This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Robyn_Kendall Surnames: Cronk Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.cronk/523/mb.ashx Message Board Post: While I was in England recently (researching my father's tree), on a lark I looked up my mother's maiden name (Cronk). I found a very interesting book. Here is a little bit from it. Most interesting is the talk of it NOT being a name from Holland, and the surname's origins in the British Isles. An Uncommon Name: A Genealogical Account of the Cronk Family of West Kent By Anthony Cronk, 1953 Page 5 The name Cronk is a most distinctive monosyllable, but its etymology is not immediately apparent. Numerous theories about its origin have been advanced, not all of which bear careful scrutiny, as we shall show. It has often been suggested that it is of Continental origin on account of a slight similarity to such names as the Dutch Kranker, the Flemish Craninck, the German Krancke and Kron, and the French Cron and Croneau. The Dutch dictionary has a work kronkel, an adjective meaning "winding". Nevertheless the leading genealogical society of Holland* reports that the name Cronk (however spelt) does not appear anywhere in their very comprehensive records. If the name Cronk originated in the British Islaes, it is possible that it was derived from a place-name, as it does not at first sight appear to refer either to a baptismal name or to any occupation or office. In the Isle of Man Cronk occurs as an element in many of the Celtic place-names, e.g. Cronk-ny-Irrey Llaa (hill of the dawn) Cronk Sumark (promrose hill) Cronk-y-dooiney (hill of the man) Cronk-y-crogher (hill of the gallows) The Director of the Manx Museum points out that it is the same as the Scottish and Irish Knock, meaning "hill", but he quotes good authority that there is no indication that it ever gave rise to a personal name, and further, that there seems to be no case of a Manx personal name derived from a place-name. . Now in the parish of Limpsfield just across the Surrey border we discover a locality called Cronklands. Clearly a possessor's name, it occurs as Cronksland in a Deed of 1714. Here we find Thomas Cronge as long ago as 1430, and this surname had become Cronke by 1543. So perhaps after all Cronge is not such a far cry from Crangeld and our now-rare migrant crane. On the other hand, the Oxford English Discitonary gives "cronge" as an old and rare word meaning a hilt or handle. This could conceivably have given rise to a personal name of the occupative category denoting a maker of sword-hilts. Anyway we believe this to be a very important link in the chain, as it is the earliest relevant record we have been able to find, and the only one in the medieval period when surnames were being adopted to distinguish one family from another. Limpsfield is only nine miles from Sevenoaks, and there seems to be little doubt that we have here found the source of all the Cronks of West Kent. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.