This is a locational name which derives from a now "lost" medieval place called "Crossgill" believed to have been in North Lancashire. The origin is Olde English pre 7th Century "Cros-Gyll". The translation being the cross by the stream or (possibly) small valley". Most early recordings seem to be from the Lancashire area, however the name was also early into London, suggesting either that there were several places with the same name, or that the original village suffered a wholesale clearance through famine or sheep farming. The name recordings include Alicia Crosskell of Enfield, Middlesex (May 5th 1558), Richard Croskell of Ellel, Lancashire, the Wills Register for 1661. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Croskyll of Lancaster, which was dated 1541, in the Lancashire Will Register of Richmond, during the reign of King Henry V111, known as "Bluff King Hal", 1510 - 1548. 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.