Surname Crean - Meaning and Origin
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Crean: What does the surname Crean mean?
The last name Crean is an Irish surname, derived from the old Gaelic name O'Crianain, with the prefix "O" indicating "son of" and "Crianain" indicating a derivation from the Gaelic personal name "Criomhthann". In Old Irish, the family name was spelled O Criain, with later variants such as O'Crianain and O'Crean appearing in different dialects.
In the language of Gaelic, the name Crean is related to the word cri, meaning fox, and forms an association with animals of the same name. This association has helped to give the surname a particular point of reference - it is strongly associated with quickness and intelligence.
Evidence of the Crean family can be found in history as far back as the 16th century in Ireland, with most of their activity being recorded in the provinces of Munster and Connacht.
Crean is a popular surname in contemporary Ireland and can be found all over the world in countries like The United States, The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and countries in continental Europe. It is a reminder of the strength and resilience of the Irish people who have made their mark around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisCrean: Where does the name Crean come from?
The last name Crean is most commonly found in Ireland and Great Britain today. In 2019, The Irish Times reported that the Crean surname ranked 235th in terms of frequency in Ireland. The name is likely derived from the Irish Gaelic word “cran” which means “little freehold”, or a small tract of land.
The Crean name is still very common in certain parts of Ireland, particularly around Galway, Limerick and South Kerry. It is also quite popular in England, where more than 2,500 people share the name. In addition, the surname has been carried to countries such as Canada, Australia, and the United States.
Since the 19th century, Creans have migrated to various countries for different reasons. For example, many Irish people went overseas to escape poverty and search for better economic opportunities. It is no surprise then that Creans have established themselves in new and far distant lands, raising generations of people who bear the same surname as their ancestors in Ireland.
Despite the fact that the Crean name is most common in Ireland and Great Britain, its influence has spread beyond these countries as a result of separated family members and traveling descendants. The Crean name continues to live on, and will likely continue to exist in many countries for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Crean
The surname Crean has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include:
Crehan, Crehin, Crann, Crain, Craine, Crahan, Crainn, Craine, Crayhan, Crayan, Crayon, Crayne, Cran, Cranagh, Cranaghy, Cranaghy, Creation, Creighan, Creighan, Crichlow, Crichton, Creighan, Creaghan, Creedon, Creed, Creehan, Crehan, Creen, Creenan, Creanagh, Creanaghy, and Crine.
The surname likely originated from County Galway in Ireland, and could be derived from either the Gaelic word ‘craobh’ which translates to ‘tree’ and was used to describe someone who lived near a particular tree, or ‘Ō’Críonn’, which was the family surname of a tribe in the ancient region of Uí Fiachra.
Alternatively, some surname experts believe the name could be derived from the old Irish name O'Scríbhín, which translates to ‘little scribe’ or ‘scribe of the family’, a term used to describe a family historian. This surname is likely to have been anglicised over time into Crean and its various variants.
The name Crean can be found in many parts of the world today, including in countries such as the United States, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. It is also a fairly common name, with an estimated 2,666 people sharing the surname across the globe.
Famous people with the name Crean
- Tom Crean: Antarctic explorer and Royal Navy officer
- Mike Crean: American basketball coach
- Lamar Crean: American college basketball coach
- Pat Crean: Irish filmmaker
- Jim Crean: American actor
- Brian Crean: Irish politician
- Casey Crean: American television personality and model
- Bob Crean: former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Johanna Crean: American climate advocate
- Herb Crean: former professional tennis player