| ![Show Contents]() Crast History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of CrastWhat does the name Crast mean? The name Crast is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Crast was a name used for a strong-willed person. The surname Crast was originally derived from the Old French word crouste, which means crust of bread, and was used to describe someone who was "hard as crust." 1 "But the surname is found so widely scattered in the 13th century that I feel sure in many cases it is a personal name, probably a nick, of Christian or Christopher. Both were favorites at the time." 2 Early Origins of the Crast familyThe surname Crast was first found in Cambridgeshire, where Herveus Cruste was first listed in 1109. Later, Robert Crust was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1208 FFL and Nicholas Crouste was found in the the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. 1 A search through the Hundredorum Rolls of 1271 proved the widespread use of the name by that time: Geoffrey de Crusta, Herefordshire; Stephen Cruste, Yorkshire; John Crust, Essex; Amicia Cruste, Oxfordshire; and Roger Cruste, Suffolk. 2 "Lincolnshire seems to be the chief habitat of the surname in the 19th century. Since writing the above I am led to ask the question, Is it not local, and a form of Cross?" 2 Somerset records show Philip de Crast, Somerset, 1 Edward III; Thomas atte Crost, Somerset; and Rogeratte Crost, Somerset. 3 Early History of the Crast familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crast research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1109, 1208, 1273, 1327 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Crast History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Crast Spelling VariationsUntil the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Crast include Crust, Cruste, Crouste, Crost, Croste, Crusta, Crast and many more. Early Notables of the Crast familyMore information is included under the topic Early Crast Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Crast familyThousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Crast were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Thomas Crust who sailed to Virginia in 1620.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- 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.
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