Surname Cranshaw - Meaning and Origin
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Cranshaw: What does the surname Cranshaw mean?
The last name Cranshaw is of English origin and is thought to be an habitational or locational surname, derived from a place name. This suggests that the name originates from a place called "Craneshaw," which is derived from two Old English elements, "Cran" meaning crane and "sceaga" meaning copse or wood. It is likely that those with the last name Cranshaw were thus originally inhabitants of a place associated with cranes or a place near a grove of trees.
The name Cranshaw is unique in that it cannot be traced to a specific region of England despite its English origin. In fact, records of the name have been found in a variety of locations including London, Somerset, and Durham. During the Old English period, surnames such as Cranshaw were common in England and developed as a means to distinguish people from one another, indicating a place of residence or origin, as well as an occupation.
Today, members of the Cranshaw family are located around the world, primarily in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The Cranshaw surname is perhaps most commonly linked to England, where records of the family back to the 13th century.
Order DNA origin analysisCranshaw: Where does the name Cranshaw come from?
The last name Cranshaw is most common in the United States; Over 9,000 people in the U.S. have this last name as according to Google search. Geographically, people with this surname are most concentrated in the Midwestern and Southern states, namely Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Arkansas.
In the commonwealth, this last name is heavily ranked in England and Wales, with over 1,000 people reported in the 11 million sample of the 2011 U.K. census. Most of these people, however, are in the midlands.
In Canada, about 500 people had the last name Cranshaw in the 2016 census. Most of these households were concentrated in the greater Toronto area and British Columbia, with a few spread out in other provinces.
The Cranshaw originates from the Southern regions of England, most likely in Derbyshire and Warwickshire. Records show that the name first appeared in the late 17th century with the marriage of Richard Cranshaw and his wife, Mary.
The Cranshaw's were farmers in the English countryside and eventually immigrated to the U.S., Canada and other parts of the world. These immigrants established the name in many countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and parts of Europe. Today, it is most commonly found in America and Canada.
Variations of the surname Cranshaw
The surname Cranshaw is thought to have Anglo-Saxon origins and is a variant of Cranshay, Craneshaw, and Cransee. The spelling of Cranshaw is most common in England, while the spelling of Cranshay has been shown to be more popular in Scotland. Variant spellings can also include Cranse, Cramshaw, Cransey, Cranishes and Cranish.
Some other variants of the surname include Creanshaw, Cranse, Craland, Cranshey, Cransas, Cronshaw, Curanshaw, Cramshaw and Cronchesse. Other names that have a similar origin are Cramshaw, Cransee and Cranesee.
The most common spelling of the surname is Cranshaw, although Cranshay and Craneshaw are also widely used. Various historical records suggest that some Cranshaw families may have relocated from Scotland to England as far back as the Middle Ages, although the exact reasons for this are not known.
Different surnames could also have similar origins. Some names that may have originated from Cranshaw include Cranish, Cransty, Cranshway, Cranishaw and Cranishe.
Many variations of the Cranshaw surname can be found all over the world. In the United States, the population of Cranshaw's was mainly found in the states of California, Washington D.C., Illinois, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Arizona.
Famous people with the name Cranshaw
- Jack Cranshaw: American actor who appeared in several television series including ER, CSI, 3rd Rock From the Sun, and NYPD Blue.
- Ryan Cranshaw: American actor best known for his role in the Netflix original series Stranger Things.
- Gary Cranshaw: American voice actor, producer, and writer best known for his appearances on the television shows Rugrats and Hey Arnold!.
- Richie Cranshaw: Canadian actor and comedian known for his appearances on SCTV, It’s Only Rock & Roll, and Hollywood North.
- Alexander Cranshaw: British actor most famous for his role in the television series Doc Martin.
- Richard Cranshaw: British artist and printmaker best known for his works with the Landmark Arts Centre.
- James Cranshaw: Canadian actor and director best known for his appearances on Supernatural, The Killing, and ReGenesis.
- John Cranshaw: English professor at Clemson University and author of the book John Keats' Poetry and Prose.
- Mark Cranshaw: British actor known for his role as Bene-my on the television series Blake’s 7.
- Robert Cranshaw: American jazz bassist and session musician who performed with many famous musicians such as Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, and Chick Corea.