Surname Crocket - Meaning and Origin

Crocket: What does the surname Crocket mean?

The surname Crocket originates from Scotland, specifically from the region around the town of Crocketford in Dumfries. The name itself is derived from the Middle English word ‘craket’, which means 'crow', or from the Old Norse word ‘kráka’, also meaning crow. It's a habitational name for a person who hailed from Crocketford. Throughout history, the name has been spelled in various ways including Crocket, Crockett, Crockette, and others.

In the later Middle Ages, the name was associated with a decorative architectural element used in Gothic architecture, called crockets or crockets hooks. These were hook-shaped decorative elements, often stylized carvings of curled leaves, buds or flowers, that adorned the inclined edges of spires, pinnacles, and arches. Therefore, it's possible that the name may also have been given to individuals involved in the craft of stone masonry or sculpture. As with many surnames, the exact meaning can depend on the family's specific history. The name was popularized in the 20th century by the fictional character Davy Crockett, the King of the Wild Frontier, in TV shows and movies.

Crocket: Where does the name Crocket come from?

The last name Crocket originates from Scotland, where it was first found in Liddesdale, where the ancestral home of the Crocket family is believed to be. The name itself may derive from the Middle English word "croket," which means "a large curl." It could have been a nickname relating to the hair of the original bearers, who might have had curly hair. However, some sources suggest that it could also be a location-based name, derived from the term for a hill's summit or crook.

The name spread to England and then to other parts of the United Kingdom. Later, many Scots migrated to North America, Australia, and New Zealand, hence transferring the surname to these locations. Today, while the surname Crocket can still be found widely across the UK, particularly in Scotland, it is also relatively common in the United States (influenced in part by the fame of American folk hero Davy Crockett), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Variations of the surname Crocket

The surname Crocket originated from Scotland. It is believed to be derived from the word "crocket", which was a hook-shaped decorative element in Gothic architecture. Known variants and spellings of the surname include Crockatt, Crockett, Crockitt, Crockat, Crokatt, Crockart, Crockert, Crockat, Crockitt and Crockertt.

There may also be spelling variations due to the phonetic transcription of the surname in different languages and dialects. For instance, in French variant is Croquart and in Spanish it could be Croqueta.

Surnames of the same Scottish origin could be Crawford, Campbell, Cameron, Anderson, or Davidson, to name a few. However, these surnames do not necessarily have a similar meaning or derivation as the name Crocket.

It's also important to remember that many factors including immigration, language barriers, illiteracy, and simple misspellings in historical records could have led to a wide variety of interpretations of the original surname.

Famous persona with the surname Crocket includes David "Davy" Crockett, a 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. His life and legacy might have also contributed to the use and spellings of the surname.

Famous people with the name Crocket

• Davy Crockett: A 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier".
• Davy Crockett (competitor): American football player who played for the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.
• Bill Crockett: An American rower who competed in the 1920 American Summer Olympics.
• Charles "Chuck" Crockett: An American journalist and former editor at The Detroit Free Press and The Washington Post.
• James Underwood Crockett: Host of the Victory Garden on PBS, a popular gardening program in the late 1970s.
• Johnny Crockett: A Welsh footballer who played for Swansea Town and the Welsh national team.
• Affion Crockett: An American actor, writer, dancer, rapper, comedian, and music producer known for his television appearances.
• George William Crockett Jr.: An American attorney, jurist, and congressman from Michigan.
• Daniel Crockett: British actor known for his role in the film ‘Wilderness’.
• Ashley Crockett: Former cricketer who played for Oxford University Cricket Club.
• Bob Crockett: A cricketer who umpired cricket matches between the 1920s and 1950s.
• Barry Crockett: Master Distiller Emeritus of the Midleton Distillery, in County Cork, Ireland.

Other surnames

CrockerCrockett