Croker History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe Anglo-Saxon name Croker comes from when its first bearer worked as a "grower of saffron," one of the most sought after and expensive spices. Alternatively, the name could have been from an occupation as in "the crocker," a potter, a maker of crocks, From Middle English word "crokke," an earthen pitcher. 1 Early Origins of the Croker familyThe surname Croker was first found in Devon where the first record of the family was John le Crochere recorded during the reign of Henry III - Edward I. "By tradition, Crocker is one of the most ancient of Devonshire names. " 2 "Lyneham, for nearly four centuries, was the seat of the great Devonshire family of Crocker. In Yealmpton Church is one of the finest brasses in the county, to Sir John Crocker of Lyneham, cupbearer to Edward IV." 3 Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Simon le Crockere and William Crockare in Oxfordshire and the Writs of Parliament in 1301 listed John le Crokere. 1 Hotten's Lists of Emigrants has some early entries for the surname in the United States: 'Richard Crocker, a child, living in Virginia, 1623' and 'Henry Crocker came to Virginia in the Abigail, 1620.' Other early entries for the family include some early Latin versions: Helias de Creuequor in the Pipe Rolls of Suffolk in 1158; Robert de Creuequoer in the 1195 Pipe Rolls for Kent; Robert de Crouequoer, again in Kent in 1200; Rainald and Alexander Creuker in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1212 and finally, Robert de Crequer in Cheshire in 1284. 4 The fictional Betty Crocker was used in advertising campaigns for food and recipes for the Washburn-Crosby Company in 1921. Apparently the name "Betty was selected because it was viewed as a cheery, All-American name. It was paired with the last name Crocker, in honor of William Crocker, a Washburn Crosby Company director." The brand was later bought by General Mills in 1954. Early History of the Croker familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croker research. Another 260 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1641, 1670 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Croker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Croker Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Croker include Croker, Crocker, Croager, Crough, Croaker, Croke and others. Early Notables of the Croker familyDistinguished members of the family include
Croker RankingIn the United States, the name Croker is the 17,398th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5
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 Croker or a variant listed above: Croker Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Croker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Croker Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Croker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Croker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
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: Deus alit eos Motto Translation: God feeds them.
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