Show ContentsCrumbe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The earliest origins of the Crumbe surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name reveals that an early member was a person with an abnormal curvature of the spine. The surname Crumbe is derived from the Old English word crump, which means bent or crooked. 1

In some cases the surname may be derived from either of the place names Croom, in Yorkshire, or Croome in Worcestershire.

Early Origins of the Crumbe family

The surname Crumbe was first found in Herefordshire, where "Thomas Crump was mayor of Hereford in 1610. The Crumps are also established in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Monmouthshire, and further reference to them will be found under one or more of those counties." 2

Looking back further, researchers found entries in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 with early spellings of the family: Richard le Crumppe, Salop (Shropshire); and Constancia Crompe, Oxfordshire. 3

"The surname is well known in the United States. Bridget Crompe emigrated to Virginia in 1635, and Thomas Crompe was already settled there in 1634." 3

Early History of the Crumbe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crumbe research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1273, 1382, 1564, 1711 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Crumbe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crumbe 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 Crumbe 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 Crumbe include: Crump, Crumpe, Crompe, Crum, Crummey, Crumb, Crumbe, Crombe, Crom, Cromm, Cromp, Crumm, Crommey, Crummie, Crummy, Crommie and many more.

Early Notables of the Crumbe family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Henry Crump (fl. 1382), Irish theologian, an Irishman by birth. He entered the Cistercian order in the monastery of Balkynglas, that is, Baltinglass...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crumbe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Crumbe family to Ireland

Some of the Crumbe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 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 Crumbe family

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 Crumbe or a variant listed above: Giles Crump, who settled in Virginia in 1637; and was followed by Thomas Crump in 1653. Francis Crump settled in Jamaica in 1760; Margaret Crump settled in Pennsylvania in 1772.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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