Scrope family
Scrope is an old English noble family of Norman origin whose documented prominence grew during the fourteenth century.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Scrope family is an old English aristocratic and landed family associated principally with Yorkshire and with the titles Baron Scrope of Bolton, Baron Scrope of Masham, and, briefly, Earl of Wiltshire. The family is not a commercial brand in the ordinary sense; its historical identity is dynastic, heraldic, territorial, and genealogical. Its members held important offices under successive English monarchs, including chief justice of the King’s Bench, chancellor of England, treasurer, border governor, and archbishop of York. The family’s early origins are not completely certain. The best-documented Yorkshire line begins with Robert le Scrope, who was active in the late twelfth century and appears to have had connections with the Gant family and estates in Lincolnshire or Northamptonshire. The name may derive from an Anglo-Norman word for a crab. This possible association is reflected in an early family emblem depicting a crab, later replaced or supplemented by five feathers, and in the motto “Devant si je puis,” commonly translated as “Forward if I can.” The family rose substantially in the fourteenth century. Sir William le Scrope of Bolton was the father of Henry and Geoffrey le Scrope, both of whom served as chief justices of the King’s Bench during the reign of Edward II. Henry’s son Richard became the first Baron Scrope of Bolton and served as chancellor of England while supporting John of Gaunt. Richard’s eldest son, William, was created Earl of Wiltshire by Richard II in 1397 and later became treasurer of England. His political allegiance to Richard II led to his execution after Henry IV’s accession in 1399. A related branch descended from Sir Geoffrey le Scrope produced the Barons Scrope of Masham. Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, joined the Percy opposition to Henry IV and was executed for treason in 1405. His relative Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham, initially enjoyed royal favor under Henry V, serving as treasurer and diplomat, but was executed in 1415 after involvement in the Southampton Plot. The Masham title was restored to his brother in 1455 before becoming extinct or falling into abeyance after the death of Geoffrey, 11th Baron Scrope of Masham, in 1517. The Bolton branch remained influential in northern England. John Scrope, 8th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was drawn into the Pilgrimage of Grace and sheltered Adam Sedbar, the fugitive abbot of Jervaulx. His residence, Bolton Castle, was attacked and burned by royal forces. His son Henry served Elizabeth I as governor of Carlisle and received Mary, Queen of Scots, at Bolton Castle after her flight into England in 1568. Sir Thomas Scrope later held the offices of warden of the West March and governor of Carlisle during the Anglo-Scottish border conflicts. Emanuel Scrope, 11th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was created Earl of Sunderland in 1627. His death without legitimate children in 1630 ended the earldom and led to the dispersal of the family’s substantial estates among descendants through illegitimate and female lines. Bolton Castle eventually passed outside the Scrope surname, although it remains connected to the family through descent. Other branches included the Scropes of Castle Combe in Wiltshire, represented by the artist and writer William Scrope, and the Scropes of Danby. The family also appears in the political and religious conflicts of early modern England. Colonel Adrian Scrope, a Parliamentarian officer, signed the death warrant of Charles I and was executed after the Restoration. The family’s history therefore encompasses royal service, rebellion, religious conflict, border administration, peerage politics, military activity, and cultural patronage. The male line continues under the name Scrope of Danby, although the hereditary titles associated with the medieval and early modern branches are no longer active. The Wikipedia account identifies Simon Richard Henry Scrope, known as Harry Scrope, as the senior male member or head of the house. The family’s contemporary significance is primarily genealogical and historical rather than commercial.
