The Crabb surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 5,851 people carried this name — #5,897 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 50,500 people counted. That is up 1% from 5,808 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Crabb surname

As an English and Scottish surname, from the noun crab (both senses)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Crabb» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In Scotland’s registers today

Crabb was recorded 11 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1788th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

28 families named Crabb, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 152 people lived in those households, 5.4 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 3 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Maryland 8
North Carolina 7
New York 5
Pennsylvania 5
South Carolina 2
Maine 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 235 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Crabb in American newspapers,
1916.

Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Crabb
Daily Kennebec Journal 1916-03-29
Newspaper page from The Tupelo Journal carrying the name Crabb
The Tupelo Journal 1916-05-19
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Crabb
Daily Kennebec Journal 1916-05-02

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 33,312 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Crabb in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

16,340 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Crabb. The most, 2,272, date from the 1900s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in South Australia, at 3.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

South Australia 6,324
New South Wales 3,376
Queensland 2,309
Victoria 2,090
Western Australia 1,717
ACT (Canberra) 245
Tasmania 222
Northern Territory 2

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Crabb.

Who carried it

People named Crabb,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Henry A. Crabb
    Henry A. Crabb d. 1857 · politician
  • George Crabb
    George Crabb 1778–1851 · writer
  • Madeleine Augusta Crabbe d. 1948
  • Jeremiah Crabb 1760–1800 · politician
  • James Crabb 1774–1851 · preacher
  • James Crabb 1774–1851 · preacher

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Crabb,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States569 records

569 records of the Crabb name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 214
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 92
  • Other U.S. records 263
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Howard C. Crabb

    Born 1923 in Rhode Island. Enlisted 1942 at Providence; floorman. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1996, buried at Rhode Island Veteran Memorial Cemetery, Exeter, Rhode Island.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Bruce Wayne Crabb

    Born 1948; from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1968 in Quang Nam, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Richard Crabb

    Arrived at New York in 1885 aboard the City of Chester from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 30; mason. From Exeter, England; bound for Connecticut.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 569 records for Crabb in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia354 records

354 records of the Crabb name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 189
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 56
  • Other Australian records 109
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Sarah Crabb

    Died 1919 in Alexander Street, Burnie, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1919.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record William Crabb

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1846. Married 1846 in Westbury, Tasmania, aged 33.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Fredk Crabb

    Arrived in Victoria in 1852 aboard the Windsor, aged 28; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 354 records for Crabb in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada45 records

45 records of the Crabb name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 18
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 8
  • Other Canadian records 19
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Vivian Loranine Crabb

    Died 1995, aged 72; buried at Transcona Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James Crabb

    Died 1917 in Marshalltown, Digby, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  3. A Canadian First World War grave register card for a soldier who died of wounds in 1917
    Example: Canadian war grave register, 1917
    War record William Thomas Crabb

    Died in service in 1942.

    Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

Showing 3 of 45 records for Crabb in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Canadian First World War circumstances-of-death register (scan by Scottgraham87 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).

United Kingdom35 records

35 records of the Crabb name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 22
  • Stirling Council burial records 7
  • Other British records 6
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record James Crabb

    Born 1850 at Laurencekirk. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elizabeth Crabb

    Buried in 1969 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 71.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Adelaide Winifred Crabb

    Will proved in 1940; of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)

Showing 3 of 35 records for Crabb in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Netherlands21 records

21 records of the Crabb name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 10
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 9
  • Dutch population registers 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charles Alexander Crabb

    Died 1818 in Delft; born in London.

    Open Archives, Archief Delft (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Charlotte Elisabeth Crabb

    Died 1833 in Schoonhoven, aged 40.

    Open Archives, Streekarchief Midden-Holland (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record George Crabb

    Married in 1788 in Rotterdam; born in London.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 21 records for Crabb in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

New Zealand8 records

8 records of the Crabb name in New Zealand
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 5
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helen Crabb

    Buried in 1904 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 89.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Wayne James Crabb

    Died 1991, aged 29; buried at Belfast Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record A. Crabb

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Crabb in New Zealand.

Counts: Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Crabb name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record William Lazare Crabb

    Born 1947 in Marseille; died 1993 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert James Lawson Crabb

    Born 1918 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Crabb.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Crabb is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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