Critchlow Family History

English: habitational name from Croichlow in Bury (Lancashire) recorded in the surname de Cruchelowe in 1324 and Croichelay in 156. The name is perhaps also derived from Crouchley Farm in Lymm (Cheshire), though this name is of uncertain age; or from an unidentified place in southern England whose name has a similar origin.

The etymology traces back to the British Celtic crouco- meaning ‘hill barrow’ in an English guise, combined with Old English hlāw or hlǣw, which also means ‘hill barrow’. This suggests a geographical significance tied to the landscape.

Additionally, the original -low has sometimes been replaced with -ley, as seen in the case of Critchley. This reflects a common pattern in place names where linguistic variations occur over time.