McCrea
A surname usually linked to the Gaelic Mac Craith, meaning “son of Craith,” with older English sources also offering folk etymologies.
The #5,504 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 48,852 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McCrea is generally taken from Gaelic Mac Craith, a patronymic meaning “son of Craith.” The personal name Craith is old and somewhat obscure, so the surname is usually explained through the family name rather than a transparent modern word meaning. Some 19th-century writers proposed fanciful explanations based on English sound-alikes, but the Gaelic derivation is the standard one.
History
The name is found in Irish and Scottish usage and appears in English-language records in several spellings, including MacCrea and McCrea. In American sources it is often grouped with related McCrea/McCray/McCree forms, reflecting spelling variation after migration. The surname is especially associated with Ulster and Scottish-border surname traditions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
19th-century surname writers sometimes tried to explain McCrea as if it meant something like “son of creed,” but that is generally treated as folk etymology rather than the real origin.
From the historical record
“Creaven. TTlAC C\\A\t, MacCraith, MacCrea, MacGrath, etc. TTJac Citio-oAin, Creedon, Creed. TTlAC C]iioTTitAiTiTi, MacCrohan.”
— Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames