To whom did the British Crown grant land during the Colonial Period?

During the Colonial Period, the British Crown granted land primarily to various groups and individuals as part of its colonial expansion efforts. This included land grants to settlers, explorers, and land companies, aimed at encouraging the establishment of colonies and the cultivation of new territories. Such land grants were crucial for attracting settlers to these regions, facilitating the growth of agriculture, trade, and ultimately the economic development of the colonies.

While other groups had interactions or claims to land during this time—such as Native American tribes, who inhabited the land long before European contact, or foreign nations with competing territorial interests—the primary mechanism for land distribution by the British authorities was through grants made to individuals and groups interested in developing the land as colonies. This practice significantly influenced the demographic and cultural landscape of North America during the Colonial Period.