Cromley Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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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.

Cromley Early Origins

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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. The place name literally means "wood or glade haunted by a spectre or goblin," from the Old English words "grima" + "leah."

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.

Cromley Early History

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 Early Notables (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Cromley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cromley In 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.

The Great Migration

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)

Raymond "Ray" Cromley (1910-2007), Major in the United States Army and journalist

Cromley Family Crest Products

Citations

^ Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)

Other References

Shirley, Evelyn Philip. Noble and Gentle Men of England Or Notes Touching The Arms and Descendants of the Ancient Knightley and Gentle Houses of England Arranged in their Respective Counties 3rd Edition. Westminster: John Bowyer Nichols and Sons, 1866. Print.
Holt, J.C. Ed. Domesday Studies. Woodbridge: Boydell, 1987. Print. (ISBN 0-85115-477-8).
Bardsley, C.W. A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6).
Hanks, Hodges, Mills and Room. The Oxford Names Companion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. (ISBN 0-19-860561-7).
Egle, William Henry. Pennsylvania Genealogies Scotch-Irish and German. Harrisburg: L.S. Hart, 1886. Print.
Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Galveston Texas 1896-1951. National Archives Washington DC. Print.
Magnusson, Magnus. Chambers Biographical Dictionary 5th edition. Edinburgh: W & R Chambers, 1990. Print.
Library of Congress. American and English Genealogies in the Library of Congress. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1967. Print.
Samuelsen, W. David. New York City Passenger List Manifests Index 1820 - 1824. North Salt Lake, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems International, 1986. Print.
Bowman, George Ernest. The Mayflower Reader A Selection of Articales from The Mayflower Descendent. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
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The Cromley Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Cromley Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 24 June 2014 at 09:17.