Introduction to the House of Crawford
Welcome to the website of the Clan Crawford Association (CCA). The Association was incorporated in 2006 and is also legally registered under the name The House of Crawford. We are a member of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations. In 2012 we were issued Letters Patent from the Court of the Lord Lyon granting a coat of arms that integrates the designs of the two main branches of the House, Crawfordjohn and Dalmagregan.
The CCA represents the historic Scottish House of Crawford, also known today as Clan Crawford. If you are a Crawford or a descendant of Crawfords, no matter how you spell the surname (Crawford, Craufurd, Crafoord, Crafford, etc.), we would like to invite you to join our association. We are organized as a non-profit association open to all Crawfords. Our main function is to gather and advance the study of our history and traditions. We have a long and proud history within Scotland and in many countries around the world where Scots have settled and contribute meaningfully to their new communities.
Info Note: First, I would like to impart some information on the use of this website by popular request. We now have a “Search” function set up for the purpose of locating particular information. I hope it is helpful. You can use it to try to find a specific topic you are interested in. The menu at the top of all website pages (Home, About, History, etc.) provides the various topic headings for the site. Under each one, when you click on it, are subheadings on more specific aspects of each. In the upper right hand corner is a menu for members. If you are a member, from that menu you can access the Archive, modify your account information, renew, or access the clan website forums. Also on the left hand side are clan books on our history, traditions, genealogy, DNA and heraldry for sale. You can order them from the website through the provided link or from the links is the newsletter, which you also receive as a member by e-mail automatically towards the end of the month every other one (February, April, June, August, October and December). If you have further question write us at info@clancrawfordassoc.org.
The Association has been in existence since 2006, though previous Crawfords have attempted over the last several centuries to record and promote Crawford history and genealogy. However, none has until now made an effort to bring Crawfords together as a house or clan. Previous efforts have only persisted until the individual who promoted them had given it up due to advancing age or passing. The Clan Crawford Association has been registered since 2006 as a non-profit corporation. In 2012 it was granted a coat of arms by the Lord Lyon that integrates the arms designs of the two main branches of the House, gules a fess ermine superimposed by a stags head erased. You’ll find an extensive discussion of Crawford heraldry under the menu tab “Heraldry”, including a historical review of the Arms of Crawfurd. This web site describes what the Association does and the benefits provided its members. It also reviews our history in Scotland and in the diaspora, oral traditions, and some of the Crawford cadet lines, mostly from the middle ages. We are adding new sections as we develop, including an areas dedicated to the regions and improving our postings of Crawford genealogy, which involves a complex effort. We recommend that you particularly look at the history section that has many details of our surname’s early history and a section on the migration of Crawfords out of Scotland, also known as the Scottish diaspora. We invite you to add your own story. Please send your submission to the President. Her email address is in the listing of officers in “Administration” under the ABOUT tab in the overhead menu. We also suggest you especially look at the Heraldry and Y-DNA pages. They contain very interesting information and invite you to join our projects in those areas. We provide an on-line Archive that contains many historical documents and family histories associated with our surname. The Clan Crawford Association Newsletter carries articles by and about Crawfords both historical and current day. The Association jointly with Craufurdland Castle has sponsored tours of Crawford historical sites in 2009 and 2014, both associated with major events in Scotland: Homecoming Scotland 2009 and the 700th Anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn (June 2014). We hope that Crawford site tours will continue to be organized in the future.
If you would like to become a member of the Association then you will find more information on the membership page. You do not need to bear the surname of Crawford to join. The Association also accepts as members those who are descended from Crawfords. Members of the Association now include Crawfurd of Ardmillan, Crafoord of Sweden, Crawford of Kilbirnie, Crawford of Newfield, Craufurd of Craufurdland, as well as the Baronet of Kilbirnie (Craufurd of Newark), and others living all around the world with the surname of Crawford or one of its variants (Craufurd, Crafoord, Crafford, Crofoot, etc.).
