Show ContentsChrispin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the given name Crispin, which derives from a Latin nickname which means curly-haired. Much of the popularity of the name in the early Middle Ages is a result of the popularity of St. Crispin, who was martyred at Soissons in 285 AD.

Early Origins of the Chrispin family

The surname Chrispin was first found in Oxfordshire where they had been granted the lands of Cowley by William the Conqueror for their assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

One of the first records of the family was Gilber Crispin (d. 1117?), Abbot of Westminster, the grandson of Gilbert Crispin, from whom the Crispin family derived its surname. "The last-named Gilbert Crispin is in the 'Histoire Littéraire' (x. 192) identified with Gilbert, Count of Brionne, the guardian of William I's childhood, and grandson of Duke Richard I of Normandy." 1

By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had scattered: Robert Crispien in Cambridgeshire; Crispianus de Colrigge in Devon; Crispian de Columbers in Lincolnshire; and Robert Crisping in Lincolnshire. Richard Crispine and William filius Crispianin were the two remaining listings in Oxfordshire. 2

Early History of the Chrispin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chrispin research. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1055, 1066, 1107, 1117, 1149, 1273, 1627, 1681 and 1749 are included under the topic Early Chrispin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chrispin Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crispin, Chrispin, Crippin, Cripin, Crippen, Crepin, Crespin and many more.

Early Notables of the Chrispin family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Henry Crispe was a distinguished knight at the time of King Henry VIII; Captain William Cripsin (1627-1681), one of five British Commissioners appointed by William Penn for settling his...
Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chrispin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Chrispin family to Ireland

Some of the Chrispin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chrispin family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Thomas Crispin, who came to Barbados in 1635; Silas Crispin, who settled in Delaware in 1681; William Crispin, who came to Pennsylvania in 1682; Robert Crispin, a bonded passenger, who arrived in Maryland in 1763.


Contemporary Notables of the name Chrispin (post 1700) +

  • Chrispin Eugene, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Spring Valley, New York, 2013 3


  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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