Show ContentsRycroft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Rycroft family name to the British Isles. They lived at Rycroft, in the parish of Birstall, Yorkshire. The surname literally means "dweller by the ryecroft," from the Old English words "ryge, croft." [1]

Early Origins of the Rycroft family

The surname Rycroft was first found in Yorkshire at Ryecroft, a hamlet in the township of Tong, and parish of Birstall. [2] There are several smaller communities that bear this name including locals in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. But it is from Yorkshire that one of the first records of the name was found: Margareta de Rycroft who was listed there in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. The same rolls list Ricardus Rycroft. [2]

While there is no doubt of the Yorkshire origin of the name, we would be remiss if we did not include a couple of early entries for the name, that of: Richard de Riecroft at Barnewall, Cambridgeshire c. 1230; and Richard de Ruycroft in the Assize Rolls for Staffordshire in 1325. [1]

By the 16th century, the family had branched to Cheshire where the Wills at Chester listed Margaret Rycroft, of Haigh, widow, 1582 and George Minshull, of Rycroft, yeoman, 1586. [2]

Early History of the Rycroft family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rycroft research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1646, 1650, 1690, 1779 and 1895 are included under the topic Early Rycroft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rycroft Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Rycroft, Roycroft, Raycroft and others.

Early Notables of the Rycroft family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Richard Rycroft of Everlands. Samuel and Thomas Roycroft, made books in London from about 1650-1690 and from them the term "Roycroft" was born. Elbert Hubbard founded a community in 1895 in the vi...


United States Rycroft migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Rycroft or a variant listed above:

Rycroft Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edw Rycroft, who landed in Virginia in 1663 [3]
Rycroft Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Herbert E. Rycroft, aged 29, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1893
Rycroft Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Fred Rycroft, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
  • Albert Sewell Rycroft, aged 28, who immigrated to the United States from Bradford, England, in 1907
  • Robert H. Rycroft, aged 40, who settled in America from Bradford, England, in 1909
  • Mary Rycroft, aged 42, who immigrated to the United States from Bradford, England, in 1910
  • Nellie Rycroft, aged 17, who landed in America from Nelson, England, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rycroft (post 1700) +

  • Charles Louis Rycroft (1901-1998), English wealthy businessman, and a major philanthropist and benefactor of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
  • Sir Richard John Rycroft (b. 1946), 8th Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer
  • Sir Richard Newton Rycroft (1918-1999), 7th Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer
  • Sir Nelson Edward Oliver Rycroft (1886-1958), 6th Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer, High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1938
  • Sir Richard Nelson Rycroft (1859-1925), 5th Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer, High Sheriff of Hampshire in 1899
  • Sir Nelson Rycroft (1831-1894), 4th Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer
  • Sir Richard Henry Charles Rycroft (1793-1864), 3rd Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer
  • Sir Nelson Rycroft (1761-1827), 2nd Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer
  • Sir Richard Rycroft (1736-1786), 1st Baronet of Calton, Yorkshire, English peer, born Richard Nelson, he assumed by Royal sign-manual the surname of Rycroft
  • Sir Richard Rycroft, 7th Baronet and scion of the family
  • ... (Another 7 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Rycroft Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Faythe hathe no fear
Motto Translation: Faith has no fear.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  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. 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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