Cranmer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The name Cranmer is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the region of Cranemere.One of the first record of the name was Nigel de Cranemore who was listed in the in census records of 1235. A few years later Hugh de Cranemere was listed in the Rotuli Hundredorum of Hertfordshire in 1275 and almost a century later Thomas de Cranmer was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1373. 1

Early Origins of the Cranmer family

The surname Cranmer was first found in Nottinghamshire at Whatton, a parish, in the union, and north division of the wapentake, of Bingham. "The church is an ancient structure, with a handsome tower surmounted by a spire, and contains the effigy of a Knight Templar in armour, and a tablet in memory of Thomas Cranmer, father of the archbishop, who was born at Aslacton in 1489." 2

Another branch of the family was found at Horsforth in the West Riding of Yorkshire in early times. "This place, in the Domesday Survey Horseford, formed part of the revenue of Kirkstall Abbey, after the dissolution of which establishment, the manor was granted to the Cranmer family, who sold it to Lord Clinton." 2

Early History of the Cranmer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cranmer research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1489, 1556, 1563 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Cranmer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cranmer Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Cranmer are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Cranmer include: Cranmer, Cranmar, Crammer and others.

Early Notables of the Cranmer family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), Archbishop of Canterbury, born at Aslacton in Nottinghamshire 2 July 1489. "He came of an old family, originally of Lincolnshire, but for some generations settled in the co...
George Cranmer (1563-1600), Secretary to Davison and friend of Hooker, born in Kent in 1563. He was the eldest son of Thomas Cranmer by his wife Anne Carpenter. His father who was registrar of the Arc...

Cranmer Ranking

In the United States, the name Cranmer is the 10,109^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Cranmer migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Cranmer or a variant listed above:

Cranmer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Andreas Cranmer, who arrived in South Carolina in 1749 4
John Cranmer, who landed in New York in 1798 4

Cranmer migration to Australia +

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

Cranmer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Cranmer, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Aurora" on 3rd November 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5

Cranmer 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:

Cranmer Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Cranmer, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "John Scott" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 7th March 1858 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Cranmer (post 1700) +

Woodburn S. Cranmer, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Ocean County, 1920-21 7
Neil Dow Cranmer, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Comptroller, 1914; Republican Candidate for New York State Assembly from Chemung County, 1915 7
Leslie F. Cranmer, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New Jersey, 1948 7
Gibson L. Cranmer (b. 1826), American politician, Member of Virginia State House of Delegates, 1855-56 7
George T. Cranmer, American Republican politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Ocean County, 1883; Member of New Jersey State Senate from Ocean County, 1884-92 7
Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556), English prelate and archbishop of Canterbury
Phillip Cranmer, Editorial Musician
Gloria Cranmer Webster OC (1931-2023), Canadian First Nations activist, museum curator and writer of Kwakwaka'wakw descent
Francis Cranmer Penrose FRS (1817-1903), English rower for Cambridge in the Boat Race in the 1840, 1841 and 1842 races, architect, archaeologist and astronomer