Crawford is a surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Old English word 'creu', meaning cross, and 'ford', meaning shallow water crossing. It originally referred to someone who lived near a cross-shaped ford. The name has been anglicized over time, with variations including Crauford, Crofford, and Croft. Crawford is also sometimes used as a given name. In the United States, it was most popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reaching its peak usage around 1917.
The name Crawford had an unusual gap in usage between 2012 and 2014, with no recorded births during those years. It then experienced a surge in popularity from 2015 onwards, with a consistent increase in the number of births each year until 2023. Overall, there were 41 babies named Crawford born between 2012 and 2023.