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In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Croften surname lived as dwellers by a croft or small farm or enclosure. The surname Croften originally derived from croeft, an Old English word for a small farm. 1
The surname Croften was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. These early rolls included: Richard de Crofton and Robert de Crofton in Buckinghamshire as both holding lands that at that time. 2
Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Robertus de Croftone; Agnes de Crofton; and Thomas de Crofton.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croften research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1232, 1585, 1586, 1626, 1657, 1661, 1671, 1672, 1690, 1734, 1842 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Croften History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Croften 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 Croften include: Crofton, Croftone, Crofden, Croften and others.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Croften Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Another 452 words (32 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Croften or a variant listed above: Phillip Crofton who settled in Philadelphia in 1869; Thomas Crofton settled in Philadelphia in 1850.