| Craven in the Domesday Book | |
|---|---|
| The National Archives, Kew, London | |
 | |
| Date | prehistory to 11th Century |
The extent of the medieval district of Craven, in the north of England is a matter of debate. The name Craven is either pre-Celtic British, Britonnic or Romano-British in origin. However, its usage continued following the ascendancy of the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans – as was demonstrated by its many appearances in the Domesday Book of 1086. Places described as being In Craven in the Domesday Book fell later within the modern county of North Yorkshire, as well as neighbouring areas of West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. Usage of Craven in the Domesday Book is, therefore, circumstantial evidence of an extinct, British or Anglo-Saxon kingdom or subnational entity (such as a shire or earldom).
The forner local government district of Craven – a much smaller area entirely within North Yorkshire – was defined in 1974 and was abolished in 2023 to be replaced by the unitary authority of North Yorkshire.