Show ContentsKrowell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Krowell is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once 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 Krowell 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 Krowell family

The surname Krowell 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 Krowell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Krowell 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 Krowell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Krowell Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Krowell family name include Crowell, Crowel, Croull, Crowill, Crawll and others.

Early Notables of the Krowell 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 Krowell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Krowell family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Krowell surname or a spelling variation of the name include: John and Thomas Crowell who settled in Yarmouth around the year 1640; Jane Crowell settled in Virginia in 1635; Michael Crowell settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1733.



  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)


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