This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Crofton,' (1) a township in parish of Thursby, Cambridgeshire; (a) a hamlet in parish of Orpington, Kent; (3) a township in parish of Diddlebury, Salop; (4) a chapelry in parish of Titchfield, Hampshire; (5) a parish in West Riding of Yorks, four miles from Wakefield. Naturally many places would be called Crofton; v. Croft.

Richard de Crofton, Buckinghamshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert de Crofton. Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Henry de Crofton, Northumberland, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Jordan de Crofton, Northumberland, ibid.

Hugo de Crofton, Wiltshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Robertus de Croftone, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Agnes de Crofton, 1379: ibid.

Thomas de Crofton, 1379: ibid.

1541. Baptised — Richard Crofton: St. Peter, Cornhill.

1548. — John Crofton: St. Michael, Cornhill.

Though this is a surname taken from one of the several places so called in England it has been quite undistinguished in the country of its origin, but very prominent in Ireland since it became established here. The name is on record as early as the thirteenth century-e.g. a permit of 1232 to a London merchant to travel to, and remain in, Ireland-but no family of the name appears to have settled permanently here before the sixteenth century. Since then they have been closely identified with north Connacht.

Like many Anglo-Irish families they are found on both sides in the wars and rebellions which occurred in the next two centuries. John Crofton of Ballymote is included in O'Flaherty's Iar-Connaught with the O'Haras, O'Dowds, MacDonoghs etc. among the Irish chiefs of Co. Sligo in 1586, and John Croften of Canvoe, Co. Roscommon, was one of the leading men associated with O'Conor Don in signing the agreement with Sir John Perrot in 1585. A closer connexion with O'Conor Don was to follow through intermarriage resulting in some of this hitherto Protestant family becoming Catholic and so adherents of James II. Among the public positions held by Croftons were auditor-general, deputy escheator-general, provost of Sligo and sheriffs of four counties (Leitrim 5, Sligo 3, Roscommon 3, Longford 1). Edward Crofton was deputy-lieutenant of Co. Sligo and Henry Crofton M.P. for Sligo during the short reign of James II. He was outlawed in 1690 as a Jacobite.* Two other Croftons who were in James II's Irish army at the siege of Derry were from Co. Armagh. At the same time three brothers of the name were among the defenders of Derry. One of them, Col. Richard Crofton, was among the Protestant officers cashiered by Tyrconnell prior to the Revolution. They were of Lisdorn, Co. Roscommon.

The name occurs so frequently in Irish records-Fiants, State Papers, Composition Book of Connacht, Books of Survey & Distribution, wills etc. etc.-that it is impossible to do more in this article than pick out a few of them almost at random. In additon to those referred to above I should mention Thomas Crofton who in 1671 murdered Dubhaltach Og, the last of the MacFirbis scholars, in circumstances described by O'Curry in his Manuscript Materials of Irish History.

The Croftons, however, were not indifferent to Irish culture: the manuscript of the “Annals of Boyle”, which eventually went to the British Museum in 1734, was preserved by them for a period in the preceding century. Francis Blake Crofton (1842-1911), poet and novelist, was born in Co. Mayo; he emigrated to Nova Scotia after graduating at Dublin University and became a leading literary figure in Canada.

(English) belonging to Crofton [v. under Croft, and + Middle English ton, tun, Old English tún, a Dweller at a Nook or Bend [Middle English dwelling, enclosure]

An English toponymic. Families of the name settled permanently in Connacht in the sixteenth century, where they became connected with that of O’Conor Don and a century latter were staunch supporters of the Catholic cause, though some of the name were found on the other side. SIF 43

(English) One who came from Crofton (homestead with an enclosure, or homestead by a hill), the name of several places in England.

Places in cos. Salop, Kent, York, and Lancaster. The noble family descend from the Croftons of C. in the last-named county.

Or De La Mare, from La Mare, Normandy. John de la Mare had a grant of Crofton from Roger de Poitou, t. William I. (Testa, 411). John de la Mara was lord, t. Richard I., and was a benefactor to Burscough Priory (Mon. ii. 305). Alicia was widow of Thomas de C. 1272; John de C., M.P. for Carlisle 1311 (Parliamentary Writs). The family then bore the name of De Crofton. From this branch of the De la Mares descend the baronets Crofton.

Or Lowther, Lords Crofton. See Lowther.