Crost History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Crost

What does the name Crost mean?

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Crost. It was given to a strong-willed person. The surname Crost was originally derived from the Old French word crouste, which means crust of bread, and was used to describe someone who was "hard as crust." 1

"But the surname is found so widely scattered in the 13th century that I feel sure in many cases it is a personal name, probably a nick, of Christian or Christopher. Both were favorites at the time." 2

Early Origins of the Crost family

The surname Crost was first found in Cambridgeshire, where Herveus Cruste was first listed in 1109. Later, Robert Crust was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1208 FFL and Nicholas Crouste was found in the the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. 1

A search through the Hundredorum Rolls of 1271 proved the widespread use of the name by that time: Geoffrey de Crusta, Herefordshire; Stephen Cruste, Yorkshire; John Crust, Essex; Amicia Cruste, Oxfordshire; and Roger Cruste, Suffolk. 2

"Lincolnshire seems to be the chief habitat of the surname in the 19th century. Since writing the above I am led to ask the question, Is it not local, and a form of Cross?" 2

Somerset records show Philip de Crast, Somerset, 1 Edward III; Thomas atte Crost, Somerset; and Rogeratte Crost, Somerset. 3

Early History of the Crost family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crost research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1109, 1208, 1273, 1327 and 1668 are included under the topic Early Crost History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crost Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Crost has appeared include Crust, Cruste, Crouste, Crost, Croste, Crusta, Crast and many more.

Early Notables of the Crost family

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

Migration of the Crost family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Crost arrived in North America very early: Thomas Crust who sailed to Virginia in 1620.

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.