Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.
CRAVEN
There are approximately 10,921 people named Craven in the UK. That makes it the 962nd most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 173 are named Craven.
Region of origin
British Isles
Country of origin
England
Language of origin
English
Religion of origin
Christian
Classification
English
Location or Geographical Feature
Related and similar surnames
CreavenCravens
Crave
Craeven
Craiven
Cravenn
Crafen
Craivens
Craavens
Craffen
Chreven
Crafens
Craveno
Crafon
Craffens
Caraven
Coraven
Cravene
Craveneau
Carraven
Carven
Chrevfen
Cravena
The Craven surname in historical dictionaries
An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)
One who begs for his life when conquered; from crave, a word used formerly by one vanquished in trial by battle, and yielding to the conqueror. Craven is also the name of a place in Yorkshire, England, very stony, derived from craig, Cor. Br., a rock, and pen, a head.
Patronymica Britannica (1860)
CRAVEN. In the days of chivalry this word meant a coward — one who ' craved' mercy from an antagonist, and it was also applied to a fighting-cock that failed in combat.
Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.