Crosleigh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Crosleigh name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Crosleigh was originally derived from a family having lived at a region known as the cross or for the dweller at the cross. 1

Early Origins of the Crosleigh family

The surname Crosleigh was first found in Lancashire where "the name of an ancient gentle family of Todmorden during the 14th and loth centuries and of Scaitcliffe since the reign of Elizabeth." 2 Another source confirms Scaitcliffe as the point of origin, but adds "anciently Del Croslegh, are of unknown antiquity." 3

We must look to nearby Yorkshire to find the first records of the family though. It is there that the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Crosselay; and Willelmus de Crosselay as holding lands there at that time.

"The same record (p. 189) registers the following inhabitants of Stansfield (Halifax), where the surname is now so strong—Isabella Groslee, Elena Crossle, Thomas Grosseleys, Johannes Grosles. The change of initial from 'C' to 'G' and vice versa is common; compare Crandidge for Grandage, also a Yorkshire instance." 4

Early History of the Crosleigh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crosleigh research. Another 144 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1365, 1670 and 1744 are included under the topic Early Crosleigh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crosleigh Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Crosleigh include Crossley, Crossleigh, Crosslie, Crossly, Croseleigh, Croseley, Crosslay, Crosslow, Crosselie, Crosseley and many more.

Early Notables of the Crosleigh family

Distinguished members of the family include David Crosly (1670-1744), English Baptist minister, born in the neighbourhood of Todmorden, Lancashire. He was brought up by a pious aunt, and in his youth worked as...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crosleigh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Crosleigh family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Ann, Martha, Mary, Susannah, Crossley who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1765; Enoch, Frank, George, Henry, John, Robert, Stansfield, Thomas, Walter, and William Crossley, all settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1847 and 1872.

The Crosleigh Motto +

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: Credo et amo
Motto Translation: I believe and love.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)