Cram History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The origins of the Cram name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Worcester. The surname is derived from the word Crump, which originated as a nickname for a person who was crooked in the physical sense of stooping with age or illness.
Early Origins of the Cram family
The surname Cram was first found in Worcestershire where they held a family seat from early times.
Early History of the Cram family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cram research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1275, 1523 and 1610 are included under the topic Early Cram History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cram Spelling Variations
Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cram were recorded, including Cramp, Cram, Cromp, Crompe, Cramb, Crampe, Crame and many more.
Early Notables of the Cram family
Distinguished members of the family include
Cram Ranking
In the United States, the name Cram is the 7,767th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
Cram migration to the United States +
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cram family emigrate to North America:
Cram Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- John Cram, who settled in Exeter in 1639
- John Cram, who arrived in New England in 1639 2
Cram Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- Elizabeth and John Cram, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1732 and 1753 respectively
- Elizabeth Cram, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1732 2
- Johs Cram, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2
Cram Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Jacob Cram, who landed in New York in 1835 2
- D Cram, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 2
- G. P. S. Cram settled in San Francisco, California 1851
Cram migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Cram Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Ann Cram, aged 20, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Bee"
Contemporary Notables of the name Cram (post 1700) +
- Woodruff B. Cram, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Circuit Judge in Michigan 3rd Circuit, 1935
- Wingate Franklin Cram (1877-1952), American Republican politician, President, Bangor & Aroostook Railroad; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1932
- William E. Cram (b. 1868), American Republican politician, Contractor; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Eastford, 1923-24
- Sibyl Cram, American politician, Delegate to Maine convention to ratify 21st amendment from Penobscot County, 1933
- Richard Douglas Cram, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Austin, Texas, 1977
- Rensellaer Cram, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maine, 1860
- Paul Henry Cram (b. 1879), American politician, U.S. Vice Consul General in Marseille, 1905-09; U.S. Vice & Deputy Consul General in Marseille, 1909-14; U.S. Consul in Cette, 1919; Nancy, 1920; Regina, 1924-27
- N. L. Cram, American politician, Member of Michigan Prohibition Party State Central Committee, 1919
- J. Sargeant Cram, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1912, 1916
- Harry Lorenzo Cram (b. 1871), American Republican politician, Member of Maine State House of Representatives from Cumberland County, 1921-22; Member of Maine State Senate, 1923-26
- ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Cram 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: Fide et amore
Motto Translation: By fidelity and love.
Citations +
- "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)