Olcroft History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsEtymology of OlcroftWhat does the name Olcroft mean? The ancestors of the Olcroft surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the area of Holcroft in Lancashire. 1 2 Early Origins of the Olcroft familyThe surname Olcroft was first found in Lancashire where one of the first record of the name was Robert de Holecroft, who was listed in the Assize Rolls in 1246. A few years later, John Holecroft was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327. 3 "Lytham [a parish in Lancashire] is mentioned in the Domesday Survey from 1086 under the name of Lidun. It early belonged, by gift of Richard Fitz-Roger, to the monks of Durham, and after the Reformation was granted to Sir Thomas Holcroft, whose descendant, Sir John, is said to have sold the property in 1606 to Sir Cuthbert Clifton, ancestor of the present lord of the manor." 4 Early History of the Olcroft familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Olcroft research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1270, 1425, 1629, 1640, 1644, 1648, 1650, 1656, 1662, 1692, 1693, 1745 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Olcroft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Olcroft Spelling VariationsBefore 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 Olcroft include Holcroft, Holcrofte, Howcroft, Hocroft and others. Early Notables of the Olcroft familyNotables of this surname at this time include:
Migration of the Olcroft familyA 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: Thomas Hocroft, who sailed to Virginia in 1684; William Holcroft, who settled in Philadelphia in 1828; Thomas Holcroft, who settled in Philadelphia in 1835.
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