Home / Scottish Clans - Histories, Tartans Crests and much more / Clan Crawford (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

Clan Crawford (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

By ScotsTee Shop

Crawford

Clan Crest: A stag’s head erased, Gules, between the attires a cross crosslet fitchée, Sable

Clan Motto: Tutum Te Robore Reddam (I will give you safety by strength)

Origin of Tartan: A lowland tartan from the “Vestiarium Scoticum”

Lands: Lanarkshire

Clan Chief: Hugh Crawfurd of Auchinames (d. 1942)

⇨ View All Crawford Tartan Products

Crawford Clan History

Crawford was a barony in Clydesdale's Upper Ward. Galfridus of Crawford's name appears around 1179, and he appears to have been a successful man.

Sir Reginald of Crawford was appointed Sheriff of Ayr during the reign of William the Lion. He was present as a witness to a grant in favor of Kelso Abbey (main image), accompanied by three sons.

Throughout the twentieth century, the name Crawford appears on numerous charters. In 1248, Sir John Crawford of that ilk died. His eldest daughter married Archibald of Douglas, and his second daughter married David Lindsay of Wauchopedale, the Earls of Crawford's ancestor.

Sir Archibald, the Sheriff of Ayr in 1297, had a sister named Margaret. Their father had been murdered in a cowardly manner at a banquet by the English, and when she married Sir Malcolm Wallace, she had a son, William, who would become Scotland's greatest nationalist.

During this time, the family split into three distinct branches. In 1320, Sir Archibald and Margaret's brother obtained a grant of Auchinames from Robert the Bruce. Hugh Crawfurd, the 21st of Auchinames, sold his inherited property and died in the 1980s in Alberta, Canada.

Crawfurdland is another branch that originated with the Sheriff's younger son. Robert III bestowed his lands on him in 1391. The third branch descends from Sir John of Crawford, whose descendants acquired the Kilbirnie estates in 1499. Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill came from this house.

In 1470, the Crawfords acquired Kilbirnie Castle in Ayrshire through marriage. It was kept in the family until 1833.

In 1530, Thomas was the sixth son of Lawrence of Kilbirnie, and the family inheritance was dwindling, so he had to make his own money. He served in France under Henry II before returning to Scotland with Queen Mary in 1561. He married the Queen and became a member of the Darnley family. In 1569, he identified the true murderers of Lord Darnley but was ignored.

In 1781, the senior line of Kilbirnie was bestowed with a baronetcy.

Clan Crawford Places & People

Clan Crawford Individuals

Jordanhill's Tom Crawford

Except for Edinburgh, the seemingly impenetrable Dumbarton Castle remained in the hands of Mary, Queen of Scots supporters for the longest period of time. The castle was only taken when Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill led a spectacular and risky assault.

Clan Crawford Locations

Craufurdland Castle in Ayrshire is one of the region's oldest castles, dating back to 1245.

Simon Craufurd is the current owner, so it is still in Crauford (Crawford) hands. The castle has rich associations with many of Scotland's leading figures, wonderful stories of a tunnel that thwarted the attacking English, and a tale of King James I battling a gang of bandits.

The following is a list of castles and lands that have been or are currently associated with Clan Crawford:

ABERDEENSHIRE

(Ruins of Fedderate Castle)

Cloverhill Estate (in use)

AYRSHIRE

(Ruins of) Loudon Castle

Craufurdland Castle (Ardoch, in use as a hotel)

Beanscroft (in use)

Birkhead

Giffordland (in use)

Kilbirnie House (castle and ruins)

(Ruins of) Portencross Castle

(Ruins of) Ardrossan Castle

Ardmillan Castle (removed in 1990 after a fire in 1983)

Baidland is located near Dalry.

