This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Cromwell,' a parish in Nottinghamshire, the Diocese of Lincoln. One of my instances below reminds one forcibly of the Cavaliers' toast, 'Wash this crumb well down.' No doubt Cromwell was more generally pronounced Crumwell then than now. Spellings mislead, as is so remarkably proved in the case of Cowper, even now popularly called Cow-per instead of Coop-er; compare again Raleigh, which was evidently pronounced Rawley (v. Cowper and Raleigh). Cromwell is now a commoner surname in the United States than in England.

Ralph de Crumwell, Gloucestershire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Henry de Crommevile, Kent, ibid.

Johannes de Crumbwelle, 33 Edward I: Calendarium Genealogicum: Henry III-Edward I.

Idonia de Croumbwelle, Derbyshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Ralph de Cromwell, Norfolk, 1385: History of Norfolk.

1779. Married — Robert Lowe and Mary Cromwell: St. George, Hanover Square.

It will come as a surprise to many people to learn that this name, usually written Gromwell, was well known in Ireland more than two centuries before Oliver Cromwell left his permanent mark on this country. No less than six Gromwells were mayors or bailiffs (i.e. sherriffs) of Limerick between 1426 and 1598. They were of an old Anglo-Irish family whose name, it is usually stated, was taken from a place in Nottinghamshire. Reaney equates Grumell not with Cromwell but with another English surname viz. Grimble or Gribble, which, it is accepted, derives from the forename Grimbald; but the fact that de Cromyll appears in Limerick as early as 1307 would seem to corroborate its locative origin. If we consider modern synonyms we find that Cromwell, Crummell and Grummell have all been officially reported as such, the last named in Co. Kerry. In the birth registrations of the 1860's Grummell appears in Co. Kerry but Cromwell and Crumwell in counties Armagh and Down. In this connexion it may be mentioned that the P011Money Commissioners for Co. Down in 1661 included two Cromwells (one named Oliver) among the local gentry who were appointed in this capacity. In that year also the will of Lord Cromwell of Ardglass was proved. The name has now become very rare in Ireland.

While it is only of academic interest the fact that in the sixteenth century the Gaelic-Irish surname MacGillegromell was found in Co. Antrim: this could of course, have been abbreviated later to Gromell but there is no evidence that the Cromwells of Ulster were of that stock.

*This attainder was reversed in 1693 so I presume the Henry Crofton who attained the rank of major-general in the service of Philip V of Spain and distinguished himself in the war of the Spanish succession was his cousin.

(English) belonging to Cromwell (Notts) = the Crooked Well [Old English crom(b, crum(b + wielle]

This name in either variant is now very rare in Ireland; it was prominent in the City of Limerick for two centuries before the time of Oliver Cromwell. SIF 44

(English) One who came from Cromwell (winding stream), in Nottinghamshire.

The family of the Protector were of Welsh origin, and bore the name of Williams. Though of ancient descent they abandoned that surname at the instigation of King Henry VIII., and Sir Richard Williams, the Protector's lineal ancestor, being sister's son to Thomas C., the noted vicar-general, adopted his uncle's family name. That person was of humble origin, and there is no proof of any connection with the Lords Cromwell of Tateshall castle, co. Lincoln, whose pedigree goes back to the days of King John. Cromwell, the place from which the name is derived, is a parish in Nottinghamshire.

(British.) Local. From crom, crooked, and hal or hayle, low, level land bordering on the river or sea. Lowlands on the bend of a river.

A location name in Nottinghamshire.

Cromwell, though now rare in the county, was a name borne by several of the gentry and freeholders of Notts during the 17th century (Harl.). De Crumwell was a Notts surname in the 13th century (H. R.).