Craig History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Craig

What does the name Craig mean?

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of first people to use the name Craig. The name was found in Aberdeen (part of the modern Grampian region), and other shires across Scotland. The Craig surname is derived Scottish Gaelic word creag, meaning "a rock" which became the Scottish word "craig." Craig is parish in Forfarshire which was "formerly called Inchbrayock, the 'island of trout,' by which name an island of thirty-four Scotch acres within the parish is still known. Craig was at that time only the designation of one of the chief estates, and it is supposed that, when the place of worship was transferred from the island to the property of Craig on the continental part of the district, the name of Craig, which is naturally derived from the rocky nature of the shore, was extended to the whole of the parish." 1

Early Origins of the Craig family

The surname Craig was first found in Aberdeenshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Obar Dheathain), a historic county, and present day Council Area of Aberdeen, located in the Grampian region of northeastern Scotland. This northern Clan was frequently associated with the Gordons, but their first records appeared in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire to the south about 1180. One of the first records of the name was Johannes del Crag who was witness to a charter by William the Lion. Later, Robertus de Crag witnessed a charter by Alexander II. 2

Early History of the Craig family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Craig research. Another 130 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1296, 1300, 1335, 1440, 1512, 1538, 1567, 1569, 1586, 1597, 1600, 1604, 1608, 1620, 1622, 1627, 1663, 1731, 1748, 1763, 1765, 1795, 1799, 1812, 1823, 1850, 1886 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Craig History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craig Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Craig has appeared Craig, Craigh, Creag, Creagh and others.

Early Notables of the Craig family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

John Craig (1512?-1600), Scottish divine, born about 1512, and next year lost his father, one of the Aberdeenshire family of Craigs of Craigston, at Flodden. 3
Sir Thomas Craig (c. 1538-1608), was a Scottish feudalist, jurist and poet. He was the eldest son of William Craig of Craigfintray in Aberdeenshire
Sir Thomas' third son, John Craig M.D. (died 1620), was a Scottish physician and astronomer, physician to James VI of Scotland
Sir Lewis Craig, Lord Wrightslands (1569-1622), was an early Scottish judge, eldest son of Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton. 3
John Craig (1663-1731) born in Dumfries, was a Scottish mathematician theologist, said to have been a Scotsman who settled in Cambridge, was a distinguished mathematician and a friend of Newton. (NBio...
James Craig, (d. 1795) was an Edinburgh architect who redesigned Edinburgh to become one of the most beautiful cities in the world
Alexander Craig (1567?-1627), was a Scottish poet, born at Banff about 1567, and was educated in the university of St. Andrews, where he took his degree of master of arts in 1586. 3

Craig World Ranking

In the United States, the name Craig is the 288^th most popular surname with an estimated 94,506 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Craig is ranked the 300^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,651 people with that name. 5 And in Australia, the name Craig is the 298^th popular surname with an estimated 11,901 people with that name. 6 New Zealand ranks Craig as 158^th with 3,232 people. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Craig as 266^th with 22,787 people. 8

Migration of the Craig family to Ireland

Some of the Craig family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Craig migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Craig:

Craig Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Magnus Craig, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 9
Mary McLellan Craig, who arrived in New England in 1729-1730 9
Hugh Craig, who landed in New England in 1729-1730 9
George Craig, who landed in America in 1760-1763 9
Margaret Craig, who landed in South Carolina in 1772 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craig Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Richard Craig, who landed in America in 1803 9
William Craig who settled in Charleston with his wife Mary and servants in 1803
Margaret Craig, aged 36, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1803 9
David Craig, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1805 9
Samuel Craig, who landed in America in 1805 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craig migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Craig Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Christopher Craig U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 10
Mr. David Craig, "Craige" U.E. who settled in Chamcook [St Andrews] Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783; he served in the 74th Regiment and is listed as a Loyalist of Passamaquoddy New Brunswick 10
Mr. James Craig U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1783 10
Mr. James Craig U.E. born in Massachusetts, USA who settled in Parr Town [Saint John], New Brunswick c. 1783 10
Private John Craig U.E. (b. 1760) born in Scotland who settled in Bonny River [Bonny River-Second Falls], Saint George, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 he enlisted in 1782 served in the 84th Regiment Royal Highland Emigrants 2nd Battalion, married Sarah Smith they had 5 children he died in 1833 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craig Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Sam Craig, who arrived in Canada in 1816
Sarah Craig, aged 55, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
William Craig, aged 12, who arrived in Quebec in 1834
John Craig, aged 27, a merchant, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the barque "Frederick" from Liverpool, England
Ruth Craig, aged 48, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Eleanor Gordon" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craig migration to Australia +

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

Craig Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Craig, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Richard Craig Mr. settled in New South Wales, Australia in 1823 12
James Plumber and Craig, a glazier, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Miss. Margaret Craig, (Elizabeth), (b. 1808), aged 25, Irish servant who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for house robbery, transported aboard the "Caroline" on 6th August 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. George Craig, (b. 1813), aged 23, Scottish cotton spinner who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for life for assault, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 4th August 1836, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Craig 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:

Craig Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Craig, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Robert Craig, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
James Craig, aged 40, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841
Agnes Craig, aged 39, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841
John Craig, aged 19, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Craig (post 1700) +

Roger Lee Craig (1930-2023), American Major League Baseball pitcher, coach and manager, member of four World Series championship teams
Yvonne Joyce Craig (1937-2015), American ballet dancer and actress best known for her role as Batgirl from the 1960s TV series Batman and as the Orion slave girl Marta, in Star Trek
Neal Craig (1948-2021), American football safety in the National Football League (NFL)
Ninalee Craig (1927-2018), also known as Jinx Allen, an American woman known for being the subject of a series of photographs by Ruth Orkin the most notable of which is American Girl in Italy
Lawrence Craig -Green, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from New Hampshire 2nd District, 1986
William Craig (1918-2016), German-born, American academic and philosopher who taught at the University of California, Berkeley
William Craig (1807-1869), American frontiersman and trapper
General Malin Craig (1875-1945), American Chief of Staff US Army (1935-1939) 15
Major-General Louis Aleck Craig (1891-1984), American Inspector-General of the Army (1948-1952) 16
Lieutenant-General Howard Arnold Craig (1897-1977), American Inspector General, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C. (1949-1952) 17
... (Another 29 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Craig family +

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Michael E Craig (1966-1985), American Private 1st Class from University Park, Illinois, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 18

HMS Dorsetshire

Michael Waller Beaufort Craig, British Lieutenant Commander Gunner Officer aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 19

North Sea Flood

Alexander W. B. Craig, British worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" who survived the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Robert Craig, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

The Craig 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: Vive ut vivas
Motto Translation: Live that you may live for ever

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caroline
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Malin Craig. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Craig/Malin/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Louis Craig. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Craig/Louis_Aleck/USA.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Howard Craig. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Craig/Howard_Arnold/USA.html
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html