Crotty

Crotty (and variations O’Crotty, Crotti, Crottee, etc.) are anglicisations of the Irish name Ó Crotaigh – ‘Descendant of Crotach’. The name dates from medieval times, to the pre-Norman kingdom of Thomond ('North Munster') where the Dál gCais (in English: 'Dalcassian') clan, centred on the regional rulers – the Uí Briain (O'Brien) family – were dominant. The Crottys were one of eight septs of the O’Briens (i.e. descended via the female line – hence the different surnames). They settled in western County Waterford and eastern County Cork.

In common with the O’Briens – and the millions of descendants of the other seven septs – the Crotty sept's likely ultimate common ancestor is Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig ('Brian Boru') c.941 – 1014, and therefore possibly (via the Dál gCais) as far back as Cormac Cas in the 3rd century.

The name originates in present-day County Clare, and (despite extensive emigration) is still most common in the general area of the former kingdom of Thomond (i.e. Clare, west County Waterford, South Tipperary, parts of counties Cork and Limerick).

Spelling variations include Crotty, O'Crotty, Crotti, Crothon, Crotton, Crotone, Crottee, Crottey, O'Crottey, O'Crottee, O'Crottie, Croddy, and Cratty. Other non-anglicised versions in use include Crothaigh, Chrothaigh etc.

The other seven related septs of the O'Briens are the families: Bernard, Consadine, Lysaght, MacMahon, O'Mahoney, Padden/MacFadden and Plunkett.

Places

 * Crotty, Tasmania, Australia
 * Crotty Dam, Tasmania, Australia
 * Seneca, Illinois, United States, known as Crotty prior to 1957

Notable people with the Crotty surname

 * Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Crotty (1885–1960), Irish traditional musician from Kilrush, Co.Clare. An annual music festival was held in the town for many years in her memory.
 * Horace Crotty, (1886–1952), Australian clergyman
 * James Crotty, disambiguation page for
 * James Crotty (economist)
 * James Crotty (Prospector), (1845–1898), Tasmanian prospector
 * Jim Crotty, American football cornerback
 * Joe Crotty, (1860–1926), American baseball player
 * John Crotty, American basketball player
 * Kieran Crotty, Irish politician
 * Maggie Crotty (1948–2020), American politician; Illinois Senator
 * Michael Francis Crotty (born 1970), Apostolic Nuncio
 * Mick Crotty, Irish hurling player
 * Patrick Crotty (1902–1970), Irish politician
 * Paul A. Crotty, (born 1941), United States federal judge
 * Raymond Crotty (1925–1994), historian and litigant in the Irish constitutional case Crotty v. An Taoiseach.
 * Rich Crotty (born 1948), Florida politician
 * Ron Crotty (born 1929), Bass player for the original Dave Brubeck Trio
 * Ryan Crotty (born 1988), New Zealand rugby player
 * Shane Crotty (born 1974), American immunologist and virologist
 * Thomas Crotty (1912–1942), American Coast Guardsman held as POW during World War II
 * William Crotty ("Crotty the Robber") was a highwayman who was hanged in Waterford in 1742.  Several of his hideouts in the Comeragh Mountains are named after him.