Crossier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Scotland
Ireland
England

This name is "derived from an official title. 'the crosier,' one who carried the bishop's cross or pastoral staff." 1 It is derived from the "Old French, crosier, crocier, crosser ‘crosier’, the bearer of a bishop’s crook or pastoral staff, or of the cross at a monastery. The name might also denote a seller of crosses or a dweller by a cross. Croyser is the common early form." 2

Early Origins of the Crossier family

The surname Crossier was first found in Liddesdale, where they belonged to an old Border Clan seated at Liddisdale, Roxburghshire. 3

"Persons of this name were early settlers in Liddesdale, and c. 1376 we find "locus Croyser" in the rent-roll of the lordship. William Crosier, professor of philosophy in the newly founded University of St. Andrews, 1410. William Croyser, a Scotsman at present in Bruges, in Flanders, to have a safe conduct in England in 1429, is perhaps Master William Croyser, archdeacon of Teviotdale, who had a safe conduct to travel in England in 1433." 4

While the name is most famous in Scotland, in England the first record of the family was William le Croyser who was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1264. William le Crocer was found in Suffolk in 1305 and Thomasa Croser was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1393. 2

Near the border of Scotland and England, Yorkshire listed Cristiana Croiser; and Johannes Croser in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 1

In Norfolk, John Crosier, was listed there, 6 Henry V and William Crosier, was listed 46 Edward III. 5 In both these cases, the year of the king's reign denoted the year of the entry. For example, 6 Henry V, denoted during the sixth year of King Henry V's reign.

Early History of the Crossier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crossier research. Another 278 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1424, 1436, 1475, 1526, 1537, 1564, 1569, 1587, 1855, 1864, 1870 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Crossier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crossier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crozier, Crosier, Croyser, Crosar, Crozer and others.

Early Notables of the Crossier family

Notable amongst the family at this time was William Crozier, the English oboe player, whose tone and exquisite taste will not soon be forgotten by those who heard him in the Crystal Palace...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crossier Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crossier family to Ireland

Some of the Crossier family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crossier family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: James Crosier who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1766; with his wife Mary, brother Thomas and his wife Sarah; James and Mary Crosier arrived in New England in 1805.

Citations +

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)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
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)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print