Cran History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Cran 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 Cran in England derives from the place name Crannes, in Maine, France.

Early Origins of the Cran family

The surname Cran 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 Cran family

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

Cran Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Cran 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...
John Crane (1572-1652), was an English apothecary, a native of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. "He settled at Cambridge, where he became an eminent apothecary, and he appears in the latter part of his life t...
Ralph Crane (fl. 1625), was an English poet and was the author of a little volume of verse, now very rare, which was first published in 1621 under the title of 'The Workes of Mercy, both Corporeall an...
Sir Francis Crane (d. 1636), was Director of the tapestry works established at Mortlake under the patronage of James I. "His origin is generally assigned to Norfolk or Suffolk, but of his early histor...
Thomas Crane (1631-1714), was an English Puritan divine, born in March 1631, at Plymouth, where his father was a merchant. "Oliver Cromwell gave him the living of Rampisham, Dorsetshire, from which he...

Migration of the Cran family to Ireland

Some of the Cran 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.

Cran migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cran Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Abraham Cran, who settled in America in 1724
Hans Jerick Cran, who settled in Philadelphia in 1738
Mary Cran, who arrived in America in 1756
Frances Cran, who arrived in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1766

Cran Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Cran, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 6
G Cran, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 6
S K Cran, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Cran (post 1700) +

Chris Cran (b. 1949), Canadian visual artist from Ocean Falls, British Columbia, inducted into the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 2002
James Douglas Cran (b. 1944), British former Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for Beverley (1987-1997) and Beverley and Holderness (1997-2005)

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.
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)