Map of England showing where the Cross arms are recorded
The Cross arms were recorded in London, 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 Cross 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 Cross Family in England
The surname Cross emerged in medieval England as a locative or topographic name, originally given to individuals who lived near a prominent stone cross, a marketplace, or a crossroads. Because these markers were common features in English villages and towns, the name developed independently in many different regions rather than originating from a single ancestor. By the early seventeenth century, the name was well established across various social classes, ranging from rural laborers to urban merchants. When members of the Cross family were documented in London in 1620, they were part of a growing class of city dwellers who were increasingly mobile and involved in the expanding trade networks of the capital. This period marked a time when families began to solidify their surnames in official parish registers, helping to transition the name from a simple description of a person's home into a permanent family identity that would eventually spread far beyond the borders of England.
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
Colours
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)
“Ar. an ear of wheat ppr. betw. four crosses crosslets fitchee sa. one, two, and one, a bordure per pale of the second and or”
RenfrewEastbank · Renfrew, c. 1748
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Map of Scotland showing where the Cross arms are recorded
The Cross arms were recorded in Renfrew, c. 1748.
Renfrewshire lay along the lower Clyde, farming country that later filled with trade. Its landed families were long-settled, and long settlement is what brought them into the register.
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 Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in England when the Cross arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Renfrew.
Origin & History of the Cross Family in Scotland
The name Cross is a topographic surname, which means it was originally given to people who lived near a prominent landmark. In the context of Scotland, this often referred to a stone cross located in a village square or at a crossroads where local trade and public announcements took place. By the mid-18th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Renfrew. Records from 1748 confirm that members of the Cross family were active in this region, which was a hub for weaving and early industrial growth. During this period, families in Renfrewshire were often deeply connected to the land and the developing textile trade. Because the name was linked to a common physical feature, it appeared independently in various locations, allowing the family to integrate into the local community as merchants and skilled laborers. This transition from a simple descriptive label to a settled family name reflects the broader movement of Scottish people into organized town life during the 1700s.
Cross Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Crux
A Latin term referring to a wooden frame or gibbet.
This name
CrossA topographic name for someone who lived near a roadside cross or market cross.
also spelled
Croce
Croe
Related arms
Croevariant spelling
Bucktonrecorded with Cross, same area
Cankrienrecorded with Cross, same area
Farrarrecorded with Cross, 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, Prerogative Court of Canterbury wills, 1384–1858
London Metropolitan Archives, City of London parish registers
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
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bordureA difference between branches of one family
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
wheatsheafPlenty, and the harvest of one's own labour
