| ![Show Contents]() Critchell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Critchell is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived as dwellers at the crosslea. The surname Critchell 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 Critchell familyThe surname Critchell 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 Critchell familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Critchell research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1150, 1200 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Critchell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Critchell Spelling VariationsBefore the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Critchell were recorded, including 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 Critchell familyMore information is included under the topic Early Critchell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Critchell migration to the United States | + |
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Critchell family emigrate to North America:
Critchell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Robert Critchell, who landed in Maryland in 1665 6
Critchell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James Critchell, who arrived in New York in 1846 6
Critchell Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- R M Critchell, who landed in America, in 1903
- Robert S. Critchell, aged 62, who immigrated to America, in 1906
- John P. Critchell, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
- Walter Critchell, aged 39, who landed in America, in 1912
- Jennie Critchell, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1912
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Critchell migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Critchell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- John Critchell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
| Contemporary Notables of the name Critchell (post 1700) | + |
- Kyle Adrian Ross Critchell (b. 1987), English footballer
- 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)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Critchell migration to the United States 
Critchell migration to New Zealand 
England
Scotland
