Cracknyle History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEarly Origins of the Cracknyle familyThe surname Cracknyle was first found in Stirlingshire, where the name may have been an occupational name for someone who bakes biscuits as "a cracknel is a kind of crisp biscuit." 1 However, another source disagrees with this theory stating the name is from a "dweller at 'Craca's Slope' or Corner from the [Anglo-Saxon Craca, genit. Cracan + heal(h] 2 Craca's Hall [Old English heall] Hardly a nickname from the biscuit so called." 2 And another source claims the name is from Craigneill, a location name in Edinburgh. 3 The name seems to be from northern England too as Elias de Crackenhall was listed in Yorkshire in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1220. A very rare name, the next listing of the family was more than 300 years later in 1524, when Robert Craknell was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire. 4 Crakehall is a township, in the parish and union of Bedale, wapentake of Hang-East, in the North Riding of Yorkshire and Elmer with Crakehill is a township, in the parish of Topcliffe, union of Thirsk, wapentake of Birdforth, also in the North Riding of Yorkshire, 5 Great and Little Crakehall date back to the Domesday Book when they were listed as Crachele 6 and literally meant "nook of land frequented by crows or ravens." 7 Early History of the Cracknyle familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cracknyle research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1462, 1567 and 1571 are included under the topic Early Cracknyle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cracknyle Spelling VariationsBefore the printing press standardized spelling in the last few hundred years, no general rules existed in the English language. Spelling variations in Scottish names from the Middle Ages are common even within a single document. Cracknyle has been spelled Cracknell, Craigingelt, Craigneill, Craignall, Craignell, Cracknall and many more. Early Notables of the Cracknyle familyMore information is included under the topic Early Cracknyle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Cracknyle familyFor Scottish immigrants, the great expense of travel to North America did not seem such a problem in those unstable times. Acres of land awaited them and many got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. These Scots and their ancestors went on to play important roles in the forging of the great nations of the United States and Canada. Among them: William Craknall who arrived in New England in 1670.
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