This interesting name is locational in origin from the places so called in Norfolk and Hertfordshire. It derives from the Olde English pre 7th Century words "Crawe" a crow and "mere" a lake, thus denoting a lake inhabited by crows. During the middle Ages, when migration from villages was becoming more common it became increasingly popular for placenames to be adopted as a means of identification thus dispersing the name further a field. One Elizabeth Cromer married William Earle in 1579 in Westmill, Hertfordshire. A Coat of Arms granted to the Cromer family depicts three ravens proper, between a black chevron engrailed charged with three silver annulets on a silver shield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Barnabas Cromer, which was dated 1539, in St. Stephens, Norwich, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Good King Hal", 1509 - 1547. 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.