowe.
In the 13th century, the name Crow appeared in various place names across England, including Crowborough in Sussex, Crowland in Lincolnshire, and Crowhurst in Surrey. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Crow throughout history include:
1. Sir Sackville Crow (1595-1672), an English politician and Member of Parliament for East Grinstead.
2. Francis Crow (1670-1735), an English clergyman and Fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford.
3. Martha Crow (1795-1872), an American pioneer and one of the first settlers in Quincy, Illinois.
4. Levi Crow (1806-1888), an American frontiersman and trader who established a trading post in present-day Kansas.
5. Martha Foote Crow (1854-1924), an American educator and suffragist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the United States.
The surname Crow has also been associated with various occupations and professions over the centuries, such as farmers, merchants, and tradesmen. While the name is predominantly found in England and the United States, it has also spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement patterns.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Crow
Among Census respondents with the surname Crow, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (2.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Crow bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Crow surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.3%
- Black or African American2.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.7%
- Two or more races2.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.5%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Crow surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,482 | #1,482 | 0.0% |
| Count | 24,089 | 24,089 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 8.17 | 8.17 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Crow bearers went from 24,089 to 24,089 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,482 to #1,482.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Crow
FAQ
Crow surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Crow?
The surname Crow holds position #1,482 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 28,003 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 8.17 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Crow surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Crow, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.3%. The next largest groups are Black (2.8%) and Hispanic (2.7%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.