Show ContentsCrosthwait History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Crosthwait family

The surname Crosthwait was first found in Cumberland. 1 2 While technically in England, Cumberland (Cumbria) is actually on the Scottish Borders, an area of conflict for centuries between the Scottish and the English.

"There are places named Crossthwaite in Cumberland, Westmorland, and Yorkshire." 3

As far as early records of the family are concerned, they are indeed few as we only found one record of the family in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273: John de Crostweyt and this was a family in Norfolk. 2

Early History of the Crosthwait family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crosthwait research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1534, 1721 and 1729 are included under the topic Early Crosthwait History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crosthwait Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crossthwaite, Crosthwaite, Crosswaith, Crosswaite and others.

Early Notables of the Crosthwait family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Thomas Crosthwaite of Dublin

Ireland Migration of the Crosthwait family to Ireland

Some of the Crosthwait family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 30 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Crosthwait migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crosthwait Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Leland P. Crosthwait, aged 32, arrived in New York, NY in 1897 aboard the ship "Germanic" from Liverpool, England 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Crosthwait (post 1700) +

  • David Crosthwait (1898-1976), American mechanical and electrical engineer, inventor, and writer; at the time of his death he held 39 United States patents and 80 international patents
  • Robert Crosthwait (b. 1952), American professional football player
  • Leland Crosthwait, British Governor General of the Bank of Ireland in 1851
  • Timothy Crosthwait, British diplomat, British High Commissioner in Zanzibar in 1964, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Republic of Madagascar (1970-1975)
  • Irwin Crosthwait (1914-1981), Canadian painter, best known for his work as a fashion illustrator


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)
  4. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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