Craig Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Craig Family History

Craig Family History

The ancient origin of the name Craig was found in the irishsurnames.com archives.

Surnames developed a wide number of variants over the centuries. Many different spelling variations of the same name can be traced back to a single original root. Also, when a bearer of a name emigrated from Ireland it was not uncommon that their original name would be incorrectly transcribed in the record books upon arrival at their new location. Some names have dozens of spelling variations. Some Surnames were also altered over the years based on how they sounded phonetically, by their sound, and depending on the prevailing political conditions it may have been advantageous to change a name from one language to another. This was especially so in Ireland where most Gaelic names were 'anglicized' at some stage.

Variants of the name Craig include Craigg, Craige, Craigie, Cragg, Craggs, Carrick and Craigh. Meaning 'at the craig', from a person who lived near a steep or precipitous rock. The name has appeared in early Scottish records originating from one or more townlands. This name is of Scottish descent spreading to Ireland, England and Wales in early times and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above countries. Examples of such are an Alex Craigg and Elizabeth Johnson who were married in Saint Georges Chapel, Mayfair, in the year 1748. In Scotland a Johannes del Crag witnessed a charter by William the Lion. The dramatic intervention of John of the Craig with his band of 300 played a decisive part in the Battle of Culblean in the year 1335.

In Ireland this name and its variants were introduced into Ulster Province by settlers who arrived from England and Scotland, especially during the seventeenth century. During the 'Plantations of Ireland' in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries Ireland was colonized by the English Crown with this period marking the end of Gaelic supremacy in Ireland. This period brought an influx of settlers into the country but, unlike the earlier Anglo-Norman invasion of the twelfth century that resulted in a full integration into Irish society of the new arrivals, the same never occurred with the Ulster Planters who maintained their own distinct identity.

The Craig family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Craig descendants.