Map of England showing where the Craycraft arms are recorded
The Craycraft arms were recorded in Lincoln, c. 1620.
Lincolnshire was rich farming country, and its wealth was spread across many middling families. Households of that size 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 Craycraft 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 Lincoln.
Origin & History of the Craycraft Family in England
The surname Craycraft is an English locational name that likely originated from a specific geographic feature or a small settlement. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the historic city of Lincoln, which served as a major administrative and religious hub in the East Midlands. During this period, families in Lincoln were often deeply involved in the local trade guilds and the agricultural life of the surrounding countryside. The name itself reflects the linguistic patterns of the region, where surnames were frequently derived from the physical landscape, such as a "cray" or a small stream, combined with the word "craft" to describe a specific area of land or a workshop. As these early ancestors navigated the social and economic shifts of seventeenth-century England, they helped build the foundation for the family line that would eventually expand far beyond the walls of their original home.
Craycraft Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Crag
A steep or rugged cliff or rock face.
This name
CraycraftA person who lived near a steep, rugged cliff or rocky outcrop.
also spelled
Creycroft
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, 1991
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln City Council: Records of the Freemen of Lincoln, 1620
Hey, David, Family Names and Family History, 2000
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ravenConstancy and divine providence
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ravenConstancy and divine providence
