Crites
A surname of uncertain origin, likely a shortened or altered form of a European family name that became established in English-speaking countries.
The #4,799 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 41,932 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Crites is generally treated as an altered surname rather than a transparent English word-name. It may reflect a reduced or anglicized form of a Continental European name, possibly one connected with forms like Crist-, Cristes-, or a similar medieval personal-name base ultimately related to Christ. Because the name is not well documented in standard surname references, its exact root is not certain.
History
The surname is most familiar in the United States, where it appears as a fairly uncommon but established family name. In many cases, names of this type were simplified in spelling and pronunciation after immigration, which can make their earlier form difficult to recover. The modern distribution suggests a long-standing Anglo-American presence rather than a very recent import.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the name is relatively rare and its early forms are obscure, even careful surname dictionaries often leave it without a single agreed-upon derivation.