The ancient surname CRAIG

Cragie Castle

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The ancient surname CRAIG originated independently in numerous locations and is found in many variations, although its earliest beginnings lie with Scotland, and later, North Ireland. There are many forms and spellings of the name, among them, CRAIGH, CREAG, CRAIGHE, and CREIGH. In Scottish gaelic, "craig" means "rock"; throughout Scotland, many forts and defensible positions were built on the massive rock outcroppings on both the shoreline and the interior of the county. The surname CRAIG, by extension, was then applied to the people who occupied these rocky environs and fortifications.

EARLIEST HISTORY

The CRAIG surname is first found in the area of the Picts, in the eastern part of Scotland. The Picts, considered to be among the earliest settlers of Scotland, were granted settlement of the area on condition that their kings marry Irish princesses. There is evidence in early documents of the name Craig, or a derivative of, before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name CRAIG emerged as a Clan in the original territories of Aberdeen, seated at Craigfintray Castle in Kildrumie in that Shire. This Northern Clan, frequently associated with the Gordons, first appears in the Ayershire and Lanarckshire areas, circa 1180. There were two other Clans, one associated with the Huntley's, and who were pledged to King Edward I of England during his conquest of Scotland. Fealty was sworn to Edward I by Johan de Cragyn of the county of Linlithgow in 1296. Johan Craig of the same shire and Agneys del Crage of Edinburghshire and Johan del Cragge of Lanarckshire also paid homage in 1296. By 1300, in Aberdeenshire, Bryce de Craig was Burgess of Aberdeen. The land of James del Crag, son of John del Craig, in Ayershire, is mentioned in 1323. Alexander de Cragy was forfeited in 1334, and then pardoned in 1335.

After the foundation of the Church of Scotland, political dissent occurred over the power of the King and civil authorities over the rights of the Church. This led to the beginning of the Presbyterian movement. Many of these religious dissenters fled to Northern Ireland and its freer religious environment. Religious and civil war soon reached North Ireland, bringing more Scots to live in the North. During the 1600's many Scots emigrated to North Ireland, called the "Plantation of Ulster"… our Craig's and Campbell's among them.Thomas' son, Sir James Craig of Craig Castle and Craigston of Aberdeen became one of theScottish undertakers of the Ulster Plantation. Sir James went to England in 1603, had grants of revision of the clerkship of the Wardrobe and of the Office of Assistant Clerk in the King's Great Wardrobe. In 1610 he was granted 1000 acres in County Armagh, which he later sold ......

It is assumed that if a person's CRAIG forefathers came to America from North Ireland, there is a good chance he was a descendent of James, especially if they emigrated between just after the Revolutionary War (U.S) and 1810

Thank You Bart Fowers Cragun

It is my hope that others will collaborate on our interesting Cragun family history. 

I received this information from a distant cousin, Bart Fowers Cragun. You may have seen his work on http://findagrave.com/ as he provided much on that site. Bart provided me the following. I had told him I would like to go deeper than our Aunt, Eva Heiner Cragun and to prove or dispel some of the Patrick Cragun fables and stories. I really wanted to prove them.

Even more, the trail with Patrick stops too soon. What about Caleb? Who was his mother?

From Bart:
I have been searching for more information on Patrick, but have yet to find anything concrete. The bulk of my information has come from the book written by my 2nd great aunt Eva C. Heiner.
The books that my grandfather, Earl B. Cragun, wrote also contain similar information.

Because there is no solid information available I have been researching for information on both Patrick and his father Caleb Cragun.

I would really like to know where the 'Cragun' name originated and how it was spelled. By doing so I hope to be able to solve some of our puzzle.

My grandpa Earl served his mission in Europe starting in 1927. Here are some of his writings concerning his genealogical research in Scotland & Ireland.

June 15th - I called at the Register House with Elder Duncan. A most marvelous collection of books is assembled here. Tens of thousands of well bound old records are on the steel shelves
in this massive fire-proof building, and adjoining buildings. My disappointment was a great one, in failing to find references to the name 'Cragun'. Craigen, Craig, Craigie, and almost a hundred
different forms of spelling of this name, is found in various parts of Scotland. However, the searchers of the records told me that most likely, possible, and very probable, that is came through a
succession of changes from the name more like M'Cracken, and that the M'Cracken's migrated to the Scottish West Coast at Wigtown, and then returned to Ireland. Many of them could have
dropped the 'Mac' (M'c) (Meaning 'son of') from their name. Thus, Cracken could be their new name. It may have been that the spelling was changed in Ireland or in America to Cragun. After
1600 A.D., the people in Scotland did less traveling about, than before that date. It was more usual for people to move westward. It was a very common thing for Scottish familes moving to Ireland,
to drop the Mac from their names.

June 22nd - Elder Royal Jensen and I, have spent the entire day in the Public Library in search for clues that will aid in tracing the 'Cragun' name preceding Patrick Cragun of 1726. After my findings today, I feel that most likely M'Cracken has no relationship to Cragun. The name Cragun, though varied in it's forms of spelling, is very much Irish. Many prominent citizens in this country are known by the names Cregan and Cragen. In the riots of 1922, the older records of the country were burned, and therefore, histories and genealogies are only obtainable as a rule, from the beginning of 1800. Churches and towns in Armaugh, and other counties, bear the name of Cragan, etc.

** (Interesting Note: My grandpa says 'Patrick Cragun of 1726', but for the most part all other information says Patrick was born around 1745/46)

June 25th - ... I rode along the border between Ulster and the Free State, for fifteen miles, to the Parish of Cragun, (spelled Creggan)....

June 26th - After a decent breakfast, I returned to the Creggan Parish Church by the way of this beautiful little road. I took a snap shot of the Creggan School, Church, and Rectory House. I made a special tour of the Cemetery and the gravestones. Both the Church and the Cemetery are very ancient in age and looks, and dates back to the Pre-Reformation days. Creggan means 'Little Rock'. The church stands on a rocky cliff which projects out into the gulch through which a stream called Creggan flows. The entire place is heavily wooded with beautiful trees, and covered with a blanket of grass and flowers. Some of the records in the church are very old, even dating back to 1780.

The Cragun name was not to be found on the records. The people in this part of the country are very curious. It's a question of death, when once they engage in fights and quarrels.

In Newry, I heard of a family of Cregans living there. I called at the home and as the woman (Mrs. Cregan) opened the door, she stepped back with great surprise, and stood spell bound. I told her my name and the purpose of my visit. I was invited inside. She said that at first sight she thought that I was her husbands cousin, who was killed in the war in a submarine, for I looked so very much like him. Upon the wall hung a picture of her husband, Mr. Cregan, and it looked just like my Uncle James Hyrum Cragun of Council Bluffs, Iowa. At last, Mr. Cregan arrived at the home, and an interesting conversation ensued. He owns a bus company bearing his name. He testified that hundreds of families of... (the page stops there, the next page being a different record. I will have to talk to my aunt to see if she still has the original record of this to search for my clues & information).

Please let me know what I can do to be of more help.

Thanks,
Bart Cragun > David Rhees Cragun > Earl Budge Cragun > Mormon Cragun > Wilford E. Cragun > Simeon Cragun > Etc.