Crabbitree History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Crabbitree name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in the county of Yorkshire. Their name, however, indicates that the original bearer lived near a prominent crabtree. 1

Early Origins of the Crabbitree family

The surname Crabbitree was first found in Yorkshire where "this is a great Yorkshire surname. It is odd to think that by dwelling beside a particular crab-tree, the descendants of a particular pair should so increase that a perceptibly large number of people in the county of York should now be familiarly known by the name." 2

The predominance of the name in Yorkshire is of little doubt. However, not all sources agree. Another source claims: "Crabtree is also a Lancashire name" 3 and yet another notes that the name was derived from "a location name in Devon." 4

Early census records may help in this search. "Depositions from York Castle" noted that John Crabtre and William Crabtree as residing there, but no dates were given. John atte Crabbetrywe was listed in Essex in 1301. 1

Early History of the Crabbitree family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crabbitree research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1563, 1610, 1620, 1639, 1644, 1667, 1685, 1706, 1881 and 1968 are included under the topic Early Crabbitree History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crabbitree Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Crabbitree were recorded, including Crabtree, Crabbtree, Craybtree, Crabbetree and many more.

Early Notables of the Crabbitree family

Distinguished members of the family include William Crabtree (1610-1644), English astronomer, mathematician, one of only two people to observe the first recorded transit of Venus in 1639. Born in the hamlet of Broughton Spout, Lancashire, he was also a mathematician and merchant. He is celebrated in one of the Manchester Murals in the Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall, painted by Ford Madox Brown in 1881. Henry Crabtree or Krabtree (fl. 1685), was an English "astrologer, would scarcely deserve mention here but for the fact that he has sometimes...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crabbitree Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crabbitree family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Crabbitree family emigrate to North America: Edward Crabtree who was farming in Virginia in 1635.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.