Crawford Clan

Crawford Clan Crest: A Stags head with a cross between the antlers.

Crawford Clan Motto: Tutum Te Robore Reddam (I will make you safe with strength).

Crawford Clan History:

The Crawfords or Craufurds are first found in connection with the Barony of Crawford in Lanarkshire, and it is thought that their forebears were among the Norman knights who came to Scotland in the reign of Malcolm III.  John de Crauford witnessed a Charter for the lands of Douglas Water in the latter half of the 12th century. Tradition has it that it was a Sir George Crawford who saved David I from a wild stag in the park of Holyrood Abbey.

In 1248, Sir John Crawford of that Ilk had two daughters, the oldest of whom married Archibald de Douglas, and the youngest, David Lindsay of Wauchopedale, ancestor of the earls of Crawford & Balcarres.  In 1296, in the reign of William the Lion, Sir Reginald Crawford was appointed Sheriff of Ayr. It is widely held that his sister Margaret, was the wife of Sir Malcolm Wallace of Elderslie, and the mother of William Wallace, the Scottish freedom fighter, although a recent translation of Wallace's Seal suggests that the freedom fighter's father's actual Christian name was Alan.

In 1320, the Crawfords of Auchinames received a grant of their Renfrewshire lands from Robert the Bruce. The branch of Crawfurdland is also thought to descend from Sir Regimald, and William Crawford of Crawfurdland, having fought with Charles VII of France, was knighted by James I. John of Crawfurdland died with James IV on the battlefield of Flodden in 1513.

Sir Thomas Crawfurd of Jordanhill fought at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 and although captured by the English, was later released.  He was a member of Lord Darnley's retinue for his marriage to Mary Queen of Scots in 1565, and later denounced Maitland of Lethington and Sir James Balfour for Darnley's murder. He was no admirer of the Queen, leading a force of men to capture Dumbarton Castle from her supporters in 1570. 

In 1761, John Craufurd, 20th  Laird of Crawfurdland, a distinguished solider, was appointed Hereditary Falconer to the King.  When he died in 1793, he left his entire estate to Sir Thomas Coutts, the banker, prompting his daughter, Elizabeth, to contest the Will. She won, and the family estates were restored.

Sir Alexander Craufurd of Kilbrinie was created a baronet in 1781. Robert Craufurd of Kilbrinie commanded the Light Division during the Peninsular War (1808-14) and following his death, a monument was erected in his memory at St Paul's Cathedral in London. In the last century, the 23rd  Laird of Auchinanes emigrated to Canada.

George Crawford (d.1748) was a Scottish genealogist who published a Scottish peerage in 1716. John Crawford (11783-1868) succeeded Sir Stamford Raffles in 1823 as administrator of Singapore.

Places of Interest:
Crawfurdland Castle, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Seat of the Crawford Family from 16th century.

Loudon Estates on River Irvine, Ayrshire. Originally owned by the Crawfords, but passed to the Campbells through marriage.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The Crawford surname is most commonly found in Glasgow City, Dumbartonshire ( East and West), Ayrshire (North, East and South Ayrshire, The Isle of Arran, Great Cumbrae and Little Cumbrae), Renfrewshire, Argyll and Bute, Stirlingshire, Falkirk, Clacks and Fife.

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