Show ContentsCrites History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Crites surname has several possible origins. The "Kreitz" variation of this surname was inspired by the town of Kreitz, which lies near the city of Neuss in northwestern Germany. This type of surname generally arose when an individual moved from one settlement to another, and was then referred to by the name of his place of origin. "Kreitz" may also have been derived from the German word "kreuz," denoting a "cross." The first bearers of the surname might have worked a field or plot of land shaped like a cross, or lived near a prominent cross that served either as a religious symbol or as a boundary-marker (crosses were commonly used for this purpose in the medieval period). It is also thought that the surnames "Kreuz" and "Kreitz" may have come from a sobriquet referring to someone who had served under the banner of the Cross in a Crusade.

Early Origins of the Crites family

The surname Crites was first found in the region of the North Rhine-Westphalia, where members of the Crites family were no doubt integral parts of the Feudal System that became the backbone of early European society.

Early History of the Crites family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crites research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1753 and 1812 are included under the topic Early Crites History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crites Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Kreitz, Kreuz, Kruetz, Kreutzer and others.

Early Notables of the Crites family

More information is included under the topic Early Crites Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crites Ranking

In the United States, the name Crites is the 5,829th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [1]


United States Crites migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crites Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • David Crites who is listed as going to North Carolina in 1753
  • David Crites, who arrived in North Carolina in 1753 [2]
  • Devault Crites, who arrived in North Carolina in 1753 [2]
Crites Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William F. Crites who went to Philadelphia in 1874
  • David B. Crites who went to Colorado in 1886
  • David B Crites, who landed in Colorado in 1886 [2]

Canada Crites migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crites Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. George Crites U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 [3]
  • Mr. George Crites U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1783 [3]


Suggested Readings for the name Crites +

  • The Ancestors and Descendants of F. A. Marsh and Ivy Crites by William R. Marsh.
  • John and Elizabeth Crites, Pioneer Family of Wisconsin: Their Ancestors and Descendants, 1753-1977 by Dean G. Crites.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X


Houseofnames.com on Facebook