Show ContentsTwycross History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Twycross family

The surname Twycross was first found in Leicestershire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, [1] indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Twycross, held by Nigel from Henry de Ferrers, a Norman noble, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Twycross family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Twycross research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1467 and 1689 are included under the topic Early Twycross History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Twycross Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Twycross, Twicross, Tuicross and others.

Early Notables of the Twycross family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • the Twycross family of Norfolk


United States Twycross migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Twycross Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ernest Twycross, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Hull, England, in 1923

Contemporary Notables of the name Twycross (post 1700) +

  • John William Twycross (1871-1936), Australian Pictorialist photographer
  • Edward Twycross (1803-1852), Irish silversmith, solicitor, and author of "The Mansions of England and Wales" (1847)
  • Robert Twycross (b. 1941), retired British physician and author, pioneer of the hospice movement


The Twycross 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: Droit et avant
Motto Translation: Just and forward.


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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