There are two possible derivative origins for this patronymic. The first is as "The Son of Crow", with Crow being a medieval nickname surname for one who possessed the attributes of that bird. These attributes are open to interpretation but the general consensus is that the name meant, "a noisy person". The second derivation is from "Crudd" - a northern dialectual personal name which derives from the Saxon "Cuthbert" and was originally found only in Lancashire, as Crewdson or Crowdson. In later spellings, the intrusive "d" seems to have disappeared as the name moved southwards. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Agnes Crowdson. which was dated 1545, Married Leonard Ormundie at Ulverston. during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Good King Hal", 1510 - 1548. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.