Explore the Family Name Crispin
The meaning of Crispin
1. English; Spanish (Crispín): from the personal name Middle English Crispin, Spanish Crispín, from Latin Crispinus, derived from crispus ‘curly-haired’ (see Crisp). This name was especially popular in France in the early Middle Ages, having been borne by a Christian saint who was martyred at Soissons in c.285 AD along with a companion, Crispinianus (whose name is a further derivative of the same word). Compare Crespin and 3 below. 2. English (of Norman origin): from Old French and Middle English crespin, crispin ‘curly-haired’, also found as Crepin; see Crippin. It is difficult to tell this apart from the personal name in 1 above. According to Lanfranc, archbishop of Canterbury (1070–89), the Norman Gilbert Crispin was the first man to receive this nickname, and two of his sons adopted it as their surname. His grandson Gilbert Crispin became abbot of Westminster in 1085. Members of the Norman family were said to have inherited a shock of hair that stood up stiffly like a bristly pine, as though the name derived from Latin crispus pinus, but this derivation is a medieval invention. 3. Americanized form of German Krispin and possibly also of Dutch Krispijn or Chrispijn, Czech Kryšpín or Krišpín, and Polish Kryszpin, cognates of 1 above. Some characteristic forenames: Spanish Jose, Juan, Pedro, Alicia, Fernando, Manuel, Rafael, Adolfo, Alfredo, Ana, Areli, Candita. French Adrien, Andre, Eugenie, Francoise.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Crispin in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Crispin has been gaining popularity in the United States. In 2000, it ranked 10,737 and rose to 9,735 by 2010, demonstrating a growth rate of 9.33%. The number of individuals bearing this surname also increased from 2,728 to 3,330 during this period, marking a significant jump of 22.07%. The proportion of people with the Crispin surname per 100,000 residents grew by 11.88% from 1.01 to 1.13.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,737 | #9,735 | 9.33% |
| Count | 2,728 | 3,330 | 22.07% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.01 | 1.13 | 11.88% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Crispin
In terms of ethnicity, the Crispin surname presents an interesting distribution, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. From 2000 to 2010, there was a notable rise in individuals identifying as Hispanic, going from 37.72% to 45.83%, an increase of 21.50%. However, those identifying as White decreased from 55.54% to 48.08%, a reduction of 13.43%. The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islanders saw a slight increase of 16.13%, while the American Indian and Alaskan Native category saw a decrease of 13.67%. Those who identified with two or more races dropped substantially from 0.92% to 0.60%, a decrease of 34.78%. The Black population witnessed a minor decrease from 3.81% to 3.57%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 55.54% | 48.08% | -13.43% |
| Hispanic | 37.72% | 45.83% | 21.5% |
| Black | 3.81% | 3.57% | -6.3% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.39% | 1.2% | -13.67% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.62% | 0.72% | 16.13% |
| Two or More Races | 0.92% | 0.6% | -34.78% |