Crocker

Crocker is a surname of English origin. It derives from an occupational name for a maker of crocks or crockery, or from a place associated with such ware, with the -er suffix indicating a person connected with the trade. The name spread to North America and other English-speaking regions in the course of migration and settlement.

Notable people with the surname include Charles Crocker (1822–1888), an American railroad magnate and a member of the Central Pacific Railroad’s “Big Four” who helped oversee the construction of the first transcontinental railroad; and Edwin B. Crocker (1823–1875), a California lawyer, judge, and philanthropist whose bequest aided the development of arts and culture in the state.

Institutions and places: The Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, California, traces its origins to Edwin B. Crocker’s collection and bequest, and is one of the oldest art museums in the western United States. The Crocker surname has been used in various California institutions, landmarks, and geographic names linked to members of the Crocker family and their legacy.

In summary, Crocker commonly identifies a family name with historical significance in business, litigation, arts philanthropy, and regional development, while also appearing as a place and institution name derived from that family.