The Craft Family in Our Kentish Genealogy
There are approximately 2,410 people named Craft in the UK. 38 out of every million people in the UK are named Craft.
"Firstly, the surname may be a nickname for a smart, cunning person, deriving from the Olde English pre 7th Century "craeft", craft, skill. The surname may also be a topographical name for someone who lived by a "croft", an arable enclosure usually adjacent to a house, from the Olde English "croft", croft, piece of enclosed land used for tillage or pasture." - the Internet Surname Database
Early Craft Family Records:
1284 Lease in Hartlip - Peter Bernard leased a garden with house built on it with trees and other appurtenances in Hartlip to Sir William de Motyndun [i.e. Mottenden], almoner of Rochester Priory. Conditions: 1. If Peter Barnard repays the 25s. at Michaelmas 1285 he shall receive back the property. 2. If he defaults in payment, the almoner shall pay him 20s. over and above the 25s., and 1 seam of barley each year for life from the priory granary in Hartlip by the hand or order of the almoner for the time being. The garden with the house shall remain the property of the priory forever as is contained in a charter relating to a feoffment made expressly to them. This charter was given to John, Vicar of Hartlip by consent of both parties, so that if Peter Bernard reclaimed the property the deed should be returned to him, and if not to the priory without delay or fraud on either side. 3. Peter Barnard also agreed on oath that the priory should have first right of purchase in the property and even if they wished to give only so much as other other men they should mediate without fraud or trickery. Witnesses Joce de Crofte, Thomas, his son, Ralph Cler', Joce, the smith, Richard de Holdestrete, Robert de Elmisted [i.e. Elmsted/Elmstead], John, his brother, Henry de la Dan', Adam Bernard, John Parnele, William de Sithingheburn' [i.e. Sittingbourne], John de Ealdegar', Simon de la Helle, John cler'.
The Lay Subsidy of 1334 - Thomas de Crofte was assessed 4s in Borden (no other Croft or Craft entries, which simply means they did not own land)