The name
In "The Place-names of Lincolnshire" the origin of the name Crosby suggests that it comes from the Old Norse 'kross' and the Old Danish 'by' meaning 'village with a cross'.
However another suggestion is that the name is of British-Danish origin. The Domesday Book refers to Crosby as 'Cropesbi' which may come from 'croc - hop - bi' meaning literally 'the farm settlement at the creek stream of the valley cutting'
More detailed information can be found in:
Emminson, T. B. F. The Place and River Names of the West Riding of Lindsey Lincolnshire. 1934.
Cameron, Keith The Place-Names of Lincolnshire
(Available in North Lincolnshire Local Studies Library).
The place
Crosby is one of five villages which were incorporated to form the town of Scunthorpe in 1936. During the nineteenth century it had its own day school and Primitive Methodist chapel. It was also known for having significant rabbit warrens. As a village it was for many years more significant than Scunthorpe itself and was known for growing hemp and linseed and celebrated its own village feast.