CRAZE
Origin of the surname Craze is firmly within the English tradition, with roots traced back to the Anglo‑Saxon period of the British Isles. Typical of early English surnames, it reflects a combination of linguistic heritage and geographical context.
The earliest linguistic element recorded is the Old English word cras, meaning “cross.” The name is believed to have been first given to a person who lived in proximity to a church cross or a crossroads, typical of the rural landscapes of medieval England. In this sense, Craze functions as a topographic surname, a common practice in Anglo‑Saxon England where a person’s dwelling place was often the source of a family name.
Alternate theories propose that the name served as a nickname, applied to an individual noted for an exceptional degree of religious devotion or a visible cross‑shaped birthmark. Either interpretation links the name to both literal and symbolic significance of the Christian cross, reflecting the prevailing religious culture of the period.
Further scholarly debate identifies an independent Anglo‑Saxon origin from the pre‑7th Century word creas, and the Middle English form crease, meaning “fine” or “elegant.” Under this view, Craze may have originally described a person distinguished by finely tailored clothing. A separate French influence is also recorded: the Old French word crass, meaning “big” or “fat,” may have entered the name as a descriptive nickname. These divergent etymologies underscore the complex interplay between Anglo‑Saxon and Norman‑French linguistic strata in post‑1066 England.
Variations of the surname that survive into the modern era include Crass, Crace, Craise, Crease, Crees and Creese. The multiplicity of spellings reflects the fluid orthography of Middle English and the influence of different dialects across the country.
Documented evidence for the surname traces back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where a name resembling Craze appears under the entry for Lincolnshire. Subsequent records provide further illustration of the name’s distribution: Hervey le Cras in Staffordshire around 1130; Rogerus Crassus in the Curia Rolls of Leicestershire in 1203; Robert Krase recorded in Suffolk in 1277; and the marriage of Alles and Peter Crasse in Camborne, Cornwall, in 1546. Religious registers also reveal a child christened Redigonn Craze at Luxulyan, Cornwall, in 1628.
Although the name remains relatively rare today, it has a historically strong presence in the South‑West of England, a region noted for its distinctive Cornish variations of the surname. The enduring nature of the name, coupled with its early documentation, confirms that Craze is a recognised, albeit uncommon, component of England’s onomastic heritage.
Typical given names associated with the Craze surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Benjamin
- David
- Harry
- John
- Jonathan
- Mark
- Philip
- William
Female
- Caroline
- Emily
- Gillian
- Jennifer
- Joanne
- Julie
- Mary
- Melanie
- Pauline
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
- Yvonne
Similar and related surnames
- Crase
- Crace
- Crake
- Craise
- Craize
- Crasey
- Crashe
- Craske
- Crass
- Crasse
- Crazer
- Creace
- Crease
- Creazzo
- Creece
- Creese
- Crese
- Cress
- Cresse
- Krase
- Cra
- Crae
- Craescu
- Crage
- Craizer
- Cras
- Crash
- Crask
- Crassa
- Crassey
- Craste
- Craye
- Creas
- Creasey
- Creask
- Creassey
- Creasy
- Cresci
- Cresy
- Carse
- Crosse
- Cruise
- Cruz
- Gorse
- Grass
- Keers
- Kraus
- Kruse
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Craze in...
Braille
⠉⠗⠁⠵⠑
Morse
-.-..-..---...
Semaphore
There are approximately 744 people named Craze in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,266th most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Craze.
Origin: Anglo-Saxon
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Craze
- Michael Craze - Actor (1942 to 1998)
- Peter Craze - Actor
- Jett Craze - Indie rock musician
- Nathan Craze - Ice hockey player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.