England
IrelandCromley is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cromley family lived in Worcestershire as Lords of the manor of Grimley.
The surname Cromley was first found in Worcestershire at Grimley, a village and civil parish now in the Malvern Hills District, originally in the union of Martley, Lower division of the hundred of Oswaldslow. An ancient Saxon stronghold, the first listing of the place name was in the 9th century when it was listed as Grimanleage. By the Domesday Book of 1086, the place name had evolved to Grimanleh and consisted of a mill and one half of a fishery of eels. [1] The place name literally means "wood or glade haunted by a spectre or goblin," from the Old English words "grima" + "leah." [2]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cromley research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 189 and are included under the topic Early Cromley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Cromley include Grimley, Grimly, Grimleigh, Grimlie, Grymley and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Cromley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Cromley family to IrelandSome of the Cromley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cromley migration to the United States +In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Cromleys to arrive on North American shores:
