A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crosley family of England.
Reg. 0580 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Sa. a cross betw. four martlets or”
BerkshireBerkshire, c. 1620
Where the Crosley Arms Were Recorded
Berkshire
Map of England showing where the Crosley arms are recorded
The Crosley arms were recorded in Berkshire, c. 1620.
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 Crosley 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 Berkshire.
Origin & History of the Crosley Family in England
The surname Crosley is a locative name, meaning it originally identified people by the specific place where they lived. It is derived from Old English words that describe a clearing near a cross, likely referring to a roadside marker or a boundary point in the landscape. By the year 1620, the family was well-established in the county of Berkshire, England. During this period, families often lived in small rural communities where their identity was closely tied to the land they farmed. As the family grew, members moved into different parishes throughout the region, leaving behind records in local church registers and tax documents. These early ancestors were typically yeomen or tradespeople who contributed to the local economy of the English countryside long before the name spread to other parts of the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cross and Leah
A stone monument or intersection and a woodland clearing.
This name
CrosleyA person who lived near a roadside cross located in a forest clearing.
also spelled
Croslie
Crosly
Related arms
Croselevariant spelling
Crossele, or Crossleyvariant spelling
Haynerecorded with Crosley, same area
Sayer-Milwardrecorded with Crosley, 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
The National Archives, Probate records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, 1620
Berkshire Record Office, Parish registers of the Diocese of Salisbury, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
cross symbolChristian faith and service
martletA younger son, who must win his own land
