Show ContentsCrowie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Crowie

What does the name Crowie mean?

The name Crowie comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who bore some fancied resemblance to a crow. This may have been based on appearance, but nicknames often described more intangible strong traits or features of animals. In the Middle Ages, anthropomorphic ideas were common; people attributed human qualities and form to animals, based on the creature's habits. The surname Crowie is derived from the Old English word crowe, which in turn came from the Old English words crawe or crawa, which mean crow.

Early Origins of the Crowie family

The surname Crowie was first found in Norfolk and Suffolk where in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 we found: Ralph Crawe, Norfolk; Geoffrey Crowe, Norfolk; John Crawe, Suffolk; Walrann Crowe, Suffolk; and William Croe, Suffolk. 1

In Somerset, Hugh Crowe was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 2

Again in Norfolk, William Crawe, vicar of Wigenhale, St. Peter's in 1431 and the same source notes Philip Crowe, Norfolk, 1307; and Richard Crowe was buried there in 1717. 3

Further to the north in Scotland, John Crow and Thomas Crow, were of the diocese of Dunblane, on record, 1470 and Magnus Crow, was a follower of Walter Ross of Morange, 1596 may have derived his name from Croy, Inverness-shire. 4

Early History of the Crowie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crowie research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1611, 1616, 1627, 1630, 1632, 1641, 1646, 1668, 1669, 1675, 1683, 1692, 1713, 1717, 1719, 1743, 1781 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crowie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crowie Spelling Variations

Only 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 Crowie has undergone many spelling variations, including Crow, Crowe and others.

Early Notables of the Crowie family

Sir John Crowe of Dromore; William Crowe (1616-1675) was an English clergyman and bibliographer from Suffolk; Sir Sackville Crowe, 1st Baronet, (c. 1611-1683) was an English nobleman and politician, Treasurer of the Navy (1627-1630), and British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (c. 1641-1646); and Mitford Crowe or Crow (1669-1719), an English merchant, politician, diplomat and colonial administrator. Francis Crow (d. 1692), was a Scottish nonconformist divine who came of a family seated at Hughhead in Scotland, within six miles of Berwick-upon-Tweed. He was born...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crowie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crowie family to Ireland

Some of the Crowie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 79 words (6 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 Crowie family

To 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 Crowie were among those contributors: William Crow who arrived in Plymouth Massachusetts soon after the Mayflower; Henry Crow settled in Virginia in 1636; Adam Crowe settled in Virginia in 1635.
  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  3. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)

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