| ![Show Contents]() Crows History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of CrowsWhat does the name Crows mean? The name Crows 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 Crows 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 Crows familyThe surname Crows 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 Crows familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crows 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 Crows History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Crows Spelling VariationsOnly 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 Crows has undergone many spelling variations, including Crow, Crowe and others. Early Notables of the Crows familyNotables of this surname at this time include: 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...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crows Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Crows family to IrelandSome of the Crows 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.
| Crows migration to Canada | + |
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 Crows were among those contributors: Crows Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- John Crows, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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.
- Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. 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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