Map of England showing where the Crossan arms are recorded
The Crossan arms were recorded in Somerset, c. 1620.
Somerset was rich farming country with a thick scattering of manor houses. Its gentry were numerous and long-settled, and a settled landed family almost always ended up with 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 Crossan 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 Somerset.
Origin & History of the Crossan Family in England
The family name Crossan has deep roots that connect to the landscape and social structure of early seventeenth-century England. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in the county of Somerset. During this period, the name was often associated with families living near a prominent cross or a crossroads, which served as a vital meeting point in rural village life. These early ancestors were likely part of the local agrarian community, working the land and participating in the parish systems that defined daily existence in the West Country. As the family grew, they became part of the steady migration patterns that shaped regional identities, with the name persisting through generations as a marker of their specific geographic origins in the English countryside.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Crux
A Latin term referring to a wooden frame or cross.
This name
CrossanA topographical name for someone who lived near a roadside cross or crucifix.
also spelled
Crosmane
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Somerset Heritage Centre, Quarter Sessions Rolls, 1620
TNA (The National Archives), Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of James I, 1619–1623
Weaver, F. W., Somerset Incumbents, 1889
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
ermineDignity and rank
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
cross symbolChristian faith and service
ermineDignity and rank
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
