| ![Show Contents]() Crayford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland Etymology of CrayfordWhat does the name Crayford mean? The surname Crayford 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 Crayford 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. Crayford Coat of Arms CreationAccording to ancient records, King David I., commonly called ' The sair saint,' was hunting on Holy-rood-day near Edinburgh, when there appeared a hart or a stag, with a cross betwixt his horns, which ran at the king so furiously and dismounted him from his horse, that he was in hazard to be killed, if one of his attendants, Sir Gregan Crawford, had not inter-posed. The pious king, taking this as a reproof for hunting on such a holy day, erected a church on the place called Holy-rood-house, and the head of a stag with a cross between his horns became the badge of that Abbacy, and also the armorial figures of Sir Gregan Crawford. 1 Early Origins of the Crayford familyThe surname Crayford 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. 2 Early History of the Crayford familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crayford research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1240, 1297, 1530, 1603, 1625, 1643, 1710 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crayford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Crayford Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Crawford, Crawfurd, Craufurd, Crawferd, Crawfford, Crafford, Craford, Crafort, Crayford and many more. Early Notables of the Crayford familyNotable 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...
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crayford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Crayford family to IrelandSome of the Crayford 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.
| Crayford 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: Crayford Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- William Crayford, aged 37, a farm labourer, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
- Anne Crayford, aged 37, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
- Ellen E. Crayford, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
- Edith M. Crayford, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
- Daisy M. Crayford, aged 8 mths., who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Rooparell" in 1874
| Contemporary Notables of the name Crayford (post 1700) | + |
- Jonathan Crayford (b. 1964), New Zealand composer/multi-instrumentalist
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
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
- 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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