Crain History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Crain is most likely derived from Middle English word "cran," meaning "a crane." It may have originally been a nickname for a tall, thin man with long legs. It has also been suggested that the name Crain in England derives from the place name Crannes, in Maine, France.

Early Origins of the Crain family

The surname Crain was first found in various counties, where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy. Early records of the name include Osbert Crane in the Pipe Rolls of Cornwall in 1177; Jordan Crane in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1219; William le Crane in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1235; as well as Andreas, John, Oliver, and William de Crane listed in England in circa 1272, in the Rotuli Hundredorum. 1

In Somerset, John le Cran, and Thomas le Cran, were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 2

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Johannes Crane, Alicia uxor ejus; Elisot Grane; Stephanus Crane; and Dionisia Cranne, vidua. 3

In Camborne, Cornwall, another early record was found. "On the bartons of Lower Rosewarne and Crane, where nothing but farm houses now appear, were formerly the seats of two families of these names. But these in the reign of James were sold to Ezekiel Grosse, Esq. after passing through some intermediate hands." 4

Another source confirms the Camborne reference. "From Crane in Camborne; from grean, gravel; or croan, the cross. Hals says, 'Crane adjoining Roswarne gave name to its possessor, Cit-Crane, who gave bustards or cranes for his arms; for as crana, krana, is as grus in Latin, so it is a crane in English, garan and cryhyr in the Welsh.' " 5

Early History of the Crain family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crain research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1243, 1509, 1522, 1530, 1568, 1572, 1588, 1606, 1617, 1621, 1625, 1631, 1636, 1652, 1714 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crain History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crain Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crane, Craine, Crain, Cran, Crann, Crayne and others.

Early Notables of the Crain family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Nicholas Crane (1522?-1588?), English Presbyterian, of Christ's College, Cambridge, who "was imprisoned in 1568 for performing service in the diocese of London out of the Geneva prayer-book, which he called 'the most sincere order,' and for railing against the usages of the church. After a year's imprisonment he was released by the interposition of Bishop Grindal on making a promise to behave differently. As he did not keep this promise the bishop inhibited him." John Crane (1572-1652), was an English apothecary, a native of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. "He settled at Cambridge, where he became...
Another 216 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crain Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crain Ranking

In the United States, the name Crain is the 1,773^rd most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Crain family to Ireland

Some of the Crain family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crain migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crain Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Crain, aged 32, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1844 7
Philip Crain, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1860

Contemporary Notables of the name Crain (post 1700) +

Winnie Crain, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1952 (alternate), 1960
William Henry Crain (1848-1896), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Texas, 1885-96 (7th District 1885-93, 11th District 1893-96); Died in office 1896
William C. Crain, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Herkimer County, 1832, 1845-46
Thomas C. T. Crain, American Democratic Party politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District, 1925-27; New York County District Attorney, 1930-31; Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1932. Cross-reference: Curtis A. Peters
Thomas C. Crain, American Republican politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Christian County, 1929-32
Ross Crain, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California, 1990 (2nd District), 1992 (3rd District), 1994 (3rd District), 1998 (3rd District)
Robert M. Crain, American politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Surry, 1948
Robert Crain, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Maryland, 1924. Interment somewhere in Mt. Victoria, Maryland
Ralph B. Crain, American politician, Mayor of North Kansas City, Missouri, 1967
Newton Crain, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1928
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)