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You
won't have little bugs crawling all over you if you don't
join up with us, but -- why not think about it, anyway? You
won't have little bugs crawling all over you if you don't
join up with us, but -- why not think about it, anyway?By: Earl P. Crandall (1937 - 2002) (#4074-1)
Former CFA Genealogist(1995 - 2002)
It is extremely unfortunate that John Cortland Crandall in the preface of his 1949 genealogy of the family included that "fake crest"! Now, thousands and thousands of descendants of Elder John1 Crandall think that they "have a crest" that belongs to the family and is "theirs".
To give John Cortland Crandall credit, it is written in the front of the book that "Burk's General Armory and Encyclopedia of Heraldry does not list any Armorial Coat for the Crandall or Crandell families." Sadly, most readers of the genealogy do not read this page! Then Mr. Crandall goes on to state that "Since Crandall and Crandell are modifications of the Welsh name, Cran, it is believed that those bearing the surnames Crandall and Crandell can lay claim to the Cran Coat of Arms! For those who know anything about the "rules and regulations" of heraldry, this last statement is patently absurd!
Regarding crests and coats of arms: Even if you find one which can be documented, it might not really belong to you. These crests were passed on from generation to generation in a very definite manner — from the bearer of the crest to the first born son (and to that son, only!). Hence, unless you, yourself, are a first born son as is your father and grandfather and great grandfather all the way back to the person who was granted the arms, it does NOT "belong" to you or your family.
Of course, many people do not like to hear that ... but, that's the way it really is!
Any search with a bona fide heraldry organization will quickly show that there is no Crandall Coat of Arms legally registered anywhere.
Most of you have probably seen many times the "computerized heraldry" salespeople plying their trade. This is the "thing" you may run into in your local malls, especially at Christmas time. I always feel like picketing these places, because so many innocent people just go up, do the search, and then accept as Gospel whatever the printout says, and then will purchase that same printout and usually buy another with a family crest for framing.
Be forewarned!! Although some of these documents might be true, the vast majority are not. It is a known fact among most genealogists, that things like this are usually a scam of some sort. Someone, in other words, is making money from your lack of knowledge on the subject.
For example, if you should type in the name "Crandall", you will get a printout of a spurious origin of the name. It is not documented in England, Wales, or anywhere else. A family crest is described, but there was never a family crest for this name registered in England, Wales, Scotland, or Ireland. (I suppose I should admit at this point, that in the 1970's I, myself, did "bite", and I bought a Crandall family crest and "story" but that was when I was genealogically ignorant!)
In any event be wary of these schemes, and think twice before you get "taken" ...
AND ... in addition to that!! Since we as an organization are trying hard to maintain some genealogical integrity, you may sometimes see some other things that you might have to get used to. For example, the line offered in Mr. Crandall's 1949 genealogy on p xix, offering the family a tie to the Drake family and to English and Scottish royalty, is totally untrue! To repeat, it is spurious!
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Questions? Comments? 