Crossley first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Crossley has been for the last 1 years (from 2012 to 2012) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Crossley

A masculine name derived from an Old English place name meaning "cross-shaped meadow".

Popularity of Crossley by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Crossley is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2012, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Crossley.

Year Male Count Female Count
2012 5 0

The history of the first name Crossley

The name Crossley is believed to have originated from the Old English language and is derived from the words "cross" and "leah," which together mean "cross-clearing" or "clearing with a cross." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe a location or settlement near a cross or crossroads.

During the Medieval period in England, the name Crossley was likely used as a surname to identify people who lived near a particular cross or crossroads. However, over time, it transitioned into a given name as well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Crossley dates back to the 14th century, when a man named John Crossley was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379. This historical record suggests that the name was already in use as a surname during that time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure named Crossley Crosfield (1516-1589) was a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Salters in London. His name provides evidence of the name's use as a given name during the Tudor period.

Another prominent individual with the name Crossley was Sir Savile Crossley (1857-1935), a British businessman and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of Liverpool in 1900. He was also a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire.

In the realm of literature, Crossley Holland (1919-2008) was an English writer and translator, known for his translations of Old English poetry and Norse mythology. He was also a notable children's author and received several awards for his work.

The name Crossley also appears in the arts, with Crossley Mercer (1920-1981) being a British actor who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career, including notable roles in the series "The Avengers" and the film "The Guns of Navarone."

Another individual with the name Crossley was William Crossley (1844-1923), a British industrialist and engineer who co-founded the company Crossley Brothers, which manufactured engines and vehicles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the name Crossley may have originated from a specific location or geographical reference, it has since become a given name in its own right, with various individuals bearing it throughout history and across different fields and professions.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Crossley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Crossley, please contact us.

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"Crossley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on July 8, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/crossley-meaning-and-history/.

"Crossley first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/crossley-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 July, 2025

Crossley first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/crossley-meaning-and-history/.

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