A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Craycroft family of England.
Reg. 5238 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
ravenConstancy and divine providence
Colours
Green (Vert)Means: Hope
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Per bend vert and gu. on a bend dancettée or, three ravens ppr”
LincolnLincoln, c. 1620
Where the Craycroft Arms Were Recorded
Lincoln
Map of England showing where the Craycroft arms are recorded
The Craycroft 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 Craycroft 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 Craycroft Family in England
The Craycroft family name traces its roots to the landscape of medieval England, where it likely originated as a topographic surname describing people who lived near a specific type of enclosure or field. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that members of the family were well-established in the city of Lincoln. During this period, Lincoln was a significant center for trade and religious life, and families living there were often involved in the local craft guilds or the agricultural management of the surrounding countryside. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of the region, eventually branching out from their early roots in the East Midlands to other parts of the country. This early presence in Lincoln suggests that the family was deeply connected to the local community and the economic life of one of England’s oldest historic cities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crawe and Croft
Old English for crow and a small enclosed field or farm.
This name
CraycroftRefers to a person who lived near a small field frequented by crows.
also spelled
Creycroft
Related arms
Cracroftvariant spelling
Crecroftvariant spelling
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 Consistory Court Wills, 1620
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
