Other explanations point to a family name *Gripo or to the old-Saxion or old-Dutch word krop or croppe that can mean curvature in the landscape.

[2] From the 13th til the 15th century, Kropswolde developed into a peat colony, with most of the land owned by different monastic orders.

Traffic over the Hunze was controlled by the "Schuitenschuiversgilde" ("boat pushers guild"), founded in 1403 to transport all the peat from the areas surrounding Kropswolde.

Apart from them, only inhabitants of Kropswolde, Wolfsbarge and Westerbroek were allowed to transport peat, providing their ships had less capacity than those of the guild.

During the 17th, 18th and early 19th century a number of beautiful country houses and manor farms were built in Kropswolde for high-ranking citizens from Groningen and Hoogezand.