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Craft History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Craft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The name Craft is derived from the Old German word "craft," which means "strong" or "courageous." In the early Middle Ages, Craft was a popular first name among knights because it referred to strength. In the early 14th century, a number of branches in southern Germany adopted Kraft or Craft as a family name.

Early Origins of the Craft family

The surname Craft was first found in Bavaria, where the family made a considerable contribution to the feudal society which shaped modern Europe. The family branched into several houses, all of which played an important role in the local political conflicts which forged the nation. In the early Middle Ages, the name was a popular first name taken on by knights. In the early 14th century, a number of branches in southern Germany developed around Kraft or Craft as a family name. Individual bearers of this name first mentioned in ancient chronicles include the famous minstrel Count Kraft von Toggenburg from the Thurgau region, and Hans Kraft of Wuerzburg (c.1409).

Early History of the Craft family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craft research. Another 314 words (22 lines of text) covering the years 1298, 1429, 1507, 1552, 1679, 1749, 1770, 1778, 1805, 1813, 1820 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Craft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craft Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Craft include Kraft, Krafft, Kraftt, Krafte, Kraffte, Krafter, Kraften, Kraefte, Kraeft, Kreft, Krefte, Craft, Crafft, Crafte, Craffte, Craeft and many more.

Early Notables of the Craft family

Prominent among members of the name Craft in this period include Adam Krafft (Kraft) (1429-1507), who was a famous Nuremberg sculptor. Some of his work is in the vestry of St. Lawrence cathedral, Nuremberg. Anton Kraft (1749-1820) was a composer and...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Craft Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craft Ranking

In the United States, the name Craft is the 906^th most popular surname with an estimated 32,331 people with that name. 1

Craft migration to the United States +

European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Crafts to arrive in North America, and among them were:

Craft Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Bridget Craft who arrived in Virginia in 1635
Bridgett Craft, who landed in Virginia in 1636 2
Jon Craft, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 2
Robert Craft, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 2
Griffin Craft, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1663 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craft Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michael Craft, who arrived in South Carolina in 1745 2
Hendk Craft, aged 18, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 2
Hendk Craft, at the age of 18, who landed in Philadelphia in 1748
George Mich] Craft, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 2

Craft Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander Craft, who landed in New York in 1808 2
Casper Craft, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1808 2
Matthew Craft, who landed in America in 1818 2
George Craft, who arrived in New York in 1836 2
John Craft, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craft migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Craft Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jacob Craft, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
William Craft, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Mr. John Craft U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John City], New Brunswick c. 1783 3

Craft migration to Australia +

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

Craft Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Craft, (Croft), (b. 1819), aged 23, English farm labourer who was convicted in London, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Candahar" on 26th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1892 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Craft (post 1700) +

William F. Craft, American Republican politician, Member of Wyoming State House of Representatives from Big Horn County, 1965 5
Shirley Craft, American Republican politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 69th District, 2004, 2006 5
R. G. Craft, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1940 5
Paul Craft, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 5
Mrs. Lawrence Craft, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1936 5
Laurence H. Craft, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1936 5
Joseph E. Craft, American politician, Mayor of Weston, West Virginia, 1979-80 5
Joseph A. Craft, American politician, U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for the 5th Kentucky District, 1909 5
John D. Craft, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1912 5
Herman Craft, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Ulster County 2nd District, 1886 5
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Craft family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Thomas E Craft (b. 1899), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Canning Town, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 6

HMS Repulse

Mr. John Weston Craft, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 7

SS Atlantic

Mr. Neil O. Craft, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Harley Wade Craft, American Carpenter's Mate Third Class from Oregon, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 8

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html