Croucher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The history of the Croucher family goes back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from the family living near a crossroads. The name is derived from the Old English word crouch, and/or cruc.
Early Origins of the Croucher family
The surname Croucher was first found in Somerset where John atte Crouche was the first listing of the family 1, Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III.) 1
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: John atte Cruche (no county); Millesenta Cruche, Norfolk; and Robert Cruche, Norfolk. 2
"This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the cross,' i.e. the roadside or market-cross, once so familiar a sight at the intersection of the great country thoroughfares, or in the chartered market-steads. Crouch still lingers in our 'crutched' or 'crouched friars.' Langland describes a pilgrim as having 'many a crouch' embroidered 'on his cloke.' Blomefield says of an old Norwich church, 'St. Crowche's was dedicated in honour of the Invention of the Holy Cross, but is now totally demolished; the churchyard is still surrounded with common lanes or passages'." 3
The word crouch "was applied in general to such crosses as stood at the intersection of two roads and although they have long disappeared, they have left the name of 'cross' and 'crouch' upon many localities, especially in the South of England. In Sussex, where the name is one of the oldest indigenous designations (especially in the Cinque Ports) it is found in the forms of Crouch and De Cruce, 20 Edw. I." 4
In Scotland, the name was derived "from a residence at or near a roadside cross or crucifix, ME. crouche. The surname is more English than Scottish. Johannes Crooch witnessed a confirmation charter by Alexander Cumyn, earl of Buchan, to the canons of St. Andrews. John Cruche was burgess of the Canongate, Edinburgh, 1567." 5
Early History of the Croucher family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croucher research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1607, 1628, 1635, 1660, 1671, 1679, 1681, 1710, 1775, 1780 and 1786 are included under the topic Early Croucher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Croucher Spelling Variations
Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Croucher include Crouch, Crooch, Croucher, Croutch, Crowch, Crowcher, Crouche and many more.
Early Notables of the Croucher family
Notables of this surname at this time include: Thomas Crouch (1607-1679), an English academic and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1679.
Humphrey Crouch or Crowch (fl. 1635-1671), was an English ballad-writer and pamphleteer, probably belonged to the family of publishers named Crouch, who traded largely in popular literature in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. "Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps has suggested that Humphrey was brother of John Crouch, the Royalist verse-writer. It is equally likely that he stood in the same relation to Edward Crouch or Crowch, John Crouch's publisher, and that he was father or uncle of Nathaniel...
Another 310 words (22 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Croucher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Croucher Ranking
In Newfoundland, Canada, the name Croucher is the 721st most popular surname with an estimated 60 people with that name. 6
Croucher migration to the United States +
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Croucher or a variant listed above:
Croucher Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- William Croucher, who settled in Virginia in 1670
Croucher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Annie Marina Croucher, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Hampshire, in 1905
- Arthur Edgas Ross Croucher, aged 39, who settled in America from Sitting Courne, England, in 1907
- Cissie May Croucher, aged 6, who immigrated to the United States from Sitting Courne, England, in 1907
- Emma Eliza Croucher, aged 37, who landed in America from Sitting Courne, England, in 1907
- Kate Hannah Croucher, aged 45, who settled in America from Beckenham, England, in 1908
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Croucher migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Croucher Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
- Ernest Croucher, aged 27, who arrived at Vancouver, B.C., in 1910
- Charles Croucher, aged 69, who immigrated to Yale, British Columbia, in 1913
- Caroline Croucher, aged 21, who immigrated to Placentia, Newfoundland, in 1924
- John C. Croucher, aged 18, who settled in Placentia, Newfoundland, in 1924
Croucher migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Croucher Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- John Croucher, who arrived in Holdfast Bay, Australia aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" in 1837 7
- Miss Jane Croucher, (b. 1826), aged 36, Cornish housekeeper departing from Soton on 4th June 1862 aboard the ship "Accrington" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 24th August 1862 8
Contemporary Notables of the name Croucher (post 1700) +
- Frank Donald "Dingle" Croucher (1914-1980), American Major League Baseball shortstop
- Chris Croucher (b. 1981), English screenwriter and film director
- Brian Croucher (b. 1942), English actor and director, best known for his role as Ted Hills in the soap opera EastEnders
- Terence Croucher (b. 1944), British composer and performer
- Rowland Croucher (b. 1937), Australian pastor, counsellor and author
- Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher GC (b. 1983), British member of the Royal Marines Reserve, recipient of the George Cross
Historic Events for the Croucher family +
- Master Freddie Croucher (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 9
- Mrs. Annie Croucher (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 9
- Miss Elizabeth Croucher (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 9
- Miss Elizabeth Croucher (1916-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 9
- Mr. Lambert E Croucher (b. 1922), English Able Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Lambeth, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 10
Citations +
- Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. 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)
- The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) KATHERINE STEWART FORBES 1837 arrived Holdfast Bay, near Adelaide, on October 17, 1837. . Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837KatherineStewartForbes.htm
- Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
- Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
- H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm