Scras History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Scras

What does the name Scras mean?

The name Scras was spawned by the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that ruled a majority of Britain. It comes from the baptismal name for the son of Scraewa, which was an ancient Anglo-Saxon personal name. Baptismal names began to appear as surnames relatively late in the growth of the naming tradition. This is a little surprising, given the popularity of biblical figures in the Christian countries of Europe. Nevertheless, surnames derived from baptismal names grew in popularity during the Middle Ages, and have become one of the foremost sources for surnames.

Early Origins of the Scras family

The surname Scras was first found in Sussex where the family claim to have "settled from Denmark before the Norman Conquest. However, there is no record of the family name earlier than the 13th century. The name has been conjecturally derived from the great Norman appellative of Scures or D'Escures. " 1 Another source claims that name is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name Scraewa, which is also coincidentally the name of a mouse.

Early History of the Scras family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Scras research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1620 and 1937 are included under the topic Early Scras History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Scras Spelling Variations

Scras has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Scras have been found, including Scrace, Scrase, Scras, Scrayce and others.

Early Notables of the Scras family

Charles Scrase Dickens, late of Cherington, recorded as 'landed gentry' in 1937

Migration of the Scras family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Scrass to arrive on North American shores: John Scrase who settled in West New Jersey in 1664.

The Scras Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Volando reptilla sperno
Motto Translation: Flying myself I despise creeping things.

Sources +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.