Drongan Castle (Drongan Mains Farm, ruins)

Wee Drumsuie Farm (ruins of Drumsuie Castle)

Kerse Castle (now Kersepark)

Crosbie House (currently occupied)

Auldmuir

Ardneil (taken)

Thirdpart

Liffnorris House (Occupied Dumfries House)

(Ruins of Terringzean Castle)

Cartsburn House (in the town of Greenock)

Dalleagles Farm (occupied, near New Cumnock)

Camlarg (now occupied as Dalmellington)

Crawfordton (Dalmagregan Branch, possibly related to Thorn, Closeburn, and Drongan Crawfords)

Redeveloped Restalrig Estate

GLASGOW

Possil Estate (renovated)

Redeveloped Auchenairn Estate

Lanarkshire

(Ruins of Crawford Castle)

Crawfordjohn (town, Boghouse Castle built from Crawfordjohn Castle materials by James Hamilton of Finart)

PERTHSHIRE

Elcho Farm (currently occupied by Elcho Castle)

Powmill (in use)

RENFREWSHIRE

Drumry Estate (renovated)

Jordanhill House (now occupied by the School)

Auchenames House (currently occupied)

Third Part of the Hall

Farme Castle (renovated)

Castlemilk Castle (rebuilt)

STIRLINGSHIRE

Haining Castle (Unoccupied Almond Castle)

Photo (no east wing) - Painting (east wing)

IRELAND

Crawfordsburn (village)

Clan Crawford Points of Interest

Crawford Castle is located on the Old Barony of Crawford.

Parish of Crawfordjohn

Drongan

Terringzean Castle and Liffnorris Estate

Farm Dalleagles

Castle (Place), Kilbirnie Kirk

Jordanhill and Drummer

Dunbarton Castle is a Scottish castle.

The Edinburgh Castle

(Ruins of) Loudon Castle

Castle Craufurdland

Birkhead and Giffordland

Crosbie Towers are the traditional Crosbie Towers.

Dalmellington's Camlarg

Ardmillan Castle in Baieland

Ellerslie and Crosshouse (actually Crosbie or Corsbie)

Abby from Dunfermline

Elcho Farm (later renamed Elcho Castle)

Estate of Auchenames

Strathaven

Crawfordton

Crawfordston

Kilbirnie Branch of Greenock Estates (Cartsburn)

Fedderat Castle in Fraserburgh (not shown in Aberdeenshire)

Auchenames Cadet's Portencross Castle (West Kilbride, not shown)

Auchenames Cadet's Ardrossan Castle (West Kilbride, not shown)

Cloverhill Manor

Estate of Easter Seaton

CLAN CRAWFORD'S IMPORTANT BATTLES

The Battle of Largs

Wallace Monument, Stirling Bridge Battle (Cambuskenneth)

Falkirk Battle

Bannockburn Battle

Crawford Clan Tartans

Another tartan from the Vestairium Scoticum is the Crawford tartan. Crawford, as a border clan/family, would have never had a tartan prior to this. The original colored plate, however, is scarlet red rather than the wine shade we know today.

The term 'ancient' refers to lighter dye shades, whereas'modern' refers to darker colors.

Threadcount DCrimson/12 W4 DC60 G24 DC6 G24 DC/6

Crawford the Elder

--------------------------------------------------

Crawford Contemporary

Clan Crawford Crest & Coats of Arms

Crawford Clan Crest

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Gules, a stag's head erased, a cross crosslet fitchée between the attires, Sable

Coats of Arms of Clan Crawford

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.

CRAWFORD and his ilk

Ermine, Gules, a fesse

--------------------------------------------------

CRAWFORD of Auchinamese descent

Argent, two spears tilting in saltire, Proper, four ermine spots, Sable

--------------------------------------------------

Quarterly, first and fourth, gules a fess checky argent and azure (for LINDSEY); second and third, or a lion rampant gules, debruised of a ribbon in bend sable (for ABERNATHY).

CREST: An antique ducal coronet or a swan's head, neck, and wings proper.

BACKGROUND: Two lions, rampant guardant gules

MOTTO: "Endure fort" (be brave in your suffering).CREATIONS: 21 April - 2 May 1398 (of Crawford), 1443 (of Balcarres), and 1650 (of Lindsey/Balniel)

--------------------------------------------------