Show ContentsCrabbtree History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Crabbtree dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. 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 Crabbtree family

The surname Crabbtree 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 Crabbtree family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crabbtree 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 Crabbtree History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crabbtree Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Crabbtree have been found, including Crabtree, Crabbtree, Craybtree, Crabbetree and many more.

Early Notables of the Crabbtree 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 Crabbtree Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Crabbtree migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Crabbtree, or a variant listed above:

Crabbtree Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Crabbtree, (Crabtree), aged 20, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "David" in 1635 [5]
Crabbtree Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Crosoley Crabbtree, aged 32 who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Alaska" in 1888 [6]
  • Thos Crabbtree, aged 8 who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Alaska" in 1888 [6]
  • Miss Lizzie Crabbtree, aged 6 who arrived at Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Alaska" in 1888 [6]

Australia Crabbtree migration to Australia +

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

Crabbtree Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Miss Isabela Crabbtree, who arrived in Sydney, Australia in 1955 aboard the ship "Sydney" [7]


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  5. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  6. Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  7. National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx


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