This study started, as probably a lot have, by trying to break down a brick wall in my own tree and then my husbands tree.

We took DNA tests and that's when it all started to come together. This project evolved from my lonely one woman search into one that stretched across the world and resulted in a group of relative strangers sitting in a restaurant in Kent for 5 hours. 

Through our combined work it became apparent that we were possibly all descended from a Croft, and in another meeting, this time in London, the study was born and is a real team effort.

This is an English surname of pre 6th century origins.

The Croft surname emerged as that of a notable English family in the county of Yorkshire. The name largely originates from the English northern counties of Yorkshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Hugo Croft held estates in 1162 and Croft Castle in Leicester as the seat of this family. During the 19th Century J.A.Croft held a family seat at Greenham House near Newbury in Berkshire.

It may be topographical for someone who lived by a "croft". This described a piece of enclosed land used for tillage or pasture.

It could also be locational as are several places in England called Croft. As an example Croft village in Leicestershire was recorded as "Craeft" in the Saxon Chartulary of 836 a.d.. The word "craeft" means a machine, such as a wind mill or water mill.

The surname is recorded in the 12th Century. Examples of recordings include:

• Hugo de Croft - 1162
• Richard de la Croft - 1230
• William del Croft - 1288
• Roger de Croft in the Curia Regis Rolls of Warwickshire in the year 1213.

Croft Notables

• William Croft - High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1424
• Sir James Croft PC - died 1590
• Herbert Croft - (1603-1691) - Bishop of Hereford, chaplain to King Charles I and dean of the chapels Royal to Charles II; and his son
• Sir Herbert Croft - (ca. 1651-1720) - 1st Baronet
• Sir Herbert Croft (1751-1816), writer and lexicographer, 5th Baronet
• Sir Richard Croft (1762-1818), physician and Royal Obstetrician, 6th Baronet
• William Croft - (1678-1727) - English Composer and organist
• Sir Richard Croft - (abt 1429-1509) - Royal official for Kings Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III, and Henry VII
• Thomas Croft - (c. 1435-1488) -  shipowner and patron of Atlantic exploration
• Sir James Croft - (c.1518-1590) - Lord deputy of Ireland and leading conspirator in Wyatt's Rebellion
• Sir Henry Page Croft - (1881-1947) - 1st Baron Croft, soldier and politician, Under-Secretary of State for War 1940-1945
• Sir James Herbert Croft - (1907-1941) - died on active service with No 1 Commando
• John William Croft - (1871-1913) - Australian Politician
• Chancy Croft - (b.1937) - American Politician, Workers' Compensation attorney

Distribution in the UK in 1881

They emigrated to Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe from the United Kingdom.

American Settlers

Canadian Settlers

Australian Settlers

New Zealand Settlers