CRITCHLOW
Critchlow is an English surname that originates from the Old English words cric meaning “hill” or “mound” and hlaw meaning “hill” or “mound”. The combination of these elements gives the name a topographic sense, identifying an ancestor who lived near or upon a hillock.
The earliest documentary appearance of the name is in the 1086 Domesday Book, where it is recorded as Chriot. During the Middle Ages the spelling of the surname varied widely, being noted as Crictelawe in the 1300s, Crytchloe in the 1400s, Cretchlow in 1511 and Chronlow in 1541. By the 1800s the spelling Critchlow had become the standard form throughout England.
In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries the surname is closely associated with Staffordshire, probably arising from a now‑lost village in that county. A surviving record from 21 November 1594 notes the christening of an infant, Alicia Critchley, in Penkridge, Staffordshire. Another early witness to the name is Nicholas Crycheloe, who in February 1539 at Alstonfield, Staffordshire served as a witness at a christening during the reign of King Henry V.
The name is occasionally found in other parts of the British Isles. Documented use in Yorkshire dates from the late sixteenth century, and by the eighteenth century Critchlow families were recorded in Aberdeen. In the nineteenth century the surname became more common across England, especially in the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Shropshire and Wiltshire. It also appears in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and subsequent migration has established the name in North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
The family is again reflected in heraldic tradition: a coat of arms granted to the Critchlow lineage is quartered in red and silver, with a black martlet in the second and third quarters. The crest depicts a green harp. Such heraldry denotes a recognised status within the English gentry.
Variations of the surname, largely arising from regional dialects and spelling practices, include Critchley, Crichtley, Crichley, Crutchley and the earlier forms Crytchlowe, Critteelowe, Crytchaleigh, Critchellow. Related surnames that share the same root are Krytchley, Krittelow, Krinchley and Critchell.
Today the surname Critchlow remains most common in the United Kingdom – particularly in England – but is also found throughout the British Isles. Its presence extends to the United States, notably in the southern Atlantic states, and to a lesser extent to Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Typical given names associated with the Critchlow surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Robert
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Deborah
- Julie
- Karen
- Kathleen
- Laura
- Lucy
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Sonia
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Critchlow in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Critchlow are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Custard Cream.
There are approximately 1,892 people named Critchlow in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,408th most common surname in Britain. Around 29 in a million people in Britain are named Critchlow.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Critchlow
- Stephen Critchlow - Actor
- Keith Critchlow - Architect
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.