Map of England showing where the Cripps arms are recorded
The Cripps arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1662.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Charles II of England
Sovereign of the period
Charles II of England
1660–1685
Reigning in England when the Cripps arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Sussex.
Origin & History of the Cripps Family in England
The surname Cripps is considered a locative or descriptive name that likely originated in southern England during the Middle Ages. Many historians believe the name evolved from the Old English word "crypel," which was used to describe someone who walked with a limp or had a physical disability. By the mid-seventeenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Sussex. Records from 1662 confirm that members of the Cripps family were living and working in this region during a time of significant social and political change in England. Over the following centuries, the family name spread from these rural roots into various trades and professions, becoming a well-established part of the local history in the south of England.
Cripps Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Crispus
A Latin term meaning curly-haired or having curled hair.
This name
CrippsA medieval occupational or descriptive surname referring to a person with curly hair.
also spelled
Crippes
Crypps
Crippis
Related arms
Crippisvariant spelling
Dawbeneyrecorded with Cripps, same area
Georgerecorded with Cripps, same area
Lawrencerecorded with Cripps, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
West Sussex Record Office, Parish Registers of Sussex, 1662
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
horseshoeGood fortune and protection from harm