We are a house of Lowland Scotland with origins in the Southern Uplands of Lanarkshire, close to the source of the River Clyde. The map [right] gives an overview of the geographical locations associated with various prominent Scottish lowland houses, including those of Crawford, within the districts to Kyle and Cunningham. In 1889 Kyle and Cunningham were integrated with the District of Carrick to form the County of Ayrshire in which historically our presence has been most felt. The historic district of Cunninghame was bordered by the districts of Renfrew and Clydesdale to the north and east respectively, by the district of Kyle to the south over the River Irvine and by the Firth of Clyde to the west. Cunninghame became one of the three districts or bailieries of Ayrshire, the shire or sheriffdom of Ayr. Cunninghame was in the north, along the River Irvine; Kyle was in the centre, along the River Ayr; and Carrick was in the south, along the River Doon. By the eighteenth century Ayrshire had become one of the counties of Scotland, with the three baileries being described as “districts” or “divisions” of the county, although they had no formal administrative existence. In the late nineteenth century the “territorial division” was described as comprising the civil parishes of Ardrossan, Beith, Dalry, Dreghorn, Fenwick, Irvine, North Ayrshire, Kilbirnie, West Kilbride, Kilmarnock, Kilmaurs, Kilwinning, Largs, Loudoun, Stevenston, Stewarton and part of Dunlop.[ Frances Groome, Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, 1882-4 (Vision of Britain)] The district was abolished in 1996 by the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994, when the system of regions and districts was replaced by unitary council areas. The area of the Cunninghame district (including Arran) became the North Ayrshire council area.
Historical Crawford Estates – [section currently under review]
The following is a map of the locations of most of the historical Crawford Estates in Scotland [removed temporarily]. This super-map of Southern Scotland is provided with arrows pointing to the Crawford sites. It was prepared by Kevan Crawford around 2005/6. A list of these estates identifying their historical names and locations is available. It will be added in the near future. Recently we have identified a few more sites that were not included on the original list. There is also a site for Old Maps that shows some of the old Crawford estates from 1500’s to mid-1800’s [http://maps.nls.uk/scotland/index.html ]. However, locating the old Crawford estates requires a knowledge of exactly where the site is to be found relative to surrounding landmarks. Work is underway to identify all historical Crawford llandholdings. Over 400 have been identifiedso far. We are in the process of completing the analysis and hope to be able to post the results in the not too distant future. Edward Crawford is chairing the effort.
One of the early sites associated with Crawfords is Castle Crawford in Lanarkshire across the River Clyde from the small town of Crawford. Below is a drawing from the 19th century. The ruins are much more deteriorated today. It was supposedly destroyed by William Wallace in his attacks on border castles that the English occupied at the end of the 13th century for the purpose of limiting their hold over Scotland and receiving supplies from England. The castle was probalby built by the Lindsays, though there is a motte and bailey castle whose ruins lie below this castle and evidence around the castle of Roman occupation several centures before. The motte and bailey castle may have been built by Thorlongus as 1st Lord of Crawford. It is thought that it was his decendants who took the surname of Crawford. (Image taken from page 32 of “The Upper Ward of Lanarkshire described and delincated [sic. probably ‘delineated’]. The archaeological and historical section is by G. V. Irving. The statistical and topographical secion by A. Murray.) See more contemporary photos of the castle ruins under HISTORY of this website
Hello, love to receive updates, I joined as well. Thank you
Well hows things, a hav been looking through th crawford clan fur years a hav been living in Ireland fur about 20 years, and just seen th Irish coat of arms couldn’t believe it, what a seen th crawford coat of arm lreland buitiful and a hav seen load o other stuff us been Dutch ur orignal name crufurd thorlungus as we say and history today as if know one knows how they ar,and a hav a big family blood line our crawford name and our blood line keeps running threw generations, hope we live threw more generations to cum and th day a cant stop thinkin thank well u know that every one prays to, am glad in a way that our blood line hasn’t been earsed, like our true Scottish ancestors and our Highland cousins and Irish cousin’s a hav always known that am a true low lander am heading back hame fae Ireland a lov lreland
Hope every one lives a good life and take care o one anther
Stay safe
Pleased to meet you
I’m an American with supposedly strong ties to the Crawford clan. My great grandmother was Margatet Crawford and passed down the same coat of arms featured on your website to my grandmother.. Stories of my Crawford heritage have been told to me since I was very young. My middle name is Crawford to honor that ancestry. I stumbled across your website and am curious who I could contact to see if any familial records I have might be helpful to find other Crawford descendants in other parts of the world. Please contact me as soon as you can. Thanks!
