Show ContentsCrowell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Crowell family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in either the settlement of Crowell, which is in the county of Oxfordshire, or in the place of the same name in Spofforth in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The latter settlement no longer exists. The surname Crowell belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Crowell family

The surname Crowell was first found in Oxfordshire at Crowell, a parish, in the union of Thame, hundred of Lewknor. However, Walmer in Kent was also home to some of the family since early times. "Near the church is a deep fosse, with other vestiges of ancient intrenchments; and in the churchyard several stone coffins were discovered about 50 years since, supposed to have belonged to the Crowl family, of whom Sir Nicholas, in the reign of Edward I., erected a mansion in the village, of which there are still some remains." 1 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Robert de Croule in Worcestershire and Richard de Crowell, or Richard de Crol in Lincolnshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes de Crull and Thomas de Crull. 2 Crowle is a small town and civil parish on the Isle of Axholme in Lincolnshire and a parish in Worcestershire. The Crowle spelling of the name is today most numerous in Cornwall.

Early History of the Crowell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Crowell research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1657, 1661, 1679, 1724, 1747, 1754 and 1757 are included under the topic Early Crowell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crowell Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Crowell include Crowell, Crowel, Croull, Crowill, Crawll and others.

Early Notables of the Crowell family

Distinguished members of the family include Alderman George Crowle, English politician, Sheriff of Kingston upon Hull in 1657, and mayor in 1661 and 1679 and his grandson, Richard Crowle, an...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Crowell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Crowell Ranking

In the United States, the name Crowell is the 1,667th most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 3


United States Crowell migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Crowell were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Crowell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jane Crowell, who settled in Virginia in 1635
  • John and Thomas Crowell who settled in Yarmouth around the year 1640
  • Jane Crowell, who landed in Virginia in 1653 4
Crowell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Mich, Crowell Sr., who landed in Pennsylvania in 1730 4
  • John Mich Crowell, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1733 4
  • Michael Crowell, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1733
Crowell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Crowell, who settled in New York in 1822
  • P. Crowell and Mrs. Crowell, who settled in Nantucket Massachusetts in 1823
  • C Crowell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
  • Mrs. William H Crowell, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • E Crowell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Crowell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Crowell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Crowell, aged 18 who was working aboard the ship "Sir Henry Pottinger" taking passenger to Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec departing from the port of Belfast, Ireland but died at Grosse Isle on 15th August 1847 in the typhus epidemic 5

Australia Crowell migration to Australia +

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

Crowell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Crowell (aged 21), a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Hooghly" 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Crowell (post 1700) +

  • Robert Lamson "Bob" Crowell (1945-2020), American attorney and politician, Mayor of Carson City, Nevada (2009-2020)
  • Jacquelyn Crowell (1988-2018), American racing cyclist, member of the UnitedHealthcare Women’s Team (2014-2018)
  • C. Parker Crowell (b. 1959), American architect
  • William C. Crowell (1871-1951), American architect and builder
  • William "Billy" Theodore Crowell (1865-1935), American Major League Baseball pitcher (1887-1888)
  • Minot Joy Crowell (1892-1962), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Isaiah Crowell (b. 1993), American football running back
  • Benedict Crowell (1869-1952), United States military officer and politician
  • Gentry Crowell (1932-1989), American politician, Tennessee Secretary of State
  • Germane L. Crowell (b. 1976), former American football wide receiver
  • ... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. 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)
  5. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 62)
  6. South Australian Register. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Rodney 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/rodney1856.shtml


Houseofnames.com on Facebook