Map of England showing where the Craske arms are recorded
The Craske arms were recorded in Norfolk, c. 1620.
Norfolk grew rich on wool and grain, and its wealth was spread among many middling families rather than a few great ones. Households of that kind bought land and took arms, and the county holds a large share of English names.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Craske arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Norfolk.
Origin & History of the Craske Family in England
The surname Craske is deeply rooted in the history of East Anglia, particularly within the county of Norfolk where the family was well-established by the early seventeenth century. Etymologists generally trace the name to a Middle English nickname, likely derived from the word "crask," which was used to describe someone who was robust, healthy, or perhaps somewhat stout in appearance. During the 1600s, Norfolk was a thriving hub of agriculture and trade, and records show that families bearing this name were active participants in the local community life of the region. As the family grew, they became woven into the fabric of rural English society, often appearing in parish registers as landowners, farmers, or skilled tradespeople. By 1620, the Craske name was already a fixture in Norfolk, reflecting a long-standing presence in the English countryside that predates the migration of many families to the New World.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
crassus
Latin term meaning thick, fat, or dense.
This name
CraskeA nickname for a person of stout or heavy physical build.
also spelled
Craik
Crayke
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1958
Norfolk Record Office, Parish Registers and Bishops' Transcripts, 1600–1650
Cottle, Basil, The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, 1967
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fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
