Show ContentsCrowle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxon name Crowle comes from the family having resided in either the settlement of Crowell, which is in the county of Oxfordshire, or in the place of the same name in Spofforth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The latter settlement no longer exists. The surname Crowle belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Crowle family

The surname Crowle was first found in Oxfordshire at Crowell, a parish, in the union of Thame, hundred of Lewknor. However, Walmer in Kent was also home to some of the family since early times. "Near the church is a deep fosse, with other vestiges of ancient intrenchments; and in the churchyard several stone coffins were discovered about 50 years since, supposed to have belonged to the Crowl family, of whom Sir Nicholas, in the reign of Edward I., erected a mansion in the village, of which there are still some remains." [1] The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Robert de Croule in Worcestershire and Richard de Crowell, or Richard de Crol in Lincolnshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Crull and Thomas de Crull. [2] Crowle is a small town and civil parish on the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire and a parish in Worcestershire. The Crowle spelling of the name is today most numerous in Cornwall.

Early History of the Crowle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crowle research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1657, 1661, 1679, 1724, 1747, 1754 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Crowle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crowle Spelling Variations

Crowle has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Crowell, Crowel, Croull, Crowill, Crawll and others.

Early Notables of the Crowle family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Alderman George Crowle, English politician, Sheriff of Kingston upon Hull in 1657, and mayor in 1661 and 1679 and his grandson, Richard Crowle, an English lawyer and politician, Member of Parliament f...


United States Crowle migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Crowles to arrive on North American shores:

Crowle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Crowle, (b. 1861), aged 31, Cornish clay miner travelling aboard the ship "Etruria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th June 1892 en route to New York, USA [3]
  • Mr. David Crowle, (b. 1872), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Germanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th April 1893 en route to Pennsylvania, USA [3]
  • Mr. Paul Crowle, (b. 1876), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 17th July 1897 en route to New York City, New York, USA [3]
  • Mr. Tom Crowle, (b. 1867), aged 30, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 31st July 1897 en route to the United States [3]
  • Mrs. Matilda Crowle, (b. 1857), aged 41, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "Britannic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd September 1898 en route to Pennsylvania, USA [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Crowle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Ernest Crowle, (b. 1879), aged 21, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 11th February 1900 en route to Hancock, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Mr. Thomas Crowle, (b. 1877), aged 28, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Caronia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Mr. Edward Crowle, (b. 1880), aged 25, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Mr. Samuel Crowle, (b. 1878), aged 27, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Houghton, Michigan, USA [3]
  • Mr. Samuel John Crowle, (b. 1886), aged 19, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Hancok, Michigan, USA [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Crowle migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crowle Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Crowle who was awarded Lot 6 (28.16 sq miles) in a land lottery in 1767 of lands in Prince County, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Australia Crowle migration to Australia +

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

Crowle Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Crowle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848 [4]
  • Caroline Crowle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848 [4]
  • James Crowle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848 [4]
  • William Crowle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848 [4]
  • James Crowle, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harry Lorrequer" in 1849 [5]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Crowle 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:

Crowle Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Frances Crowle, (b. 1851), aged 27, Cornish cook departing on 31st October 1878 aboard the ship "Northern Monarch" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 1st February 1879 [6]
  • Miss Frances Crowle, (b. 1851), aged 27, Cornish cook departing on 31st October 1878 aboard the ship "Northern Monarch" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 1st February 1879 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Crowle (post 1700) +

  • Rex Crowle, Cornish-born graphic designer, animation director and video game designer
  • Alfred Charles Crowle (1889-1979), Mexican-born of Cornish descent Technical Director to Selección de fútbol de México (Mexico national team)

HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Jack Alfred Francis Crowle (1923-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Prahran, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [8]


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM - EMIGRANT SHIP - 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848DavidMalcolm.htm
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARRY LORREQUER 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849HarryLorrequer.htm
  6. 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
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
  8. 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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