Show ContentsCrothers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Crothers is an ancient Scottish name that was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name for someone who lived in the land of Carruthers in the parish of Middlebie, Dumfriesshire. Interestingly in that area, the name is pronounced "Cridders." [1]

Early Origins of the Crothers family

The surname Crothers was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where by the 12th century the family had become hereditary Stewards of the Annandale district of the border allied to the Bruces and the Stewarts.

One of the first records of the name was Simon Carruthers, parson of Middlebie, who swore an oath of allegiance to King Edward I of England in 1296. A few years later, John de Carutherys received a charter of the lands of Musfald and Appliltrewayt in 1320. "Sir Nigel de Karrutheris, a cleric, who obtained the rectory of Rivel (Ruthwell) in 1330 is mentioned again in 1337 and 1351 as Nigel de Carrothorys, canon of Glasgow. In 1340 we find Sir Nigel de Karuther high chamberlain to the Regent, and in 1344, as Sir Nigel de Carother, he is named as chancellor of Robert Steward of Scotland. A charter was granted at Moysfald in 1361 in favor of John de Carotheris, Simon de Carrutheris witnessed a deed in 1394, and John of Carrutheris was one of the 'borowis' for the earl of Douglas's bounds of the West March in 1398." [1]

Some of the family drifted south to England where Simon Carruders was listed in Northumberland, temp. Edward VI. By the 17th century, some were even found in London, which we shall explore in more detail later. [2]

Early History of the Crothers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crothers research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1329, 1330, 1344, 1361, 1370, 1375, 1398, 1405, 1429, 1446, 1452, 1460, 1468, 1537, 1572, 1587, 1625, 1628, 1673, 1759, 1770, 1799, 1824, 1827, 1828, 1831, 1832, 1852, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crothers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crothers Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Crothers has been spelled Carruthers, Carothers, Carouthers, Carrothers, Carruther, Carruthirs, Carruthers, Carrutherys, Cridders, Gridders and many more.

Early Notables of the Crothers family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Andrew Carruthers (1770-1852), a Scotch Catholic prelate, "born at Glenmillan, near New Abbey in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, on 7 Feb. 1770. He studied for six years in the Scotch college at Douay, whence he returned to Scotland on the out-break of the French revolution. " [3]His brother James Carruthers (1759-1832), the Scottish historian, "was a native of New Abbey in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. He was educated in the Scotch college at Douay, and on his return to Scotland was ordained priest and appointed to the extensive charge of Glenlivet. Afterwards he...
Another 211 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crothers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crothers Ranking

In the United States, the name Crothers is the 12,452nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]

Ireland Migration of the Crothers family to Ireland

Some of the Crothers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Crothers migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Crothers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Jenny Crothers, who arrived in America in 1804 [5]
  • John Crothers, aged 44, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [5]
  • John Crothers, who landed in America in 1804 [5]
  • Laifanny Crothers, who landed in America in 1804 [5]
  • Rt Crothers, aged 30, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crothers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. William George Crothers, (b. 1885), aged 18, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 28th November 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [6]
  • Mr. Thomas J. Crothers, (b. 1868), aged 36, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th October 1904 en route to Auburn, California, USA [6]
  • George Crothers, aged 33, who settled in America from Cornwall, in 1904
  • Mr. George Crothers, (b. 1871), aged 33, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th November 1904 en route to Grass Valley, California, USA [6]
  • Mr. Joseph Crothers, (b. 1878), aged 27, Cornish engineer travelling aboard the ship "St Louis" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 20th March 1905 en route to Grass Valley, California, USA [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Crothers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crothers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Crothers U.E. from Tribes Hill, Tryon County, New York, USA who settled in Montreal, Quebec c. 1774; he served in the Kings Royal Regiment married to Elizabeth they had 2 children he died in 1780 [7]
Crothers Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Crothers, aged 60, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • James Crothers, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Maria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Jane Crothers, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Maria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Hugh Crothers, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Maria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Samuel Crothers, aged 1, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Maria" from Belfast, Ireland
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crothers Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Elizabeth Crothers, aged 52, who immigrated to Kingston, Canada, in 1904

Contemporary Notables of the name Crothers (post 1700) +

  • Harold Marion Crothers (b. 1887), American professor of electrical engineering at South Dakota State University, eponym of Crothers Engineering Hall (1957)
  • Samuel Crothers (1783-1855), American Presbyterian minister, writer, and outspoken antislavery advocate
  • Samuel McChord Crothers (1857-1927), American Unitarian minister with The First Parish in Cambridge
  • Connie Crothers (1941-2016), American jazz pianist
  • Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers (1910-1986), American actor, singer, dancer and musician, best known for his role as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Scat Cat in The Aristocats (1970)
  • Rachel Crothers (1878-1958), American playwright and theater director
  • Joel Anthony Crothers (1941-1985), American stage and television actor
  • Joseph Graham Crothers (b. 1949), former Irish cricketer, a right-handed batsman, he played twice for the Ireland cricket team in 1972
  • Thomas Wilson Crothers PC (1850-1921), Canadian politician, born in Northport, Canada West, Senator for Ontario, Ontario (1921)
  • Shane Crothers (b. 1973), Australian basketball player and former Australian rules footballer
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Lee R. Crothers, American Boatswain's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking [8]


The Crothers Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Promptus et fidelis
Motto Translation: Ready and faithful.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  7. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  8. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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