Crabtry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Crabtry is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the county of Yorkshire. Their name, however, indicates that the original bearer lived near a prominent crabtree. 1

Early Origins of the Crabtry family

The surname Crabtry was first found in Yorkshire where "this is a great Yorkshire surname. It is odd to think that by dwelling beside a particular crab-tree, the descendants of a particular pair should so increase that a perceptibly large number of people in the county of York should now be familiarly known by the name." 2

The predominance of the name in Yorkshire is of little doubt. However, not all sources agree. Another source claims: "Crabtree is also a Lancashire name" 3 and yet another notes that the name was derived from "a location name in Devon." 4

Early census records may help in this search. "Depositions from York Castle" noted that John Crabtre and William Crabtree as residing there, but no dates were given. John atte Crabbetrywe was listed in Essex in 1301. 1

Early History of the Crabtry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crabtry research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1563, 1610, 1620, 1639, 1644, 1667, 1685, 1706, 1881 and 1968 are included under the topic Early Crabtry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crabtry 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 Crabtry 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 Crabtry include: Crabtree, Crabbtree, Craybtree, Crabbetree and many more.

Early Notables of the Crabtry family

Distinguished members of the family include William Crabtree (1610-1644), English astronomer, mathematician, one of only two people to observe the first recorded transit of Venus in 1639. Born in the hamlet of Broughton Spout, Lancashire, he was also a mathematician and merchant. He is celebrated in one of the Manchester Murals in the Great Hall of Manchester Town Hall, painted by Ford Madox Brown in 1881. Henry Crabtree or Krabtree (fl. 1685), was an English "astrologer, would scarcely deserve mention here but for the fact that he has sometimes...
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crabtry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crabtry family

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 Crabtry or a variant listed above: Edward Crabtree who was farming in Virginia in 1635.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.