Map of Scotland showing where the Cruickshank arms are recorded
The Cruickshank arms were recorded in Aberdeen, c. 1748.
Aberdeen was a granite trading town on the north-east coast with farming country behind it. Merchants who prospered bought estates inland, and buying an estate was what brought a family its 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 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 Cruickshank 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 Aberdeen.
Origin & History of the Cruickshank Family in Scotland
The surname Cruickshank is of Scottish origin and is derived from the Middle English words for crooked and shank, which literally translates to crooked leg. This name likely began as a descriptive nickname for a person who had a noticeable physical trait or a distinct way of walking. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family had established a firm presence in the city of Aberdeen. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Cruickshank family were active participants in the local community during this period. Many individuals with this name were involved in the merchant and academic life of the region, contributing to the growth of the city as a center for trade and education in Northeast Scotland.
Cruickshank Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
crūc-scanca
Old Norse and Old English terms for crooked and shank or leg.
This name
CruickshankA descriptive nickname for an individual with crooked or bowed legs.
also spelled
Cruikshank
Cruckshank
Related arms
Crookshankvariant spelling
Fraserrecorded with Cruickshank, same area
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. Aberdeen Burgh Records, Council Register. Series B1/1/40
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boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
boarA fierce fighter who battles to the end
