Last Names

Surnames / C

Crocker

What is the origin of the last name Crocker?

English originOccupational (a trade or role)Rank #1,757 in the US

Meaning and origin

The last name Crocker is of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "croc" or "crok," meaning a pot or pitcher. It is believed to have been an occupational surname, indicating a potter or a person who made and sold pottery. The name can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Cornwall, England, where it was commonly associated with the craftsmanship of earthenware. Over time, the name Crocker spread to other parts of England and eventually found its way to various English-speaking nations around the world.

The longer story

The last name Crocker has a rich and fascinating history. Derived from the Middle English word "crok," meaning a pot or pitcher, the name is thought to have originally referred to someone who made or sold such items. The Crocker family can be traced back to England, where the surname first emerged.

Alongside his wife Sarah, he embarked on the historic journey to North America in 1620, seeking religious freedom. This association with the Mayflower pilgrimage certainly adds historical weight and significance to the Crocker name.

The Crocker surname has spread beyond England and has found a significant presence in the United States. This suggests a strong ancestral connection between the Crocker family and this region.

Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.

Similar spellings

#1,757

Crocker was the 1,757th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 20,370 people, about 6.6 in every 100,000.

Who carries it

  • White (non-Hispanic)87.3%
  • Hispanic or Latino2.1%
  • Black (non-Hispanic)8.2%
  • Asian or Pacific Islander0.4%
  • Two or more races1.4%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native0.6%

Where it is found

Countries linked to Crocker.

Surnames like Crocker

Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.

Check the sources

For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.