Show ContentsCraft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Craft Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Craft

What does the name Craft mean?

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

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 friend of Haydn. He joined the Esterhaza orchestra in 1778. Baron...
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

the United States, the name Craft is the 906th 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 3
  • Jon Craft, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 3
  • Robert Craft, who arrived in Virginia in 1657 3
  • Griffin Craft, who arrived in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1663 3
  • ... (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 3
  • Hendk Craft, aged 18, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1748 3
  • Hendk Craft, at the age of 18, who landed in Philadelphia in 1748
  • George Mich] Craft, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 3
Craft Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Alexander Craft, who landed in New York in 1808 3
  • Casper Craft, aged 23, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1808 3
  • Matthew Craft, who landed in America in 1818 3
  • George Craft, who arrived in New York in 1836 3
  • John Craft, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craft migration to Canada +

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 4

Craft migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Second Fleet
  • Mr. Samuel Craft, (Crafts, Crofts), (1770 - 1833), aged 19, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing a cow, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 2
Following the Second Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia 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 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Craft (post 1700) +

  • Tylee Craft (2001-2024), American college football player
  • William F. Craft, American Republican politician, Member of Wyoming State House of Representatives from Big Horn County, 1965 6
  • Shirley Craft, American Republican politician, Candidate for Texas State House of Representatives 69th District, 2004, 2006 7
  • R. G. Craft, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1940 7
  • Paul Craft, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 2008 7
  • Mrs. Lawrence Craft, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 1936 7
  • Laurence H. Craft, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1936 7
  • Joseph E. Craft, American politician, Mayor of Weston, West Virginia, 1979-80 7
  • Joseph A. Craft, American politician, U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for the 5th Kentucky District, 1909 7
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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 7
  • Mr. John Weston Craft, British Stoker 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 8
  • 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
  • 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 9

Suggested Readings for the name Craft +

  • Our Washburn Heritage: Including Allied Lines Carpenter, Craft, Dickinson, Noble, Rogers.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  3. 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)
  4. 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
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/candahar
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. 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
  8. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  9. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html

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