Show ContentsCraevint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Craevint is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when a family lived at Craven, a district in North Yorkshire which traces back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Crave. 1 Craven is thought to come from an old Brythonic word, a precursor of the Welsh word "craf" or "garlic." 2

Early Origins of the Craevint family

The surname Craevint was first found in North Yorkshire (West Riding) at Craven where "the surname has for centuries been very strongly represented. " 3

One of the first records of the name was found here, specifically John de Crauene who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1166. 4 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed the following: Agnes de Craven; Johannes de Crauen; and Roger de Craven. Robert de Craven was rector of Bolton-juxta-Bowland in 1304. 3

Some of the family were also found at Great Washbourn in Gloucestershire. "It comprises 650 acres, the whole, with the exception of about 100 acres, the property of the Craven family." 5

And another branch was found at Winwick in Northamptonshire. "The church is in the early English style, with a tower, and contains some handsome monuments of the Craven family. Some remains of an old mansion in the parish have been converted into a farmhouse." 5

The Irish McRaven variant is actually an Anglicization of the Irish name Mac Crabhain and was found chiefly in Louth-Monaghan. 6

Early History of the Craevint family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craevint research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1332, 1585, 1608, 1610, 1618, 1623, 1636, 1664, 1668, 1697, 1702, 1711, 1770 and 1825 are included under the topic Early Craevint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craevint Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Craevint family name include Craven, Cravene, Cravin, Cravine, Craevin and many more.

Early Notables of the Craevint family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir William Craven (c. 1585-1618), an English merchant, Lord Mayor of London in 1610 (perhaps 1618.) Some people believe that the story of Dick Whittington is based on Craven's career, and he is sometime referred to as "Aptrick's Dick Whittington." William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven (1608-1697), was an...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Craevint Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Craevint family to Ireland

Some of the Craevint family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 58 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Craevint family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Craevint surname or a spelling variation of the name include : Richard Craven who settled in Virginia in the year 1626; Susan Craven who settled in the same Colony in the year 1655; and Thomas, aged 17; who settled in the year 1655. Many of the name also landed at Philadelphia in the year 1805..



The Craevint 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: Virtus in actione consistit
Motto Translation: Virtue consists in action.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  6. MacLysaght, Edward, More Irish Families. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-0126-0)


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