Show ContentsCromb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Cromb

What does the name Cromb mean?

The name Cromb is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person with an abnormal curvature of the spine. The surname Cromb is derived from the Old English word crump, which means bent or crooked. 1

In some cases the surname may be derived from either of the place names Croom, in Yorkshire, or Croome in Worcestershire.

Early Origins of the Cromb family

The surname Cromb was first found in Herefordshire, where "Thomas Crump was mayor of Hereford in 1610. The Crumps are also established in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Monmouthshire, and further reference to them will be found under one or more of those counties." 2

Looking back further, researchers found entries in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 with early spellings of the family: Richard le Crumppe, Salop (Shropshire); and Constancia Crompe, Oxfordshire. 3

"The surname is well known in the United States. Bridget Crompe emigrated to Virginia in 1635, and Thomas Crompe was already settled there in 1634." 3

Early History of the Cromb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cromb research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1273, 1382, 1564, 1711 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Cromb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cromb Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Cromb have been found, including Crump, Crumpe, Crompe, Crum, Crummey, Crumb, Crumbe, Crombe, Crom, Cromm, Cromp, Crumm, Crommey, Crummie, Crummy, Crommie and many more.

Early Notables of the Cromb family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Henry Crump (fl. 1382), Irish theologian, an Irishman by birth. He entered the Cistercian order in the monastery of Balkynglas, that is, Baltinglass...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cromb Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cromb family to Ireland

Some of the Cromb family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Cromb migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cromb Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • A. Cromb, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1861 4
  • Isabella Cromb, aged 29, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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