Cromley 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.
Early Origins of the Cromley family
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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8) The place name literally means "wood or glade haunted by a spectre or goblin," from the Old English words "grima" + "leah."
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Early History of the Cromley family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cromley research.
Another 155 words (11 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.
Cromley Spelling Variations
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.
Early Notables of the Cromley family (pre 1700)
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 Ireland
Some of the Cromley family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 103 words (7 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 Cromley family to the New World and Oceana
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:
Cromley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Bridget Cromley, aged 22, who settled in America from Ardagrome, in 1893
Cromley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Geo. F. Cromley, aged 43, who settled in America, in 1908
- Mollie Cromley, aged 20, who emigrated to America from Bantey, Ireland, in 1913
- Bridgie Cromley, who landed in America, in 1916
- George Cromley, aged 57, who emigrated to the United States, in 1917
- William T. Cromley, aged 48, who landed in America, in 1919
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Cromley (post 1700)
- Thaddeus E. Cromley (1843-1921), American politician, Member of the Ohio Senate (1896-1899), Member of the Ohio House of Representatives (1888-1892)
- Raymond "Ray" Cromley (1910-2007), Major in the United States Army and journalist