Crockatt

This interesting name has two possible origins. The first being a nickname for someone wearing a particular hair style, deriving from the Medieval English "croket" meaning "a large curl". In Scotland the Galloway family name Crockett is said to be derived from Macriocaird, from the Gaelic "mac" meaning "son(of)" and the personal name Rickard (Richard). The first recorded spelling is found in Scotland (see below). Crok(k)at and Croket being alternate spellings (1483 to 1614). In 1634 one John Crokkit in Achinkyle was charged with "molesting the minister at Inchcallioch and stealing his timber". The illustrious name bearer Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier, was killed at the battle of the Alamo (1845). A Coat of Arms granted to the family depicts three Cornish choughs proper on a silver shield, and the crest being a Cornish clough prope. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Huwe Croket of Kameslank (Cambeuslang) which was dated 1296, were he rendered homage during the reign of John Balliol of Scotland 1292 - 1296 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.