Show ContentsCroser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

This name is "derived from an official title. 'the crosier,' one who carried the bishop's cross or pastoral staff." [1] It is derived from the "Old French, crosier, crocier, crosser ‘crosier’, the bearer of a bishop’s crook or pastoral staff, or of the cross at a monastery. The name might also denote a seller of crosses or a dweller by a cross. Croyser is the common early form." [2]

Early Origins of the Croser family

The surname Croser was first found in Liddesdale, where they belonged to an old Border Clan seated at Liddisdale, Roxburghshire. [3]

"Persons of this name were early settlers in Liddesdale, and c. 1376 we find "locus Croyser" in the rent-roll of the lordship. William Crosier, professor of philosophy in the newly founded University of St. Andrews, 1410. William Croyser, a Scotsman at present in Bruges, in Flanders, to have a safe conduct in England in 1429, is perhaps Master William Croyser, archdeacon of Teviotdale, who had a safe conduct to travel in England in 1433." [4]

While the name is most famous in Scotland, in England the first record of the family was William le Croyser who was listed at Eynsham, Oxfordshire in 1264. William le Crocer was found in Suffolk in 1305 and Thomasa Croser was listed in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1393. [2]

Near the border of Scotland and England, Yorkshire listed Cristiana Croiser; and Johannes Croser in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. [1]

In Norfolk, John Crosier, was listed there, 6 Henry V and William Crosier, was listed 46 Edward III. [5] In both these cases, the year of the king's reign denoted the year of the entry. For example, 6 Henry V, denoted during the sixth year of King Henry V's reign.

Early History of the Croser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croser research. Another 278 words (20 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1424, 1436, 1475, 1526, 1537, 1564, 1569, 1587, 1855, 1864, 1870 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Croser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Croser Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Crozier, Crosier, Croyser, Crosar, Crozer and others.

Early Notables of the Croser family

Notable amongst the family at this time was William Crozier, the English oboe player, whose tone and exquisite taste will not soon be forgotten by those who heard him in the Crystal Palace...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Croser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Croser family to Ireland

Some of the Croser 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.


United States Croser migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Croser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Croser, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 [6]
  • Alice Croser, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [6]
  • Thu Croser, who landed in Virginia in 1705 [6]
Croser Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. John Croser, (b. 1873), aged 29, Cornish car driver travelling aboard the ship "Lucania" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th October 1902 en route to Boston, Massachusetts, USA [7]
  • Mr. Harry Croser, (b. 1881), aged 24, Cornish carpenter travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Wytheville, Virginia, USA [7]

Australia Croser migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Croser Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Croser, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1851 [8]
  • Mrs. Hannah Croser, (b. 1824), aged 28, Cornish domestic servant departing from Plymouth on 29th August 1852 aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 14th December 1852 [9]


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  4. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  5. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf


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