Cramphorn

This is an Olde English locational name which derives from the pre 7th Century 'cramb' meaning 'a river bend' or possibly 'cran' which translates as 'the crane' (bird) and 'horna' - a piece of land so shaped. If such a place existed, it is no longer recorded however a Coat of Arms was granted to the Cramphorne's of Ambury, Hertford on the 29th of June 1170, being a Red and Silver Field, Charged with Three Bugle Horns in Gold. Bridgett Cramphorne was christened at St. Brides, Fleet Street on October 5th 1606, and Elizabeth Cramphorn married Thomas Searle at St. Mary Le Bone, London on April 29th 1770. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Annes Cramperne, which was dated 1564, married William Moore at St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 'Good Queen Bess' 1558 - 1603. 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.