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| Origins Available: |
| | England |
The name Crooker is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a "grower of saffron," one of the most sought after and expensive spices. Alternatively, the name could have been from an occupation as in "the crocker," a potter, a maker of crocks, From Middle English word "crokke," an earthen pitcher. 1
The surname Crooker was first found in Devon where the first record of the family was John le Crochere recorded during the reign of Henry III - Edward I. "By tradition, Crocker is one of the most ancient of Devonshire names. " 2 "Lyneham, for nearly four centuries, was the seat of the great Devonshire family of Crocker. In Yealmpton Church is one of the finest brasses in the county, to Sir John Crocker of Lyneham, cupbearer to Edward IV." 3
Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Simon le Crockere and William Crockare in Oxfordshire and the Writs of Parliament in 1301 listed John le Crokere. 1
Hotten's Lists of Emigrants has some early entries for the surname in the United States: 'Richard Crocker, a child, living in Virginia, 1623' and 'Henry Crocker came to Virginia in the Abigail, 1620.'
Other early entries for the family include some early Latin versions: Helias de Creuequor in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1158; Robert de Creuequoer in the 1195 Pipe Rolls for Kent; Robert de Crouequoer, again in Kent in 1200; Rainald and Alexander Creuker in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1212 and finally, Robert de Crequer in Cheshire in 1284. 4
The fictional Betty Crocker was used in advertising campaigns for food and recipes for the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1921. Apparently the name "Betty was selected because it was viewed as a cheery, All-American name. It was paired with the last name Crocker, in honor of William Crocker, a Washburn Crosby Company director." The brand was later bought by General Mills in 1954.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crooker research. Another 260 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1641, 1670 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Crooker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Crooker include Croker, Crocker, Croager, Crough, Croaker, Croke and others.
Distinguished members of the family include John (Johann) Croker (1670-1741), a well-known engraver of English coins and medals, of German origin, born at Dresden 21 Oct. 1670. "His father, who...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crooker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Crooker is the 18,746th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Crooker were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: