Crofdyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Crofdyn

What does the name Crofdyn mean?

The Crofdyn name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived as dwellers by a croft or small farm or enclosure. The surname Crofdyn originally derived from croeft, an Old English word for a small farm. 1

Early Origins of the Crofdyn family

The surname Crofdyn 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.

Early History of the Crofdyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crofdyn 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 Crofdyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crofdyn Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Crofdyn has undergone many spelling variations, including Crofton, Croftone, Crofden, Croften and others.

Early Notables of the Crofdyn family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crofdyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crofdyn family to Ireland

Some of the Crofdyn family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
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.

Migration of the Crofdyn family

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Crofdyn were among those contributors: Phillip Crofton who settled in Philadelphia in 1869; Thomas Crofton settled in Philadelphia in 1850.

The Crofdyn 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: Dat deus incrementum
Motto Translation: God gives increase.

Sources +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)