Crook Family History

English:: topographic name from Old Norse krókr ‘nook or bend’ denoting someone who lived by a bend in a river or road. In some instances the surname may have arisen as a habitational name from any of the places called Crook in Cumberland and Durham or Crooke in Lancashire, all of which are derived from this word.

Topographic name for someone who lived ‘(at the) barrow or mound’ from Brittonic crüg. In some instances, this may have arisen as a habitational name from either Crook in Combe Raleigh or perhaps Crooke in North Tawton (both Devon), which are derived from this word.

From the Middle English personal name Crok (Old Norse Krókr ‘hook barb’) which may have been introduced into England from Denmark or from Normandy. The name may also derive from Middle English crok ‘hook; something crooked’ also ‘trick or ruse’ (from Old Norse krókr as in the name above).

The name was perhaps originally bestowed on a cripple or hunchback, but in early medieval England this was used as a personal name.

In Ireland (Fermanagh) Crook(e) mainly reflects post-medieval settlement of English families, but it is unclear which of the name's several origins (see 1-3 above) are involved.