Contents [hide]

Crawford History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Crawford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland-Alt
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Crawford

What does the name Crawford mean?

The surname Crawford is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. Habitation names form the other broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. The name Crawford is derived from the Old English words "crawa," which means "crow," and "ford," which means "a river crossing," and indicates that the original bearer lived near a ford where crows nested.

Early Origins of the Crawford family

The surname Crawford was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Crawford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crawford research. Another 180 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1130 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crawford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crawford Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crawford, Crawfurd, Craufurd, Crawferd, Crawfford, Crafford, Craford, Crafort, Crayford and many more.

Early Notables of the Crawford family

the Earl of Crawford

Crawford World Ranking

the United States, the name Crawford is the 132^nd most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Crawford is ranked the 245^th most popular surname with an estimated 16,483 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Crawford is the 157^th popular surname with an estimated 19,163 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks Crawford as 101^st with 3,999 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks Crawford as 238^th with 24,807 people. 5

Migration of the Crawford family to Ireland

Some of the Crawford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crawford migration to the United States +

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Crawford, who settled in Augusta Co. Virginia in 1640
Stephen Crawford, who landed in Massachusetts in 1649 7
Donald Crawford, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 7

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Tho Crawford, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 7
Aaron Crawford, who landed in New England in 1721 7
Ann Crawford, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 7
Samuel Crawford, who landed in Virginia in 1740 7
Margaret Crawford, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Geo Crawford, aged 19, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 7
Edward Crawford, who landed in New York, NY in 1804 7
Josias Crawford, who arrived in America in 1805 7
Robert Crawford, who arrived in America in 1805 7
Robert Crawford, who landed in America in 1806 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Duncan Crawford, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 7

Crawford migration to Canada +

Crawford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mary Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Charles Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Francis Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
Andrew Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1774
Gideon Crawford, aged 39, who landed in Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia in 1775
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Crawford Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Peter Crawford, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Augusta" from Liverpool, England
Thomas Crawford, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Mary Crawford, aged 28, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
Elizabeth Crawford, aged 32, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
Elizabeth Crawford, aged 15, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Crawford migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet

Mr. John Crawford, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to Life for theft, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize"leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 6
Mr. John Crawford, (1740 - 1798), aged 49, British settler convicted in Middlesex, England in 1786, sentenced to Life for stealing money, transported aboard the ship "Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790, may have died on the ship 7

Following the First Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Crawford Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Lindsay Crawford, Scottish farmer who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. James Crawford, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England for life for coining, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Nicholas Crawford, British Convict who was convicted in Yorkshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Joseph Crawford, (Crowfoot), English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Miss Mary Crawford, (b. 1800), aged 18, Irish servant who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for vagrancy, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 26th July 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Crawford migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Crawford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J. C. Crawford, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Success" in 1839
George Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 12
George Crawford, aged 27, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 13
Mrs Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Staines Castle
J Crawford, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Crawford (post 1700) +

Terence Allan Crawford (b. 1987), American professional boxer who has held 18 different major world championships in five weight classes from lightweight to super middleweight, including the undisputed championships at light welterweight, welterweight, and super middleweight, undisputed super middleweight title since September 2025
Joseph "Clayne" Crawford (b. 1978), American actor known for TV Role Lethal Weapon (2016-2018), A Walk to Remember (2002), and Spectral (2016)
Wayne David Crawford (1942-2016), American Breckenridge Festival of Film Award winning film and television actor, and film producer, screenwriter, and director, best known for his work on Valley Girl (1983)
Richard Crawford (1935-2024), American music historian, professor of music at the University of Michigan, best known for his book, American Musical Landscape, one of the seminal works of American music history
John Ernest Crawford (1946-2021), American actor, singer, and musician, best known for his Emmy Award nominated role as Mark McCain in the ABC Western series The Rifleman
Edward Slater Crawford III (1934-2017), American football player who played for the New York Giants in 1957
Hazle Reid "H. R." Crawford (1939-2017), American real estate developer and former Democratic politician, Assistant Secretary for Housing Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development (1973-1976)
William A. "Bill" Crawford (1936-2015), American politician, Member of the Indiana House of Representatives (1972-2012)
Brigadier-General David McLean Crawford (1889-1963), American Air Defense Officer, Headquarters US Army Air Force (1941-1942) 14
... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Crawford family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Paul M Crawford (1965-1985), American Private from Nampa, Idaho, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 15
John Crawford (b. 1812), British passenger who died aboard the ship "Cataraqui" when sailing for Melbourne, Australia she struck rocks of Kings Island and sank on 4th April 1845
Mrs. May Crawford (1893-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Toronto, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 16
Mrs. S O Crawford (d. 1979), American passenger from USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 17
Mr. Thomas Alfred Crawford (1912-1941), English Acting Able Seaman from Bromsgrove, Worchester, England, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 18
... (Another 11 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, January 10) David Crawford. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Crawford/David_McLean/USA.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 16) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp