The Crooks surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 10,244 people carried this name — #3,489 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 28,800 people counted. That is up 4% from 9,806 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Crooks surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Crook’.

An early record he cites: Johannes de Cruke, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Crook, Crooke, Crookes and Crooks.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 218 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 15 births for the Crooks name in 1890.

Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 700 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Antrim and Londonderry.”

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 15

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

68 families named Crooks, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 392 people lived in those households, 5.8 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 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

Pennsylvania 17
Maryland 10
South Carolina 8
Massachusetts 6
Vermont 5
New York 5
New Hampshire 4
Connecticut 4
Virginia 4
North Carolina 3
Maine 1
Rhode Island 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

Crooks in American newspapers,
1909–1921.

Newspaper page from The St. Mary Banner carrying the name Crooks
The St. Mary Banner 1909-01-09
Newspaper page from The Madison Journal carrying the name Crooks
The Madison Journal 1921-09-03
Newspaper page from The County Record carrying the name Crooks
The County Record 1911-05-11

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 5,810 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Crooks in Australian newspapers,
1810s–1990s.

32,951 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Crooks. The most, 6,735, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in South Australia, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 7,623
Victoria 7,049
South Australia 6,100
Queensland 4,905
Western Australia 4,034
Tasmania 3,106
ACT (Canberra) 62
Northern Territory 40

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

Who carried it

People named Crooks,
with a public archive behind them.

  • George Richard Crooks
    George Richard Crooks 1822–1897 · writer
  • Adam Crooks
    Adam Crooks 1827–1885 · politician
  • Catharine McGill Crooks
    Catharine McGill Crooks 1833–1871 · botanical collector
  • Will Crooks
    Will Crooks 1852–1921 · politician
  • James Crooks 1778–1860 · businessperson
  • Adam Crooks 1824–1874

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 Crooks,
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 States1,125 records

1,125 records of the Crooks name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 327
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 237
  • Other U.S. records 561
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Leon D. Crooks

    Born 1923 in California. Enlisted 1943 at Los Angeles; machine shop worker. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    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 Ronald Lee Crooks

    Born 1945; from Hickory, North Carolina. U.S. Marine Corps, rifleman; killed in action 1967 in Quang Tri, 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 Eliza Crooks

    Arrived at New York in 1879 aboard the Circassia from Glasgow and Moville, aged 18; servant. From Ireland.

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

Showing 3 of 1,125 records for Crooks in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · 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, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · 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).

Australia605 records

605 records of the Crooks name in Australia
  • Tasmanian Names Index 257
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 208
  • Other Australian records 140
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Annie Maria Crooks

    Died 1910 in Hospital, Latrobe, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1910.

    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 Charles Maryon Crooks

    Married 1857 in Longford, Tasmania, aged 33. Died 1890 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 66.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Richard Crooks

    Transported to New South Wales aboard the Neptune, arriving 1818; ticket of leave 1838. Native of London.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 605 records for Crooks in Australia.

Counts: Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · 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); Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain).

Canada513 records

513 records of the Crooks name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 463
  • City of Calgary cemetery records 15
  • Other Canadian records 35
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alex Crooks

    Came to Ontario in 1880 aboard the Prussian, landing at Quebec, bound for London, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Joan M. Crooks

    Buried in 2001 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 75.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Christian Crooks

    Died 1957 in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 513 records for Crooks in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom29 records

29 records of the Crooks name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 26
  • Stirling Council burial records 2
  • Welsh wills index cards 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Crooks

    Died 1975, aged 73; buried at Gargunnock Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Mary Ann Crooks

    Will proved in 1894; of Bangor, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record J. Crooks

    King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 29 records for Crooks 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). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand17 records

17 records of the Crooks name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 10
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 5
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alice Julia Crooks

    Died 1966, aged 90; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Patricia Isabel Crooks

    Born 1917, died 1993; buried at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Marjorie Elizabeth Crooks

    Died 1975; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 17 records for Crooks in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District 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).

Netherlands11 records

11 records of the Crooks name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 5
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Catharina Crooks

    Married in 1782 in Rotterdam; born in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Birth record Andrew Jack Crooks

    Born 1884 in Leeuwarden.

    Open Archives, AlleFriezen (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Maria Crooks

    Married in 1683 in Bergen op Zoom; born in Bergen op Zoom.

    Open Archives, West Brabants Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 11 records for Crooks in the Netherlands.

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

France9 records

9 records of the Crooks 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 John Robert Crooks

    Born 1938 in Paris; died 1988 in Houplin-Ancoisne (Nord).

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

    Born 1927 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Festalemps (Dordogne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Georges Albert Crooks

    Born 1901 in Calais; died 1983 in Calais (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 9 records for Crooks in France.

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 Crooks.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Crooks 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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