Crawford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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 the family resided in this area as early as the 11th century when Alan, the youngest son of the 4th Earl of Richmond, received a large grant of lands from King William the Conqueror. 

When King David of Scotland moved north to assume the throne in 1130, some Crawfords accompanied him on his journey. Galfredus Crawford would gain lands in Clydesdale and his son, Sir Reginald, acquired the barony of Loudoun, from which a significant branch of the Campbells would develop. 

Later, Reginald de Crauford, John de Crauford and William de Crauford are all recorded as paying homage to Edward I in 1296. [1]

Early History of the Crawford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crawford research.

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

Notable among the family at this time was

• Sir Ronald Crawford (c. 1240-1297), 4th Sheriff of Ayrshire, Chief of Clan Crawford, and Lord of Loudon Castle
• Captain Thomas Crawford (1530-1603) of Jordanhill, trusted confidant of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, husband of Queen Mary

Crawford World Ranking

In the United States, the name Crawford is the 132^nd most popular surname with an estimated 169,116 people with that name. [2] However, in Canada, the name Crawford is ranked the 245^thmost popular surname with an estimated 16,483 people with that name. [3] And in Australia, the name Crawford is the 157^th popular surname with an estimated 19,163 people with that name. [4] New Zealand ranks Crawford as 101^st with 3,999 people. [5] The United Kingdom ranks Crawford as 238^th with 24,807 people. [6]

 Migration of the Crawford family to Ireland

Some of the Crawford family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 Crawford migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

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]

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]

Crawford Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Duncan Crawford, who arrived in Arkansas in 1906 [7]

 Crawford migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 

Crawford Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Charles Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Francis Crawford, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
• Mary 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

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

 Crawford migration to Australia+

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants 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]

 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
• Mrs Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Staines Castle
• George Crawford, aged 27, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship “Bengal Merchant” in 1840 [12]
• George Crawford, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant [13]
• J Crawford, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Crawford (post 1700) +

• 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)
• 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 owrk on Valley Girl (1983)
• 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]
• Major-General Alden Rudyard Crawford (1900-1978), American Commanding General 12th Air Force (1949-1950) [15]
• Joan Crawford (1905-1977), born Lucille Fay LeSueur, American actress in film, television and theatre
• George W. Crawford (1798-1872), American politician, 38th Governor of Georgia (1843 to 1847)
• Alexander Crawford (1842-1886), American Civil War sailor and Medal of Honor recipient

The Crawford 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: Tutem te robore reddam
Motto Translation: I will make thee safe by my strength