Clan Crawford is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. The clan is of Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon origin. Since the early 18th century a belief has been held by some historians that the clan had Norman origins. While historically recognised as a clan by the Court of the Lord Lyon, it is now an armigerous clan as it no longer has a chief. The last chief was Hugh Ronald George Craufurd, who sold his land (Auchenames, Crosbie and other estates) and moved to Canada in 1904. He died in Calgary in 1942, leaving no male heirs. History Origins of the clan Legendary origins The surname of Crawford comes from the barony of Crawford, adopted around 1125 when Norman knights who came with King David I when he returned to Scotland to assume the throne and instituted Norman feudalism. The name is taken from the barony of the same name in Lanarkshire. The early names of all of the principal Crawford families are all Norman, however some scholars have asserted an Anglo-Danish ancestry. There is a tradition that Reginald, who was a son of the Earl of Richmond was one of the Norman knights who were established by David I of Scotland. The Crawfords appear in a legendary incident when the king's life was saved from a stag and this led to the foundation of Holyrood Abbey. It is said that Sir Gregan Crawford was instrumental in saving his royal master's life. Recorded origins Sir Reginald Crawford was appointed sheriff of Ayr in 1296. His sister married Wallace of Elderslie and was mother of the Scottish patriot William Wallace. (If going by the traditional origin of William Wallace as son of Malcolm Wallace of Elderslie). The Crawfords rallied to their Wallace cousin during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The family of the Crawford sheriff of Ayr produced the main branches of the clan: the Crawfords of Auchinames and the Crawfords of Craufurdland. The chiefly line is reckoned to be that of Auchinames in Renfrewshire who received a grant for their lands from Robert the Bruce in 1320. After the clan disbanded, the clan split into families. 15th, 16th and 17th centuries Sir William Crawford was knighted by James I of Scotland and fought with the Scots forces in the service of Charles VII of France. In 1423 he was wounded at the siege of Creyult in Burgundy. John of the Craufurdland