A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crawford family of Britain.
Reg. 1093 · Britain, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Historical info
Source
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ec.: aux 1 et 4 de gu. à la fasce échiq. d'arg. et d'azur de trois tires (Lindsay); aux 2 et 3 d'or au lion de gu.; à la cotice de sa., br. sur le lion (Abernethy). C.: une autruche au nat., tenant en son bec une clé d'or, en barre, le panneton en haut à dextre. S.: deux lions de gu. D.: INDURE FURTH.”
Britainc. 1399
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Map of Britain showing where the Crawford arms are recorded
The Crawford arms were recorded in Britain, c. 1399.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Kent.
Kent sits between London and the short crossing to Europe, and the trade passing through made it wealthy. Merchant families bought land with that money, and it was landowners who took coats of 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 Britain in this period.
Richard II of England
Sovereign of the period
Richard II of England
1377–1399
Reigning in Britain when the Crawford arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Britain
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 Britain.
Origin & History of the Crawford Family in Britain
The history of the Crawford family name is deeply rooted in the landscape of medieval Britain, with significant records placing members of the family in the county of Kent as early as 1399. The name itself is locational in origin, derived from the Old English words for a crow and a river crossing or ford. This suggests that the earliest ancestors to bear the name likely lived near a specific waterway frequented by crows. Over time, families with this name established themselves in various parts of the country, moving from their original rural settlements into local administrative and landholding roles. By the end of the fourteenth century, the Crawfords were well-integrated into the social fabric of Kent, reflecting the broader patterns of migration and family development that shaped English surnames during the late Middle Ages.
Crawford Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Craw-ford
A combination of crow and a river crossing or ford.
This name
CrawfordA location-based surname referring to a river crossing frequented by crows.
also spelled
Crawfurd
Crauford
Krawford
Related arms
Janowitzsimilar arms
Lindsaysimilar arms
Lindsay de Westvillesimilar arms
Craufurd de Kilbirneyvariant spelling
Documented Sources
J. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Calendar of the Patent Rolls, Henry IV, 1399–1401
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chequyConstancy, and the counting-board
lionCourage, strength and royalty