Welcome. Pleased to meet you.
Hi all great to meet. I am based in London if ever any Crawford’s want to catch up
Genevieve, So pleased to hear from you. Would love to chat. I’m at jaycrawford231@gmail.com
Hello everyone.
My maiden name is Amanda Crawford, and I recently returned from a trip to the UK, where my husband and I went to the ruins of Crawford Castle, as well as the nearby Crawford/Kirkton cemetery.
I joined this group so I could further my research and I would love to share some photos of our experience.
Not really sure how to though?
Amanda, I’m very pleased to meet you. I hope that you enjoyed your trip to the UK. I can be contacted at jaycrawford231@gmail.com if you have any questions or wish to discuss anything.
Not sure how to add the photos? They can be shared in the forum? We also have a facebook group if you would prefer the share there
Hello, my name is Randolph Boyd Young, and my mother was Jacqueline Young (nee Crawford). Her parents were John Frank Crawford and Luna Boyd Crawford. My Crawford ancestors settled in Orange County, North Carolina in 1795 (from lowland Scotland by way of the Ulster Plantation in Ireland in the 1600’s, and I have the actual land deed from the Orange Co. Register of Deeds Office. I also have a deed from another different Crawford family who also settled in Orange County in 1765. I’m sure we had common ancestors, but the lines had diverged in the early 1700’s I believe. They are original copies of the deeds, though a bit tattered and worse for the wear.
Randy, I’m pleased to meet you. Your information sounds really interesting. Welcome to Clan Crawford Association. If you would like to chat I can be contacted at jaycrawford231@gmail.com.
Welcome Randy!
Randy:
I would love to know about the other Crawford family you mentioned who were there (Orange County North Carolina in 1765). Your post caught my eye as my family also came to the American colonies from the Ulster Province. My ancestor was born in 1765, but it is unknown if he was born in the Colonies or in Ulster. I would love to compare notes.
Mary Crawford
I believe I could be a member of the Crawford Clan. I’m basing my heritage on a genealogy written in 1911 by John G. Crawford in Manchester, New Hampshire. His genealogy starts with Johannes de Crauford c. 1140 and includes the immigrant to America, Aaron Crawford (1677-1754). My last Crawford in this line is Lucinda Crawford (1791-1880), the daughter of Alexander Crawford who built the first 1795 Springfield musket (with another man) that was based on the French musket and was the first in the line of many muskets manufactured in the 1800s.
I find it a little ironic that between 1963 and 1965 I was an officer on a submarine that went in and out of Holy Loch. I had no clue that my ancestors lived very close to there and would have enjoyed doing some research in Scotland.
Also I have a DNA sample being analyzed called the BigY700 which may be of value when I get the results.
Hello Crawford Family,
I wanted to tell you about my half silver blackwood bagpipes, made for me by Rick Pettigrew of Dunbar Pipes in St. Catherins, Canada. In 2009 they were taken to Scotland and had the permission of the National Scottish Trust to be played at numerous historical locations, such as Culloden, Glencoe, Killean Castle, North Berwick, Loc Lomand, Iona, and Kelso Abby over the resting place of the Heart of Robert de Bruce. They were played at several ancestral locations in Ayre and many other locations during stop overs. I wanted to express my gratitude for the privilege of that once in a lifetime experience. As past Clan Piper and Pipe Major, I’m still able to play my pipes for fun thanks to the EBellows air source that supplies air to the pipes that I’m not able blow up anymore. Best wishes to the current Clan Piper, Joanne, and all the Clan Officers. Thank you!
