Coat of Arms & Family Crests Store
Horscroft Coat of Arms / Horscroft Family CrestThis surname of HORSCROFT was of two-fold origin. It was of the topographic group of surnames meaning 'one who lived at the field beside the house'. It was also a baptismal name 'the son of Hugh'. This was a popular given name among the Normans in England, partly due to the fame of St. Hugh of Lincoln (1140-1200) who was born in Burgundy and who established the first Carthusian monastery in England. The name occurs early in the form of one John de Horscrofte, who was documented in County Essex in 1273. Johannes de Huscroft of Yorkshire, was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Surnames derived from placenames are divided into two broad categories; topographic names and habitation names. Topographic names are derived from general descriptive references to someone who lived near a physical feature such as an oak tree, a hill stream or a church. Habitation names are derived from prexisting names denoting towns, villages and farmsteads. Other classes of local names include those derived from the names of rivers individual houses with signs on them, regions and whole countries. During the 12th century it is noted that 'Richard, son of Drogo of St. Edmunds, gave to the monks of Castle Acre, a yearly rent of 10s. to be paid out of the estate of Richard de Horse-croft, his villein'. (no actual date is recorded). In medieval times a villein was the peasant cultivator entirely subject to a lord, or attached to a manor. Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th Century. They were not in use in England or in Scotland before the Norman Conquest, and were first found in the Domesday Book. The employment in the use of a second name was a custom that was first introduced from the Normans. They themselves had not long before adopted them. It became, in course of time, a mark of gentler blood, and it was deemed a disgrace for gentlemen to have but one single name, as the meaner sort had. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. |
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