This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Crawford,' a parish in Lanarkshire, also several smaller places in North Britain. 'Sir Reginald de Craufurd, sheriff of Ayrshire in 1296, seems to have been the common ancestor of many branches of the family' (Lower's Patr. Brit). The variants of this surname are extremely numerous, among which are Crowfoot, Crafford, Croffit; v. Crofford.

Nicholas de Crauford, Somerset, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert de Crauford, Oxfordshire, ibid.

1685. Baptised — Anne, d. John Crawford: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1744. Buried — A. Crawford: St. Thomas the Apostle (London).

Of territorial origin from the old barony of Crawford in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. John de Crauford witnessed Abbot Arnold's charter to Theobald Flamaticus of the lands on the Douglas Water c. 1147—60 (Kelso, 107). He was probably a stepson of Baldwin de Bigir who also witnessed the charter. Galfridus de Crauford, probably a cleric, appears as witness to charters by Roger, bishop of St. Andrews, between 1188 and 1202 (RPSA., p. 154; Kelso, 431). Galfridus de Krauford witnessed the confirmation charter by John, earl of Huntingdoun of the land of Kynalchmund to the Abbey of Arbroath c. 1219 (RAA., I, 84). Helya de Craufurd was a charter witness c. 1203 (Dryburgh, 160), and in 1204 Roger, son of John de Crouford, witnessed resignation of the lands of Inglisbristoun (ibid., 163). Sir Reginald de Crauford, who was sheriff of Ayr in the reign of William the Lion (Melros, p. 64—66, 71), with William, John, and Adam, his sons, witnessed a grant by Hugh de Bygris, the son of Robert, son of Waldeve de Bigris, to the Abbey of Kelso in 1228 (Kelso, p. 153). About the same year Reginald, another son of Sir Reginald de Craufurde, was parson of the church of Strathavon (ibid., 280). Robert de Crauford witnessed the gift of Parva Kyp to Kelso a. 1240 (ibid., 181), and Roger de Crawford witnessed Eustace de Balliol's charter to Holyrood in 1262 (LSC., 81). Hugh de Crauford and John de Crauford, Scots, were adherents of Henry III of England in 1255 (Bain, I, 1937). John de Crauford, who died before 1259, gave land in Glengoner to the Cistercians of Neubotle (Neubotle, 146). Hugh de Craweford, who appears as a witness in Irvine in 1260 (Irvine, I, p. 5), may be the Sir Hugh of Crauford, knight who held the lands of Draffane in Lesmahagow of the Abbey of Kelso in 1271 (Kelso, p. 364). Reginald de Crauford witnessed a charter by James, Seneschal of Scotland, in 1294 (RMP., p. 96), and in 1296 was appointed sheriff of Ayr, and in the same year rendered homage for his possessions (Bain, II, 739,808). John de Crauuford and William de Craunford (error for Crauuford) of the county of Arne rendered homage in 1296. The seal of the latter bears a fess with indistinct charges between three mullets, and S' Will'i de Cravford (ibid., II, p. 206,214, 556). The name was early carried to France and is found there in the records of the Scots Guards as Crafort. In the vernacular of Buchan the name is pronounced Crawey. Crafoard 1691, Crafoord 1684, Craford and Crafford, 1464, Crafurd 1646, Crafuirde 1463, Crauffuid 1566, Craufoord 1695, Crauforth 1344, Craufuid 1506, Craufurde 1405, Crawfaird 1640, Crawfeurd 1512, Crawffurd 1623.

A parish of Lanarkshire, and several other places in North Britain. Sir Reginald de Craufurd, sheriff of Ayrshire in 1296, seems to have been the common ancestor of many branches of the family. The name was anciently written Craufuird.

Local: from the barony of Crawford in Lanarkshire-cru, bloody, and ford, a pass. The family are descended from Reginald de Crawford, living in the beginning of the twelfth century, who was the youngest son of Alan fourth Earl of Richmond.

Local. First assumed by the proprietor of the lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. The extreme ancestor of the ancient family of Crawford, in Scotland, was Reginald, youngest son of Alan, the fourth Earl of Richmond. He seems to have accompanied David the First to the north, and to have received extensive grants of land in Strath Cluyd, or Clydesdale, whence his immediate descendants adopted the name of Crawford, then forming one of the largest baronies in Scotland, and signifying in Gaelic "The pass of blood," from cru, bloody, and ford, a pass or way, as commemorative, probably, of some sanguinary conflict between the Aborigines and the Roman invaders. The name has been derived by others from crodh and port, pronounced cro—fort, signifying "a sheltering place for cattle."