Type Surname (from location) Usage English Pronounced Pron. /ˈkɹɔ.fəɹd/(American English) /ˈkɹɔ.fəd/(British English) Meaning & History From a place name derived from Old English crawe "crow" and ford "river crossing". A notable bearer was the American actress Joan Crawford (1904-1977), born Lucille Fay LeSueur.