McCraw
A Scottish and Irish surname usually understood as a form of Mac Cradh, meaning “son of Cradh,” though the personal name behind it is obscure.
The #6,156 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 55,520 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McCraw is generally treated as a Gaelic patronymic, with the prefix Mac/Mc meaning “son of.” The second element is usually linked to an old personal name such as Cradh, but the name is rare and its exact sense is uncertain. In surname forms, the ending has been Anglicized in several ways, which is why spellings like McCraw, MacCraw, and McGraw can sometimes appear in related contexts.
History
The surname is found chiefly in Scotland and Ireland, and later in North America through emigration. As with many Gaelic names, it was recorded in English spellings that varied by clerk, parish, and region. In some cases it may also overlap with or be confused with similar-looking surnames such as McGraw, so local family history is important.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Gaelic names were often written down phonetically, one family line could acquire several different spellings over time without any change in pronunciation or identity.