The Anglo-Saxon name Croftend comes from when the family resided as dwellers by a croft or small farm or enclosure. The surname Croftend originally derived from croeft, an Old English word for a small farm. [1]
The surname Croftend 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 Croftend research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1626, 1672, 1657, 1661, 1232, 1586, 1585, 1690, 1671, 1734, 1842 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Croftend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Croftend has been recorded under many different variations, including Crofton, Croftone, Crofden, Croften and others.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Croftend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Croftend 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.
For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Croftend or a variant listed above: Phillip Crofton who settled in Philadelphia in 1869; Thomas Crofton settled in Philadelphia in 1850.