Craighead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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Early Origins of the Craighead family

The surname Craighead was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire. Craighead Law, Craighead Lea or Law hill is said to be a Moot hill, a justice or court hill controlled in feudal times by the local Baron. Stones on its summit appear to be deliberately positioned and a grass covered cairn is clearly visible. The hill is located in what is now known as Lugton, East Ayrshire. Interestingly, Craghead is a former mining village in County Durham.

Early History of the Craighead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craighead research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1700 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Craighead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craighead Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Craighead has been spelled Craighead, Craighede, Craigdaillie, Craigdallie and others.

Early Notables of the Craighead family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

David Craighead of Aberbrothok

Craighead Ranking

In the United States, the name Craighead is the 9,147^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Craighead migration to the United States +

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them:

Craighead Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Craighead, who landed in New England in 1715 2

Craighead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard D. Craighead, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1895
William Craighead, aged 7, who immigrated to America, in 1895

Craighead Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Robert Craighead, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
S. Craighead, aged 33, who landed in America, in 1906
Alex Craighead, aged 22, who landed in America from Dundee, in 1906
Alexander Craighead, aged 39, who settled in America from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1908
Bella Craighead, aged 29, who landed in America from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1908
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craighead migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Craighead Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Craighead, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Lord William Bothwick
Mr. William Craighead, (b. 1812), aged 29, British agricultural labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 3
Mrs. Susan Miller Craighead, (b. 1813), aged 28, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 3
George Craighead, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cossipore" in 1857
William Craighead, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cossipore" in 1857

Contemporary Notables of the name Craighead (post 1700) +

Thomas B. Craighead (b. 1800), American politician, Member of Mississippi State Senate. Craighead County, Arkansas is named for him
M. A. Craighead, American Democratic Party politician, Chair of Vernon County Democratic Party, 1939
John Johnson Craighead (1916-2016), American conservationist, naturalist, and researcher, twin brother of Frank Cooper Craighead Jr
Frank Cooper Craighead Jr. (1916-2001), American conservationist, naturalist, and researcher, twin brother of John Johnson Craighead
Harold G. Craighead, American professor of applied and engineering physics at Cornell University
Thomas B. Craighead (1798-1862), American politician and lawyer
Alexander Craighead (1705-1766), Irish-born, American preacher, member of a group of Ulster Scots pioneers who settled near the present site of Charlotte, Pennsylvania
David Craighead (b. 1924), American organist from Strasburg, Pennsylvania, Eastman School Professor Emeritus of Organ (1955-1992)
Alison Craighead (b. 1971), London-based visual artist, who work with video, sound and the internet, co-founder of Thomson & Craighead
John Craighead (b. 1971), retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger

The Craighead Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Securum presidium
Motto Translation: A secure fortress.