This site details the Crossley families of the UK, many of which originate from Todmorden/Walsden, an area on the Yorkshire-Lancashire border, a few miles north of Rochdale, including parts of the Langfield, Stansfield, Erringden, Littleborough and Heptonstall townships. The Todmorden and Walsden map shows the area, plus the location of all major farms and settlements. It is likely that most if not all of the Crossleys in this area are descended from the ancient landed family resident at Scaitcliffe, but for some branches, proof is so far lacking.

Crossleys from the main Todmorden family are indexed here on a set of pages that are still accurate, but no longer maintained; the people listed are those definitely or probably related to the Scaitcliffe Crossleys, established there since the 1300s. These include several branches that remained in the Todmorden area, plus two that emigrated to Ireland, one of which is now represented by the Crossley Baronets of Dunham Massey.

Apart from these people, from looking at a large number of records, the current status of research is that there 30 other Crossley families in the UK; families for which the earliest traceable ancestor is as yet unconnected to the Scaitcliffe family.

The 31 people at the head of each family are listed below, some accompanied by a summary chart detailing the main relationships. After analysing the ancestry of every Crossley in the 1911 census, it can be stated that at least 95% of Crossleys in the country (around 30,000 persons) have a provable descent from one of these people; the remainder have some more recent ancestor, whose parentage is as yet uncertain.

For more information please send an e-mail to me (John Crossley) at ; I can trace your Crossley ancestors, and create custom charts.

---

Ancestors of 31 Crossley Families in the UK

Adam del Croslegh, ca1300- of Scaitcliffe, Yorkshire - family in Scaitcliffe, Todmorden, Walsden, Wardle, Calderbrook, Padiham, Burnley, Habergham Eaves, Halifax, Kirkburton, Sowerby, Erringden, Luddenden, Stansfield, Preston, Leyland, Ribchester, Eccles, Swinton, Dillworth, Leeds, Ireland. Nearly 10,000 Crossley descendants
PDF - Scaitcliffe family - just the main line

Bryan Crossley, ca1590-1654 of Stockton, Durham - family in Loftus, Durham, Middlesborough

Gilbert Crossley, ca1470-1542 of Honley, Almondbury, Yorkshire - family in Almondbury, Newsome, Lockwood

Henry Crossley, ca1590-1627 of Birtle, Middleton - family in Oldham, Manchester

Hugh Crossley, ca1540-1583 of Bagby, Thirsk, Yorkshire - family in Thirsk

Humphrey Crossley, ca1580- of Long Compton, Warwickshire - family in Long Compton, Hidcote, Wolford

James Crossley ca1530-1600 of Smallshaw & Kitbooth, Rochdale, Lancashire - family in Rochdale, Smallbridge, Middleton, Manchester, Leigh, Atherton, Bury, Westmorland

James Crossley, ca1696-1770 and Margaret Tyrer of Newton, Manchester - family in Stockport, Manchester. Probably from Oldham
PDF - Stockport family

John Crossley, ca1500- of Shore, Stansfield, Yorkshire - family in Stansfield, Liverpool, Cliviger, Blackburn, Worsthorn, Mellor, Newchurch and Newfoundland, Canada
PDF - Cliviger family

John Crossley, ca1520 of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire - family in Blackburn, Pleasington, Hoghton, Witton, Church

John Crossley, ca1535-1595 of Deanhead, Softley, Cliviger, Lancashire - family in Cliviger, Burnley, Habergham Eaves
PDF - Burnley family

John Crossley, ca1540 of Kedleston, Derbyshire - family in Coton, Lullington, London, Polesworth, Norton, Uttoxeter, Etwall, Ashby, Mickleover, Walton upon Trent, and Staffordshire
PDF- Derbyshire family

John Crossley, ca1550-1597 of Hardern, Keighley, Yorkshire - family in Keighley, Kildwick, Cleckheaton, Birstal

John Crossley, ca1560-1622 of Fartowne, Huddersfield, Yorkshire - family in Scammonden, Hartshead, Elland, Barkisland, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield, Deanhead and Soyland
PDF - Scammonden family

John Crossley, ca1570- of Hordron, Penistone, Yorkshire - family in Penistone, Thurlstone, Langsett, Wakefield

John Crossley, -1609 of Small Lees, Yorkshire - family in Soyland, Elland, Warley

John Crossley, 1642- of Northowram, Yorkshire - family in Halifax, Ovenden, Northowram, Southowram
PDF - Halifax family

John Crossley, ca1650-1727 of Falmouth, Cornwall - family in Cornwall and Devon; Plymouth, Devonport, Saltash, St Germans, St Stephens and London
PDF - Cornwall and Devon family

John Crossley, ca1653-1732 of Brenchley, Kent - family in Kent, London, East Peckham, Eynsford, Deptford, Romford, Islington and Victoria (Australia)
PDF - Kent family

John Crossley, ca1656- of Soyland, Yorkshire - family in Halifax, Skircoat, Warley, Ovenden, Elland, Burnley, Scotland (Paisley), Sowerby Bridge and Massachusetts. The Crossley carpets family are from this branch
PDF - Sowerby Bridge family

John Crossley, ca1670- of Luddenden, Yorkshire - family in Halifax, Warley, Hebden Bridge

John Crossley, -1722 of Southill, Bedfordshire - family in Southill, Langford

John Crossley/Crosby, 1775- of Brompton by Sawdon, Yorkshire - family in Sunderland and Durham
PDF - Sunderland family

Michael Crossley, ca1590-1639/1653 of Moulgrain, Heptonstall, Yorkshire - family in Halifax, Tong, Birstal, Hunsworth, Baildon, Bradford, Thornton

Michael Crossley, ca1650-1727 of Whalley and Colne, Lancashire - family in Westmorland, Lancaster, Kendal, Staveley, Silverdale, London
PDF - Westmorland family

Nathan Crossley, ca1540- of Hipperholme, Yorkshire - family in Hipperholme, South Kirkby, South Elmsall, Lightcliffe, Halifax, Coley, Brighouse, Southowram, Leeds
PDF - Hipperholme family

Peter Crossley, ca1560- of Bury, Lancashire - family in Bury, Heap, Heywood, Radcliffe and Whitfield
PDF - Bury family

Samuel Crossley, ca1660-1719 of Grain, Wadsworth, Yorkshire - family in Wadsworth, Heptonstall, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden, Stansfield, Walsden, New Jersey
PDF - Wadsworth family

Thomas Crossley, ca1560-1640 of Bovebeale, Crompton, Oldham, Lancashire - family in Oldham, Crompton, Ashton, Alt
PDF - Oldham family

Thomas Crossley, ca1570-1649 of Royston, Yorkshire - family in Barnsley, Notton, Darton, Darfield, Worsborough, Cudworth
PDF - Barnsley family

William Crossley, ca1640- of Hartwith, Yorkshire - family in Otley, Hartwith, Richmond, Wetherby

---

Three other charts:
Eccles - descendants of Lawrence Crossley (1721-1792) and Frances Aldred, he from the Padiham family. Locations include Worsley, Manchester, Swinton and Hulme

Padiham - descendants of John Crossley als Thomsone, born Scaitcliffe, died 1606, and Elizabeth Sykes; locations include Blackburn, Habergham Eaves and Burnley

Thomas Crossley and Ellen Driver - a couple who married in Todmorden 1785; descendants in Shawforth, Spotland, Skipton, New Jersey, etc