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Show ContentsCrawford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The surname Crawford is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The name Crawford is derived from the Old English words "crawa," which means "crow," and "ford," which means "a river crossing," and indicates that the original bearer lived near a ford where crows nested.

Early Origins of the Crawford family

The surname Crawford was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where the family resided in this area as early as the 11th century when Alan, the youngest son of the 4th Earl of Richmond, received a large grant of lands from King William the Conqueror.

When King David of Scotland moved north to assume the throne in 1130, some Crawfords accompanied him on his journey. Galfredus Crawford would gain lands in Clydesdale and his son, Sir Reginald, acquired the barony of Loudoun, from which a significant branch of the Campbells would develop.

Later, Reginald de Crauford, John de Crauford and William de Crauford are all recorded as paying homage to Edward I in 1296. 1

Early History of the Crawford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crawford research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1297, 1530, 1603, 1625, 1643, 1710 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crawford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crawford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crawford, Crawfurd, Craufurd, Crawferd, Crawfford, Crafford, Craford, Crafort, Crayford and many more.

Early Notables of the Crawford family

Notable among the family at this time was

  • Sir Ronald Crawford (c. 1240-1297), 4th Sheriff of Ayrshire, Chief of Clan Crawford, and Lord of Loudon Castle
  • Captain Thomas Crawford (1530-1603) of Jordanhill, trusted confidant of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, husband of Queen Mary

Crawford World Ranking

In the United States, the name Crawford is the 132nd most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Crawford is ranked the 245th most popular surname with an estimated 16,483 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Crawford is the 157th popular surname with an estimated 19,163 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Crawford as 101st with 3,999 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Crawford as 238th with 24,807 people. 6

Ireland Migration of the Crawford family to Ireland

Some of the Crawford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Crawford migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Crawford, who settled in Augusta Co. Virginia in 1640
  • Stephen Crawford, who landed in Massachusetts in 1649 7
  • Donald Crawford, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 7
Crawford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Tho Crawford, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 7
  • Aaron Crawford, who landed in New England in 1721 7
  • Ann Crawford, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 7
  • Samuel Crawford, who landed in Virginia in 1740 7
  • Margaret Crawford, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crawford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Geo Crawford, aged 19, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 7
  • Edward Crawford, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 7
  • Josias Crawford, who arrived in America in 1805 7
  • Robert Crawford, who arrived in America in 1805 7
  • Robert Crawford, who landed in America in 1806 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crawford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Duncan Crawford, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 7

Canada Crawford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crawford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Charles Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Francis Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mary Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Andrew Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
  • Gideon Crawford, aged 39, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crawford Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Peter Crawford, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Augusta" from Liverpool, England
  • Thomas Crawford, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Mary Crawford, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Elizabeth Crawford, aged 32, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
  • Elizabeth Crawford, aged 15, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Crawford migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Crawford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Lindsay Crawford, Scottish farmer who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. James Crawford, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England for life for coining, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. Nicholas Crawford, British Convict who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
  • Mr. Joseph Crawford, (Crowfoot), English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Miss Mary Crawford, (b. 1800), aged 18, Irish servant who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Crawford migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Crawford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • J. C. Crawford, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Success" in 1839
  • Mrs Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Staines Castle
  • George Crawford, aged 27, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 12
  • George Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 13
  • J Crawford, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Crawford (post 1700) +

  • John Ernest Crawford (1946-2021), American actor, singer, and musician, best known for his Emmy Award nominated role as Mark McCain in the ABC Western series The Rifleman
  • Edward Slater Crawford III (1934-2017), American football player who played for the New York Giants in 1957
  • Hazle Reid "H. R." Crawford (1939-2017), American real estate developer and former Democratic politician, Assistant Secretary for Housing Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development (1973-1976)
  • Wayne David Crawford (1942-2016), American Breckenridge Festival of Film Award winning film and television actor, and film producer, screenwriter, and director, best known for his owrk on Valley Girl (1983)
  • William A. "Bill" Crawford (1936-2015), American politician, Member of the Indiana House of Representatives (1972-2012)
  • Brigadier-General David McLean Crawford (1889-1963), American Air Defense Officer, Headquarters US Army Air Force (1941-1942) 14
  • Major-General Alden Rudyard Crawford (1900-1978), American Commanding General 12th Air Force (1949-1950) 15
  • Joan Crawford (1905-1977), born Lucille Fay LeSueur, American actress in film, television and theatre
  • George W. Crawford (1798-1872), American politician, 38th Governor of Georgia (1843 to 1847)
  • Alexander Crawford (1842-1886), American Civil War sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
  • ... (Another 26 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Arrow Air Flight 1285
  • Mr. Paul M Crawford (1965-1985), American Private from Nampa, Idaho, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 16
Empress of Ireland
  • Mrs. May Crawford (1893-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 17
Flight 191
  • Mrs. S O Crawford (d. 1979), American passenger from USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 18
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Thomas Alfred Crawford (1912-1941), English Acting Able Seaman from Bromsgrove, Worchester, England, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 19
HMS Cornwall
  • Cecil Edmund Crawford (d. 1942), British Engine Room Artificer 4th Class aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 20
HMS Hood
  • Mr. William M Crawford (b. 1923), Scottish Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Coatsbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Kenneth M C R Crawford, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 22
Ibrox disaster
  • John Crawford (1948-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Glasgow who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 23
Lady of the Lake
  • Mr. John Crawford (b. 1811), Irish labourer from Strabane, Northern Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking
North Sea Flood
  • Elizabeth Crawford, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Thomas Crawford, English Third Butcher from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 24
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Alfred Crawford, aged 36, English Bedroom Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 8 25
SS Alcoa Puritan
  • J.F. Crawford, American Oiler from Mobile, Alabama, who was working aboard the SS Alcoa Puritan (1942) traveling from Port of Spain, Trinidad to Mobile, Alabama when it was torpedoed by U-boat U-507; he survived the sinking 26
SS Atlantic
  • Elisabeth Crawford, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Lamar S. Crawford, American Private 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 27

The Crawford 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: Tutem te robore reddam
Motto Translation: I will make thee safe by my strength

Suggested Readings for the name Crawford +

  • Ancestors and Friends: A History and Genealogy by William Lusk Crawford.
  • Byram-Crawford and Allied Families Genealogy by Eunice Byram Roberts.
  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. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  12. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  13. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
  14. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) David Crawford. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Crawford/David_McLean/USA.html
  15. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Alden Crawford. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Crawford/Alden_Rudyard/USA.html
  16. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  17. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  18. Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
  19. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  20. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  21. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  22. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  23. Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
  24. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Alcoa_Puritan_(1941) - (Retrieved 2018, February 8th)
  27. 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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