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Irish surname

Cronin: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Ó Cróinín · 'descendant of Cróinín' (diminutive of crón, brown, swarthy)

Cronin is an anglicised form of Ó Cróinín, 'descendant of Cróinín' (from crón, brown, swarthy). Woulfe (1923) calls it the name of a family of Corca Laoighdhe, originally seated in the neighbourhood of Clonakilty, but now numerous throughout Cork, Kerry and Limerick. In 1890, 161 of the 176 Cronin births registered in Ireland were in Munster.

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Coat of arms associated with the Cronin surname
Irish formÓ Cróinín
Meaning'descendant of Cróinín' (diminutive of crón, brown, swarthy)
CountiesCork, Kerry, Limerick
Other spellings4

Origin of the Cronin name

Ó Cróinín: 'the name of a family of Corca Laoighdhe, originally seated in the neighbourhood of Clonakilty, but now numerous throughout Cork, Kerry and Limerick' (Woulfe). Woulfe also gives Cronin as an anglicised form of a separate name, Ó Crónáin, 'descendant of Crónán', 'a rare Leix surname'.[1][2]

  1. 1890176 births registered in Ireland: 102 in Cork, 43 in Kerry, 11 in Limerick.[3]

Where in Ireland

Co. CorkOriginal seat near Clonakilty; 102 Cronin births in 1890.[1][3][4]
Co. Kerry'Now numerous' (Woulfe); 43 Cronin births in 1890.[1][3]
Co. Limerick'Now numerous' (Woulfe); 11 Cronin births in 1890.[1][3]

Other spellings

O Cronine · O Cronyn · Cronyn · Cronan[1]

The Cronin coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Cronin surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Cronin crest gifts

Clan Cronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap LR61 Cronin Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Cronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00Clan Ocronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapAI18 Classic Cap - Ocronin Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Ocronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Cronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapQU49 Classic Cap - Cronin Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Cronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00Clan Ocronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap LY12 Ocronin Coat Of Arms Irish Cap Ocronin Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest Classic Cap£26.00

Cronin surname: questions

What does the surname Cronin mean?

Woulfe gives Cronin as an anglicised form of Ó Cróinín, 'descendant of Cróinín', a diminutive of crón, brown, swarthy.[1]

Where in Ireland is Cronin from?

Co. Cork. Woulfe says the family was originally seated in the neighbourhood of Clonakilty and is now numerous throughout Cork, Kerry and Limerick. In 1890 there were 102 Cronin births in Cork, 43 in Kerry and 11 in Limerick.[1][3][4]

Which family were the Cronins?

Woulfe calls Ó Cróinín 'the name of a family of Corca Laoighdhe'. He gives no further pedigree.[1]

Do all Cronins come from the same family?

Not necessarily. Woulfe also lists Cronin among the forms of Ó Crónáin, 'descendant of Crónán', which he calls a rare Leix surname.[2]

Sources

  1. Ó Cróinín — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-croinin.php
  2. Ó Crónáin — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/oc/o-cronain.php
  3. Cronin — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/cronin.php
  4. Clonakilty – A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (Samuel Lewis, 1837), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/topog/C/Clonakilty-East-Carbery-Cork.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).