Hi, Matt --- My wife --- the Crumpler descendant --- will love the theory of "crumpled hair." The only information I have on the origin of the surname came from the old www.crumpler.org website (now long gone). According to the archival copy of that website: "Crumpler is an occupational name for the Old English cromphet - a flat, thin cake which was often fried on a griddle. In Medieval England, the Cromplers or Crumplers made and sold these "crompled cakes". They were favorite items at county fairs, market days, and festivals, similar to our doughnuts today. Tea and crumpets are a favorite afternoon snack in England and Scotland even today. This information provided by: Richard Pickett" Or: "A version by one of the well respected authorities in the UK on surnames - P.H. REANY "His theory is based on the start position of a man from 'Cromwell' in the county of Nottinghamshire. Two alternatives are given based on surnames found to be in use. "Alternative 1 - Cromwell - to - Crumwell - to - Crumbwell - to - Crumbweller - to - Crumbler - to - CRUMPLER "Alternative 2 - Cromweller pronounced Crumler - to - CRUMPLER "(Ref: 6. The origins of the English Surnames by P.H.Reaney. page 202. Published by Routledge & Kegen Paul 1967)" I seem to recall seeing a website somewhere that showed geographic distribution of surnames within England. Need to find it to see if any Crumplers came from Nottinghamshire. So far, at least on Marjorie's branch of the Crumpler family, I can't recall any lived in Nottinghamshire. Google came up with the "House of Names" and their Crumpler coat of arms, and brief history of the surname: http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.c/qx/crumpler-coat-arms.htm They talk about Berkshire --- and offer to sell me (among other things) a Crumpler coat of arms baseball cap. Kind regards, Craig Craig W. Walsh Lucies Farm Ltd. * Colletts Green * Worcester * WR2 4RY ******************************************************* 01905-830-380 (In USA 888-880-1531) 07833 433 871 ******************************************************* Sent from my MacBook = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 07:15:58 +0000 From: "Tompkins, M.L.L." <mllt1@leicester.ac.uk> Subject: [OEL] Crumplehere the surname To: "old-english@rootsweb.com" <old-english@rootsweb.com> Message-ID: <1C8727550676DA45BF09CA2E80B4326A3AAD219E73@EXC-MBX2.cfs.le.ac.uk> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Craig, have you ever come across an explanation of the surname Crumpler, originally Crumplehere. Does anyone have an explanation for it? Reaney and Wilson's Dictionary of English Surnames doesn't include it. The surname seems to have two elements, though I'm unsure whether the first element is 'crump' or 'crumple'. Either way my guess is that it is either the OE and ME word cromb, cromp, meaning 'hook', 'crook', or 'bent', 'crooked', 'twisted', or 'cromple', a word derived from it. If the second part were 'hair', then the whole would mean something like 'crumpled hair' or 'tangled hair'. Matt ________________________________ Privacy and Confidentiality Notice This is strictly confidential and intended solely for the person or organisation to whom it is addressed. It may contain privileged and confidential information and if you are not an intended recipient, you must not copy, distribute or take any action in reliance on it. If you have received this message in error, please notify us as soon as possible and delete it and any attached files from your system.