A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crosier family of England.
Reg. 4908 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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. on a fesse ar. (another, a chev. or) betw three crosses crosslet placed saltireways or, as many martlets sa”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Crosier Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Crosier arms are recorded
The Crosier 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 Crosier 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 Crosier Family in England
The family name Crosier originates from the Middle Ages and is classified as an occupational surname. It was originally used to describe a person who carried a crozier, which is the ornate, staff-like symbol of office held by a bishop or an abbot during religious ceremonies. By the time the family was established in York in 1620, the name had transitioned from a specific job title into a permanent hereditary surname passed down through generations. During the seventeenth century, families in northern England often lived in tight-knit communities where their names reflected the roles they played in local society or the church. The presence of the Crosier family in York during this period suggests they were part of the growing urban population of a city that served as a major religious and administrative center for the region. As the family settled into life in York, they became part of the historical fabric of the city, contributing to its development during a time of significant social and economic change in England.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
croce
A Latin term referring to a cross or a hooked staff.
This name
CrosierAn occupational name for a bearer of a bishop's ceremonial hooked staff.
also spelled
Crozier
Crosyer
Croyser
Related arms
Crosyervariant spelling
Croziervariant spelling
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, Percy Hide, A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
