A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Crosman family of England.
Reg. 7124 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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 chev. or, betw. three goats' heads erased ar”
CornwallCornwall, c. 1508
Where the Crosman Arms Were Recorded
Cornwall
Map of England showing where the Crosman arms are recorded
The Crosman arms were recorded in Cornwall, c. 1508.
Cornwall was a county apart, with its own language and its own tight-knit gentry. Tin and the sea made money there, and families who made it bought land, which is what brought arms with it.
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.
Henry VII of England
Sovereign of the period
Henry VII of England
1485–1509
Reigning in England when the Crosman 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 Cornwall.
Origin & History of the Crosman Family in England
The family name Crosman is rooted in the landscape of medieval England, with records confirming that members of the family were established in Cornwall by 1508. The name is generally classified as a locative or occupational surname, likely derived from a person who lived near a prominent cross or served as a marker for a crossroads in their local parish. During the early sixteenth century, the Crosmans were part of the growing class of landholders and tradespeople who helped shape the social fabric of the Cornish countryside. As they settled into these rural communities, the family became deeply integrated into the local economy and parish life. Their presence in regional records from this era highlights how families of that time often identified themselves by the specific landmarks or geographic features that defined their daily surroundings.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Cross
A religious symbol or a marker at a crossroads.
This name
CrosmanA person who lived near a roadside cross or a crossroads.
also spelled
Crossmane
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Padel, O.J., A Popular Dictionary of Cornish Place-Names, 1988
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
The National Archives, Cornwall Quarter Sessions and Assize Records, 1508
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
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
chevronProtection, and faithful service completed
goatOne who wins by diplomacy rather than force