Hello, I’m interested in setting up a Crawford Clan tent for our local Scottish festival in Boise Idaho this coming fall. Is there an approval process from the association needed.
Thank you,
Bryan Crawford Nelson
Hello. Please could someone explain to me why the Crawford crest is a A Stags head with a cross between the antlers? Thank you so much.
Hi Emma, and sorry there wasn’t a response to your question. There is info about Crawford crests/coats of arms in the Heraraldry pages of this website:
https://clancrawfordassoc.org/heraldry/
Best,
Dave Nicolson
I would like to join and support CCA. I’m not sure if I’m related though. Can I contact you via email with what I do know about my possible Crawford ancestry?
Patricia, I can be reached at jaycrawford231@gmail.com. Let’s take a look at this together. Also, I will be at the Highland Games in Pleasanton, Ca on Aug 31 and Sept 1 if you are in the area.
hello,My name is Aaron stephen Crawford and my father is Adrian Stephen Crawford.I also have two brothers Ronald stephen Crawford and Stephen adrian Crawford Our grandfather was Albie Clyde Crawford and his father was Walter Crawford. I ve been told we come from Crawford Notch beside mt washington,in New Hampshire My Brothers and i were born in nashua,New hampshire.
Hi Aaron,
I wonder if your Crawfords are an off-shoot of the Crawfords of Oakham/Pelham MA, as I think some went up to NH. Have you taken a genealogical DNA or Y-DNA test? E.g., FTDNA or Ancestry?
There’s a book on the Oakham line that you might want to check out (a copy is also available in the Archives>Family Histories section of the CCA website):
https://archive.org/details/crawfordfamilyof1912craw/page/n5/mode/2up
I hope that helps some!
Dave Nicolson
My name is Johnathan Crawford, my father is Johnie Crawford. His father my grandfather also shared the same name Johnie, my grandfather passed away in 1975 before I was born. My dad’s family moved to Central California in the 1940’s from Arkansas. My father had never met any of his father’s family, so I do not know much about my ancestry. I’m looking into the DNA test to find out more about my family line.
Excited to be part of the House, just joined and look forward to learning more about our History. Born In Northern Ny, Grandfather Vestal Ny and ancestors from Hancock Ny area.
Happy to have you!
My grandmother was Orilla Crawford. I have a family tree done by her uncle Nathan Crawford in the 70’s that goes back roughly 1,000 years. This includes an artists rendering of the Kilburney Castle ruins. He did all this during an extended visit to Scotland. Somewhere in the association information I believe I saw a Crawford “elder” named who lives in Houston. I live in Austin and would love it if he could help me make sense of my tree.
I have complied lots of Crawford information on my family – with proof from 1840 till now. I cannot prove anything before 1840 St George SC. – Andrew Crofford (Crawford). His children were Peter Tobias 1843, Eveann “Sally” & Louisa Crawford. Need help, thanks.
Good afternoon all:
I’m tracing to Crawfords in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Curious if anybody else related to this line, and if indeed they’re consider a line in the clan.
Recently exploring the Crawford branch of our family tree. Sucessfully followed to Aaron Crawford born 1677 Northern Ireland to Rutland MA d 1754 married Agnes Wilton. Is his line available to see from Ireland to Scotland?
Hello, my name is Jenny Crawford. I’m from the state’s. I did a ancestry d.n.a test and traced my 4th great grandfather John Crawford from lanarkshire in the late 1700s but I can’t find out anything more. I was hoping someone would know of a good starting point. Thank you for your time.
Have you joined the FamilyTreeDNA Crawford Group?
Hello,
I am Clint Crawford. I was born in Mississippi. I look forward to leaning more about my history!!
Welcome Clint!