Cheek History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Cheek is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a 'chick' or one with a prominent jaw. 1 2 One source notes that while this etymology is the more typical understanding of the name, we should consider that it may have been a Norman name originally as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae notes that "William Cecus occurs in Normandy 1198." 3

Early Origins of the Cheek family

The surname Cheek was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which included: Walter Chike, Oxfordshire. 4 Over in Somerset, Thomas Chike was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Cheek family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheek research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1514, 1548, 1557, 1586, 1592, 1595, 1601, 1604, 1613, 1653, 1658 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Cheek History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheek Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Cheek have been found, including Cheek, Cheeke, Cheeks, Cheke, Chick, Chicke and others.

Early Notables of the Cheek family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir John Cheek (1514-1557) English humanist, Secretary of State, tutor to Edward VI and supporter of the Reformation. His son, Henry Cheke (1548?-1586?), was an English translator
Sir Thomas Cheek or Cheke (died 1659), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons (1604-1653); and his daughter, Essex Cheeke (d. 1658), later Dame Essex Bevil and then Countess of Manchest...
William Cheeke (fl. 1613), was an English scholar who entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1592, and proceeded B.A. in Lent term 1595. 6

Cheek Ranking

In the United States, the name Cheek is the 2,104^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 7

Cheek migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Cheek surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Cheek Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Cheek, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 8
John Cheek, who landed in Virginia in 1696 8

Cheek Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Cheek, who settled in Potomac Maryland in 1742

Cheek migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cheek Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Robert Cheek, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1849 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Cheek (post 1700) +

James E. Cheek (1932-2010), American President emeritus of Howard University, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Alison Mary Cheek (1927-2019), Australian-born American religious leader; one of the first women ordained in the Episcopal Church in the United States
Stephen A. Cheek (b. 1950), American author
Louis Ray Cheek Jr. (b. 1964), former American football offensive lineman
Harry Gordon Cheek (1879-1927), American Major League Baseball player
Joy Cheek (b. 1988), American professional basketball player
Savage" Rick Cheek (b. 1977), American Super Heavyweight kickboxer and mixed martial artist
Molly Cheek (b. 1950), American actress
Chris Cheek (b. 1968), American jazz saxophonist
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheek (b. 1956), retired American professional basketball player
... (Another 15 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAVID MALCOLM 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849DavidMalcolm.htm