Show ContentsCrocker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Crocker is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a "grower of saffron," one of the most sought after and expensive spices. Alternatively, the name could have been from an occupation as in "the crocker," a potter, a maker of crocks, From Middle English word "crokke," an earthen pitcher. [1]

Early Origins of the Crocker family

The surname Crocker was first found in Devon where the first record of the family was John le Crochere recorded during the reign of Henry III - Edward I. "By tradition, Crocker is one of the most ancient of Devonshire names. " [2] "Lyneham, for nearly four centuries, was the seat of the great Devonshire family of Crocker. In Yealmpton Church is one of the finest brasses in the county, to Sir John Crocker of Lyneham, cupbearer to Edward IV." [3]

Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Simon le Crockere and William Crockare in Oxfordshire and the Writs of Parliament in 1301 listed John le Crokere. [1]

Hotten's Lists of Emigrants has some early entries for the surname in the United States: 'Richard Crocker, a child, living in Virginia, 1623' and 'Henry Crocker came to Virginia in the Abigail, 1620.'

Other early entries for the family include some early Latin versions: Helias de Creuequor in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1158; Robert de Creuequoer in the 1195 Pipe Rolls for Kent; Robert de Crouequoer, again in Kent in 1200; Rainald and Alexander Creuker in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1212 and finally, Robert de Crequer in Cheshire in 1284. [4]

The fictional Betty Crocker was used in advertising campaigns for food and recipes for the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1921. Apparently the name "Betty was selected because it was viewed as a cheery, All-American name. It was paired with the last name Crocker, in honor of William Crocker, a Washburn Crosby Company director." The brand was later bought by General Mills in 1954.

Early History of the Crocker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crocker research. Another 260 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1641, 1670 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Crocker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crocker Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Crocker are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Crocker include Croker, Crocker, Croager, Crough, Croaker, Croke and others.

Early Notables of the Crocker family

Distinguished members of the family include John (Johann) Croker (1670-1741), a well-known engraver of English coins and medals, of German origin, born at Dresden 21 Oct. 1670. "His father, who...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crocker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crocker Ranking

In the United States, the name Crocker is the 1,327th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. [5] However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Crocker is ranked the 69th most popular surname with an estimated 386 people with that name. [6]


United States Crocker migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Crocker or a variant listed above:

Crocker Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Henery Crocker, (b. 1586), aged 34 who arrived in Virginia in 1620 aboard the ship "Abigaile" [7]
  • Alice Crocker, who landed in Virginia in 1620-1621 [7]
  • Richard Crocker, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [7]
  • Jone Crocker, who arrived in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard the ship "Swan" [7]
  • Henery Crocker, who landed in Virginia in 1624-1625 aboard teh ship "Mary Gold" [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crocker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hugh Crocker, aged 20, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 [7]
Crocker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Crocker, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1822 [7]
  • Stephen Crocker, who arrived in New York in 1838 [7]
  • George Crocker, who landed in New York in 1841 [7]
  • W Crocker, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [7]
  • P Crocker, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crocker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Miss Emily Crocker, (b. 1867), aged 37, Cornish housekeeper travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th June 1904 en route to St Louis, Missouri, USA [8]
  • Mr. William John Crocker, (b. 1884), aged 20, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 8th May 1904 en route to Negaunee, Michigan, USA [8]

Canada Crocker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crocker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Robinson Crocker U.E. who settled in Schoodic Falls, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783; he served in the 74th Regiment and was part of the Penobscot Association [9]

Australia Crocker migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Crocker Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Miss Ann Crocker, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years , transported aboard the "Britannia III" on 18th July 1798, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [10]
Crocker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Crocker, (b. 1814), aged 20, English labourer who was convicted in Bristol, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 27th September 1834, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Thomas Crocker, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince George" in 1838 [12]
  • Mr. John Crocker, English convict who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Canton" on 20th September 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [13]
  • Mr. John Crocker, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • Mrs. Eliza Crocker, aged 30, who landed in Nelson, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Crocker 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:

Crocker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. M. Crocker, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 [14]
  • S. Crocker, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Three Bells" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th July 1858 [15]
  • Mrs. Elizabeth Crocker, (b. 1833), aged 30, Cornish settler departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 [16]
  • Miss Elizabeth Crocker, (b. 1863), aged 4 months, Cornish settler departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 [16]
  • Mr. James A. Crocker, (b. 1836), aged 27, Cornish carpenter departing on 18th June 1863 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 5th September 1863 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Crocker (post 1700) +

  • Mary Lou Daniel Crocker (1944-2016), American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour
  • William Henry Crocker (1861-1937), American president of Crocker National Bank
  • Chester Arthur Crocker (1941-1981), American diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs ( 1981 to 1989)
  • Charles Crocker (1822-1888), American railroad executive, founder of Central Pacific Railroad
  • Frankie "Hollywood" Crocker (1937-2000), legendary New York radio DJ inducted into the New York State Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame in 2005
  • Ryan Clark Crocker (b. 1949), Career Ambassador within the United States Foreign Service, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
  • Ian Crocker (b. 1982), American fourteen-time gold medalist swimmer, three-time Olympic champion
  • Harry Crocker (1893-1958), American film star of the 1920s
  • Benjamin D. Crocker, American politician, U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for Washington, 1909 [17]
  • Benjamin Crocker, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Washington County 1st District, 1848 [17]
  • ... (Another 50 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Leslie Joseph Crocker (1899-1941), Australian Petty Officer Cook from Kensington, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [18]


The Crocker 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: Deus alit eos
Motto Translation: God feeds them.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. 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)
  8. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Britannia
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  12. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE GEORGE 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838PrinceGeorge-London.htm
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/canton
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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