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Scotland with its rugged terrain and rich ancestry was the beginning of the ancient family tree of the Cranstoun family. In Scotland, hereditary surnames were adopted according to fairly general rules and during the late Middle Ages, names that were derived from localities became increasingly widespread. Local names originally denoted the proprietorship of the village or estate. The Cranstoun family lived in "the lands or barony of the name in Midlothian, the 'tun of Cran or Cren.' Certain individuals of this name are mentioned in early charters but it is not now possible to establish their connection with one another. ' " 1

Early Origins of the Cranstoun family

The surname Cranstoun was first found in Edinburghshire, a former county, now part of the Midlothian council area where Eric de Cranston witnessed a charter by William the Lion in the 12th century. An Andrew de Cragestone of Edinburghshire rendered homage to King Edward of England during his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. It is thought that this name was actually Cranestone, as his seal bore the 'Cranstoun' crane. "Another Andrew de Cranstoun, dominus de eodem, apparently the first so styled, was dead before 1338. Thomas de Cranstoun, provost of Edinburgh, 1423. 1

Cranston a parish, in the county of Edinburgh. "The name of this place is said to be derived from an Anglo-Saxon word, signifying 'the crane's district,' and applied on account of the number of cranes that formerly resorted to the place. In the 12th century, the parish was divided into two manors called Upper and Nether Cranston, in the latter of which the church was situated. Early in the reign of William, Upper Cranston was possessed by Elfric de Cranestun, who derived his surname from the manor, and whose descendants retained the property till the time of Charles II., when William, the third lord Cranstoun, sold it to Sir John Fletcher, the king's advocate. Nether Cranston, which was the larger of the two manors, was granted by Earl Henry to Hugh Ridel, from whom it obtained the name of Cranston-Ridel, which it retained till recent times. " 2

Early History of the Cranstoun family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cranstoun research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1338, 1423, 1509, 1526, 1603, 1620, 1625, 1627, 1648, 1659, 1664, 1678, 1680, 1689, 1727 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cranstoun History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cranstoun Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Cranston, Cranstoun, Cranstown and others.

Early Notables of the Cranstoun family

Notable among the family at this time was

• William Cranstoun, 1st Lord Cranstoun (died 1627), a Scottish Lord of Parliament, known for his work in the pacification of the Anglo-Scottish border

Migration of the Cranstoun family to Ireland

Some of the Cranstoun family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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Cranstoun migration to the United States +

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Contemporary Notables of the name Cranstoun (post 1700) +

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