Crush - Name

This very interesting name has origins wholly different from its first appearance. It is locational and means 'The Dweller by the Cross' from Olde English pre 6th Century 'Cruc'. The modern spellings of Crouch, Crowch, Crotch, Crush and Crutch are all misleading, probably as a result of using French trained clerks in the medievel period. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Attecruche which was dated 1290, The Essex Assize Court. during the reign of King Edward 1, the Hammer of the Scots, 1272 - 1307 Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.