Creeden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Creeden history begins in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. Quite distinct from Devon, the adjoining county, Cornwall had its own spoken language until the late 18th century. The Creeden history began here. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames were derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. Unlike most Celtic peoples, who favored patronymic names, the Cornish predominantly used local surnames. The Creeden family originally lived in the parish of Creed in the county of Cornwall. "Crede is manifestly a personal name in the Hundred Rolls in districts far removed from Cornwall. It occurs in every case without a prefix, in itself an argument in favour of a fontal origin. No doubt it means creed, i.e. belief, answering to faith, so familiar as a girl's name later on." 1

Early Origins of the Creeden family

The surname Creeden was first found in Cornwall at Creed, a parish, in the union of St. Austell, W. division of the hundred of Powder. There is another Creed in the East division of Sussex, but the former is where this family hails. 2 Originally known as Sancta Crida, the Cornish parish means "Church of St. Cride," from the patron saint of the church. 3

The Hundred (Hundredorum) Rolls of 1273 listed: Alan Crede, Suffolk; Mabilia Crede, Cambridgeshire; and Roger Crede, Huntingdonshire. 1 Henry Crede, vicar of Homing, Norfolk in 1381 4 and John Creyde was listed in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5

Early History of the Creeden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creeden research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1388, 1564, 1578, 1582, 1614, 1616, 1644, 1659, 1660, 1663, 1668, 1682, 1695, 1701, 1728, 1743, 1754, 1761, 1762, 1866, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Creeden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creeden Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Creed, Creede, Crede, Cread, Creade, Creeds, Creedes, Credes, Creads and many more.

Early Notables of the Creeden family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Adam Creedy (fl. 1388), an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Exeter in 1388; and Sir James Creed (c. 1695-1762), an English merchant and politician, Member of Parliament for Canterbury (1754-1761), Fellow of the Royal Society in February, 1743.Elizabeth Creed (1644?-1728), was an English philanthropist, born in or about 1644, the only daughter of Sir Gilbert Pickering, bart., of Tichmarsh, Northamptonshire. "In October 1668 she became the wife of John Creed [see below] of Oundle, Northamptonshire, who appears to have been at one time a retainer in the service of Lord Sandwich...
Another 150 words (11 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Creeden Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Creeden family to Ireland

Some of the Creeden family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 261 words (19 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creeden migration to the United States +

Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Creeden or a variant listed above:

Creeden Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ellen Creeden, aged 18, who arrived in America, in 1892
M. J. Creeden, who arrived in America, in 1892
Thomas Creeden, aged 15, who arrived in America, in 1897
Margt. Creeden, aged 17, who arrived in America from Cork, in 1899

Creeden Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Patrick Creeden, aged 26, who arrived in America from Kingmore, Ireland, in 1907
Richard Creeden, aged 20, who arrived in America from Cork, Ireland, in 1920
Timothy Creeden, aged 55, who arrived in America from Kenmare, Co Kerry, Ireland, in 1921

Creeden migration to Australia +

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

Creeden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Timothy Creeden, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Sir Thomas Gresham" 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Creeden (post 1700) +

Rev. John B. Creeden S.J., American academic, 37th President of Georgetown University (1918-1924)
Cornelius Stephen "Connie" Creeden (1915-1969), American Major League Baseball player who played one season with the Boston Braves in 1943
Patrick Francis "Pat" Creeden (1906-1992), nicknamed "Whoops", an American Major League Baseball second baseman who played one season for the Boston Red Sox in 1931

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
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.
South Australian Register Monday 20th March 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Sir Thomas Gresham 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/sirthomasgresham1858.shtml