Cresswell
/ˈkrɛs.wɛl/noun
An English surname and place name meaning a spring or stream where watercress grows.
Did you know?Several English places called Cresswell or Creswell gave rise to the surname, meaning the name could identify someone who lived beside a distinctive freshwater spring.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gres-
“To eat or gnaw; a proposed ancient root connected with words for grazing and edible plants.”
Old English
Old English
cresse
“Watercress or garden cress, an edible pungent plant.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*walla-
“A spring or welling source of water, from a root associated with bubbling or boiling up.”
Old English
Old English
wella
“A spring, well, or flowing source of water.”
Middle English
Middle English
Cresswell
“A place-name compound referring to a spring where cress grew.”
Modern English
English
Cresswell
“A surname and place name inherited from locations named Cresswell or Creswell.”