Show ContentsCrighton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the annals of Scottish history, few names go farther back than Crighton, whose ancestors go back to the people of the Boernician tribe. The first family to use the name Crighton lived near a border. This surname came from the Gaelic word crioch and the Old English word tune, which mean border and farm or settlement, respectively. Thus, the surname indicates that the original bearer lived near a border. The name may also have derived from a place name, such as Crichton, near Edinburgh, or the territories of Kreiton in Lothian.

Early Origins of the Crighton family

The surname Crighton was first found in Midlothian, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The first on record was Turstan Crectune, who was granted lands by King David of Scotland in 1128. Alexander and Thomas Creighton both having territories in Berwickshire rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland, in 1296. 1

Early History of the Crighton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crighton research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1514, 1543, 1560, 1582, 1585, 1593, 1598, 1612, 1613, 1639, 1662, 1670, 1672, 1674, 1691, 1734, 1797, 1890 and 1902 are included under the topic Early Crighton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crighton Spelling Variations

Over the years, Crighton has been written It appears under these variations because medieval scribes spelled names according to sound rather than by any over-arching set of rules. Crichton, Creighton, Creaton, Craighton, Creton, Creeton, Crichten, Crighton, Chreichton, Creichtone, Creychton, Creychtoun and many more.

Early Notables of the Crighton family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Lord Crichton, Viscount Frendraught; William Crichton, 1st Lord Crichton of Sanquhar (died 1450s) ; Robert Crichton (died 1585), Catholic cleric, nephew of George Crichton, (d. 1543), Bishop of Dunkeld; and Robert Crichton, 6th Lord Sanquhar (died 1612); William Crichton (1598-1691), 2nd Earl of Dumfries; and James Crichton of Clunie (1560-1582), better known as the Admirable...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crighton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Crighton family to Ireland

Some of the Crighton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Crighton migration to the United States +

When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Crighton family to immigrate North America:

Crighton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Ann Crighton, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774
  • Ann Crighton, aged 28, who landed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1774-1775 2
Crighton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Crighton, aged 40, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • James Crighton, aged 35, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
  • James, Crighton Jr., aged 28, who landed in New York in 1812 2
  • A. Agnes Crighton, who settled in New York state with two children in 1822
  • A Crighton, aged 32, who landed in New York, NY in 1822 2
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Crighton migration to Australia +

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

Crighton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Crighton, Scottish convict who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Crighton (post 1700) +

  • Robbie Crighton Kiger (b. 1973), American Young Artist Award winning actor
  • Professor John Crighton Bramwell (1889-1976), English physician and university professor

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. James Crighton, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 4


  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. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  4. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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