Surname Crutcher - Meaning and Origin

An Emotional Journey through Time: The Crutcher Lineage via DNA Ancestry

Taking a deep delve into DNA ancestry using iGENEA was a thrilling emotional journey. Unraveling the history behind the Crutcher lineage brought a newfound sense of connection and pride in my family's compelling past.

E. Crutcher

Crutcher: What does the surname Crutcher mean?

The last name Crutcher is of Anglo-Saxon origin, prevalent in England before the Norman invasion. It is believed to have been derived from an Old English occupation name "Crucher" or "Croucher," used for a person who used a crutch or staff, such as a shepherd. It may have also been used as a nickname for someone suffering from a physical impairment that required the use of crutches. Like many early British surnames, Crutcher was most likely originally bestowed as an identifying moniker, helping to distinguish people with the same first name in a time before the widespread use of surname. Additionally, many sources suggest that surnames may have also been used to signify the type of work one did or a particular characteristic of a person. So, the Crutcher last name likely tells something about the individual's ancestors. However, as surnames were passed down from generation to generation, they not necessarily reflect the occupation or characteristics of the individuals bearing them today.

Crutcher: Where does the name Crutcher come from?

The surname Crutcher is believed to derive from the Old English term "crycce or cricc" meaning "crutch or staff," perhaps indicating the trade of the original bearers, such as, a maker or seller of crutches. It is an occupational surname, common in societies throughout the early medieval period. It may have been used to refer to someone who walked with a crutch or who made crutches.

Although Crutcher is a rare name, it is most commonly found in the United States today. According to Forebears surname database, it ranks higher in the US, more than any other country in the world, in terms of frequency per million people. The states with the highest densities of the Crutcher surname include Kentucky, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. However, it is also prevalent to a lesser degree in England, Australia, and Canada.

Notable personalities with this last name include American author and educator Chris Crutcher and American blues singer Laura Lee Crutcher.

Variations of the surname Crutcher

The surname Crutcher may have various alternate spellings that could evolve for a multitude of reasons, including linguistic interpretation or transcription errors. Some of the variations of Crutcher might include Cruthcer, Crutcer, Crutchor, Crutsher, and Krutcher.

Crutcher could also be a variant of the English surname Crutchfield, stemming from the town of Crutchfield in Buckinghamshire, England. Thus, variants associated with Crutchfield could also be indirectly linked to Crutcher. Some Crutchfield variant surnames include: Cruchfield, Crutchfeld, Crutchfeild, Crutchfiel, Crutchfyld, and Crutchphield.

It's also possible that there are variants of the name in other languages due to immigration, translation, or phonetic transcription. In German, for example, it could be "Krutscher" or in French, "Crutcheur".

It's important to note that surname variations can vary widely, even between regions and families. Research into family documents, immigration records, and regional history can provide the most accurate variants for your particular lineage.

Famous people with the name Crutcher

• Chris Crutcher: An award-winning American novelist and family therapist. Known for writing young adult literature, Crutcher often incorporates tough subjects like child abuse and racism in his works.
• Richard C. Crutcher: An American astronomer who spent much of his career at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His work primarily focuses on interstellar medium and star formation.
• Ben Crutcher: An American actor known for his work in the film "The Accidental Missionary" and the television series "First Dates with Toby Harris."
• Etta Crutcher: An American visual artist recognized for her bold, imaginative sculptures.
• Troy D. Crutcher: A former professional baseball player in the Negro leagues, he played from 1920-1922. Please note that while these characters have achieved some degree of notability in their respective fields, the term "famous" is relative and may not apply to all these individuals depending on one's perspective.

Other surnames

Crutchfieldcrutchley