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![Show Contents]() Crittendan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The lineage of the name Crittendan begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the village of Crotynden (Crittenden or Cruttenden) in West Kent. This lost village is thought to have derived its name from the Old English personal name Gu(dh)here + Old English "-ing" and "denn," literally meaning "person living near a woodland pasture." (Oxford) Another source claims the name was derived from "the cot on the lower hill; from cru, a cot; tane, lower, and dun or din, a hill; or it may be the chalk hill, from krit, Saxon, chalk." 1 Early Origins of the Crittendan familyThe surname Crittendan was first found in West Kent at Crittenden. While this is the generally accepted origin of the name one source claims the family originally "came from Criddon, formerly Critendone (Cridela's hill), in Shropshire." 2 Early History of the Crittendan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crittendan research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1481 is included under the topic Early Crittendan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Crittendan Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Crittendan has undergone many spelling variations, including Crittenden, Cruttenden, Critenden, Crutenden and many more. Early Notables of the Crittendan familyMore information is included under the topic Early Crittendan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Crittendan familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Crittendan were among those contributors: George Crittenden who arrived in San Francisco in 1852 with his wife, six children, and two servants; Albert Crittenden, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1876.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
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