A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Cropper family of England.
Reg. 6477 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ermineDignity and rank
cinquefoilHope and joy
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Az. a cinquefoil ar. betw. three erm. spots or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Cropper Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Cropper arms are recorded
The Cropper arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Cropper 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 England.
Origin & History of the Cropper Family in England
The surname Cropper is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe someone who worked in agriculture. Specifically, it referred to a person who harvested crops or a tenant farmer who paid their rent with a portion of their harvest. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the city of York. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Cropper family were living and working within this historic northern hub during a time of significant social change. As the name spread from rural farming communities into growing urban centers like York, the family became part of the backbone of local trade and civic life. This transition from field workers to city dwellers reflects the broader movement of English families seeking new opportunities in the developing towns of the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crop
Old English term referring to the top or head of a plant.
This name
CropperAn occupational surname for a harvester or someone who gathered crops.
also spelled
Croppar
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
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York, Archbishop of York Probate Records
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ermineDignity and rank
cinquefoilHope and joy
ermineDignity and rank
cinquefoilHope and joy
