Crichlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The name Crichlow first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived as dwellers at the crosslea. The surname Crichlow originally derived from the Old English word cruche which meant cross or crucifix. 1

Other sources disagree. One source claims the name is from "Crickley; a location name in Gloucestershire." 2 And another claims the name is "from a geographical locality 'of Critchlow,' or 'Chritchlow,' some small spot in Lancashire, probably in the neighbourhood of Chorley. I have failed to discover it." 3

We can find no record of Chritchlow in Lancashire today.

Early Origins of the Crichlow family

The surname Crichlow was first found in Northumberland where Vkke de Crikelawa was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. Later, John de Cruchelowe was found in Lancashire in 1342. 4

Early Cheshire records proved to be resourceful. The Wills at Chester include: Richard Crichlow, of Leyland, 1587; John Crichlowe, of Croxton, 1593; and Thomas Chrichlowe, of Leyland, 1606. The use of the spellings Critchley and Chrichlow seemed to be interchangeable as the Preston Guild Rolls record the same person with different spellings at different times: Edmund Crichlow, 1662; and Edmund Critchley, 1682. 3

The Lancashire Wills at Richmond list Anne Chrichlaw, of Ashtonliank, 1673; and William Critchley, of Lea, 1673.

In Scotland, the spelling used was typically Critchley, and was "recorded in Inverness, doubtless from Critchlow or Chritchlaw, some small spot in Lancashire." 5

Early History of the Crichlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crichlow research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1200 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Crichlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crichlow Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Crichlow has appeared include Critchley, Critchlie, Critchlow, Crichley, Crichlie, Crichly, Critchly, Crichlow, Crichelow, Cricheley, Crichelie, Crichely, Cretchley, Cretchlie, Cretchleigh, Critchleigh, Crichleigh, Cretchlow, Critchloe and many more.

Early Notables of the Crichlow family

More information is included under the topic Early Crichlow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crichlow migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Crichlow arrived in North America very early:

Crichlow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

S.J. Crichlow, aged 17, arrived in New York N.Y.C. in 1919 aboard the ship "Manoa" from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 6
Fitzgerald Crichlow, aged 26, originally from West Indies, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Mayaro" from Port of Spain, Trinidad 6
Benjamin Crichlow, aged 39, originally from San Fernando, Trinidad, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Maraval" from Port of Spain, Trinidad 6
Ambrozine Crichlow, aged 16, originally from CH. Church, Barbados, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Aidan" from Maceio 6
J. Ivan Crichlow, aged 18, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Guiana" from Georgetown, B. G. & West Indian Parts 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Crichlow (post 1700) +

Ernest Crichlow (1914-2005), American social realist artist
Major-General Robert William Jr. Crichlow (1897-1972), American Chief of Staff, US Army Service Command C (1945-1946) 7
Lenora Isabella Crichlow (b. 1985), English actress, known for her starring roles as Maria "Sugar" Sweet in Sugar Rush, Annie Sawyer in the drama series Being Human and as Shania Andrews in the drama film Fast Girls
Kieran Crichlow, English international footballer for Barbados, member of the Barbados National Team (2008-)
Herbert "Herbie" Crichlow (b. 1968), English four-time ASCAP-awarded music producer and songwriter
Harold Edmund Crichlow, Barbados prelate, the longest serving dean of Dean of Barbados from 1972 until 2000
Renn Crichlow (b. 1968), Canadian gold, silver and bronze medalist sprint kayaker who competed in the 1990s
Nathaniel “Natty” Elliott Crichlow (1922-2006), Trinidad and Tobago trade unionist and politician, President of the National Union of Government Employees (NUGE) in 1957, Senator for the People's National Movement (PNM) from 1963 to 1965
Frank Gilbert Crichlow (1932-2010), British community activist and civil rights campaigner

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 23) Robert Crichlow. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Crichlow/Robert_William_Jr./USA.html