Crisp

Crisp is an English cognate of the surname Crespo. While the exact timestamp of its adoption in England is unclear, the name shares the same root as Crespo, deriving from the Latin crispus meaning "curly" – a nickname for someone with curly hair. Over time, this nickname became entrenched as a hereditary surname, following the pattern common across European languages where physical traits transfer into family names. The surname Crespi and Crespo are related variants, with Crespo more widespread in Spanish contexts and Crespi particularly associated with Italian heritage. In addition to its use as a surname, Crisp appears as a place name in the United States: unincorporated communities in Edgecombe County, North Carolina; Ellis County, Texas (named after Charles F. Crisp); and Pleasants County, West Virginia (possibly a ghost town). The adjective sense of crisp (crunchy, neat) is a separate etymology from the surname. Notable bearers of the surname include the English cricketer C. B. Fry (born Charles Burgess Fry) and more distant figures like the cricketer George Crisp.

• Meaning: Literally "curly" (from Latin crispus), originally a nickname for person with curly hair
• Origin: English cognate of Spanish and Italian forms
• Type: Surname
• Usage regions: Primarily English-speaking world, with historical ties to Spain and Italy through cognates