Map of Scotland showing where the Crooks arms are recorded
The Crooks arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Crooks arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Crooks Family in Scotland
The surname Crooks is rooted in the Old Norse word "krókr," which translates to a hook or a bend. In early medieval times, this name was often used as a descriptive nickname for someone who lived near a curved piece of land or a winding river. It could also refer to a person with a crooked physical feature or a particularly crafty personality. By the time the family was firmly established in Edinburgh in 1748, the name had evolved from a simple descriptor into a recognized hereditary surname. During the eighteenth century, members of the Crooks family in Scotland were often integrated into the urban life of Edinburgh, participating in the city's growing trade and professional sectors as the region underwent significant social and economic changes.
Crooks Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
krokr
Old Norse term for a hook or a bent object.
This name
CrooksA topographic name for someone who lived near a bend in a river or a curved piece of land.
also spelled
Crookes
Crukes
Croke
Crooke
Related arms
Crokevariant spelling
Crokesvariant spelling
Crookevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History. 1946
National Records of Scotland. Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, Series OPR 685/1. 1748
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
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