History
The Scropes were an English family of Norman or Anglo-Norman background that became prominent in northern England during the later Middle Ages. Their early genealogy is partly uncertain, but Robert le Scrope, active in the late twelfth century, is the first extensively documented ancestor associated with the Yorkshire lines. The family appears to have maintained relationships with the Gant family and may have originated in or held early interests in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire. The decisive rise of the family came in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Sir William le Scrope of Bolton had sons who became senior royal judges, demonstrating the family’s growing connection to the English crown. Henry le Scrope’s son Richard was created Baron Scrope of Bolton and became chancellor of England. Richard’s son William entered the inner circle of Richard II, received the earldom of Wiltshire in 1397, purchased the sovereignty of the Isle of Man from the Earl of Salisbury, and became treasurer. His execution at Bristol after Henry IV’s accession illustrated the risks of close association with a deposed monarch. The family’s other major medieval line originated with Geoffrey le Scrope, whose descendants held the Masham barony. This branch included Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, who joined the Percy rising against Henry IV and was beheaded in 1405. Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham, later served Henry V as treasurer and diplomat but was executed in 1415 for participating in the Southampton Plot. The Masham title was restored to his brother in the mid-fifteenth century, but the line eventually ended in the male succession after Geoffrey, 11th Baron Scrope of Masham, died in 1517. During the Tudor period, the Bolton branch remained tied to the politics of northern England. John Scrope, 8th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was involved, reluctantly according to the family history, in the Pilgrimage of Grace. His decision to provide sanctuary to Adam Sedbar, abbot of Jervaulx, provoked royal retaliation, and Bolton Castle was occupied and damaged by the king’s forces. Henry Scrope, 9th Baron Scrope of Bolton, governed Carlisle under Elizabeth I and was responsible for Mary, Queen of Scots, during her stay at Bolton Castle in 1568–1569. Sir Thomas Scrope continued the family’s border role as warden of the West March and governor of Carlisle. Emanuel Scrope, 11th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was elevated to the earldom of Sunderland in 1627. His death without legitimate issue in 1630 extinguished the earldom and fragmented the family estates. Important properties, including Bolton Castle, passed through marriages and female descendants to other aristocratic families. The barony of Bolton subsequently became dormant, although possible claims through the female line were not pursued. Collateral branches carried the Scrope name into later cultural and political history. The Castle Combe branch produced William Scrope, an artist, author, and advocate of fly fishing who wrote about the history of the Castle Combe manor. Colonel Adrian Scrope participated on the Parliamentarian side during the English Civil War and signed Charles I’s death warrant; he was executed following the Restoration. The modern male line is associated with Scrope of Danby and retains genealogical continuity without the historic hereditary titles. The family’s legacy survives through archives, genealogy, estates, heraldic records, and the continued use of the Scrope name.
- 1630
End of the Sunderland earldom
[1]Emanuel Scrope died without legitimate issue, ending the earldom and contributing to the dispersal of the Bolton estates.
- 1627
Emanuel Scrope receives the Sunderland earldom
[1]Emanuel Scrope, 11th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was created Earl of Sunderland.
- 1568
Mary, Queen of Scots, held at Bolton Castle
[1]Henry Scrope, governor of Carlisle, took custody of Mary, Queen of Scots, and housed her at Bolton Castle.
- 1415
Execution of Henry Scrope of Masham
[1]Henry Scrope, 3rd Baron Scrope of Masham, was executed for involvement in the Southampton Plot against Henry V, and his title was forfeited.
- 1405
Execution of Archbishop Richard Scrope
[1]Richard Scrope, Archbishop of York, was executed after supporting the Percy opposition to Henry IV.
Early documented Yorkshire ancestor
[1]Robert le Scrope, active from the late twelfth century, is identified as the first well-documented ancestor of the Yorkshire Scrope lines.
Rise through royal judicial service
[1]Henry and Geoffrey le Scrope served successively as chief justices of the King’s Bench, strengthening the family’s standing at court.
Creation of the Masham barony
[1]Henry, a descendant of Geoffrey le Scrope, was summoned to Parliament as Baron Scrope; the Masham designation was later used to distinguish this branch.
William le Scrope becomes Earl of Wiltshire
[1]William le Scrope was elevated by Richard II and later served as treasurer of England.
Execution of the Earl of Wiltshire
[1]William le Scrope was executed after Henry IV overthrew Richard II, marking a major reversal in the family’s political fortunes.
Products and positioning
A historical English noble and landed family identified through lineage, heraldry, peerage, estates, public offices, and genealogical continuity rather than commercial products.
Brand decisions
1536
Sanctuary for Adam Sedbar during the Pilgrimage of GraceStrategyBackground
John Scrope, 8th Baron Scrope of Bolton, was associated with the northern uprising against Henry VIII’s religious and administrative reforms.
Action taken
He allowed Adam Sedbar, the fugitive abbot of Jervaulx, to receive sanctuary at Bolton Castle.
Aftermath
Royal forces attacked and burned the castle residence, while Sedbar was captured and executed.
- Scrope–Grosvenor heraldic disputeOther
Background
The Scropes and Grosvenors both claimed a blue heraldic field bearing gold diagonal charges.
Action taken
The Court of Chivalry allowed the Scropes to retain their arms and required the Grosvenors to alter theirs.
Aftermath
The case became one of the best-known medieval English disputes concerning heraldic rights and genealogy.
- Grosvenor family — The Grosvenors were ordered to change the disputed arms.
Sources1 sources
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