Map of England showing where the Crate arms are recorded
The Crate arms were recorded in Norwich, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 Crate 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 England.
Origin & History of the Crate Family in England
The surname Crate finds its historical roots in the northern regions of England, with documented evidence placing the family in the city of York by the year 1620. During the early seventeenth century, York was a bustling center of trade and religious activity, which likely influenced the daily lives and occupations of the family members living there. The name itself is thought to be a topographical or occupational descriptor, potentially linked to the Middle English word for a basket or a container, suggesting that early ancestors may have been skilled craftsmen or merchants involved in the transport of goods. As the family established themselves in this historic city, they became part of the local social fabric during a time of significant cultural change in England. Their presence in York during this era marks them as part of a long tradition of urban families who helped shape the local economy and community life through their trade and residency.
Crate Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Crata
A Latin term referring to a wickerwork hurdle or basket.
This name
CrateAn occupational name for a maker or seller of wicker baskets or hurdles.
also spelled
Curatt
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
arrowReadiness for battle, and affliction endured
