Creeley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Ireland

The Irish surnames in use today are underpinned by a multitude of rich histories. The name Creeley originally appeared in Gaelic as Mac Raghallaigh. However, the connection of this name, which is also Anglicized as Crawley or MacCrawley, to the name Crilly is in actuality a matter of debate among scholars.

Early Origins of the Creeley family

The surname Creeley was first found in County Londonderry (Irish: Doire), a Northern Irish county also known as Derry, in the province of Ulster, where they held a family seat since ancient times.

Early History of the Creeley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creeley research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Creeley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creeley Spelling Variations

Names during the Middle Ages were often recorded under several different spelling variations during the life of their bearers. Literacy was rare at that time and so how a person's name was recorded was decided by the individual scribe. Variations of the name Creeley include Crilly, O'Crilly, Creely, Crely, Crillie, Creelie, Crelie, Crilley, Creeley, Creley and many more.

Early Notables of the Creeley family

More information is included under the topic Early Creeley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Creeley family

The English-ruled Ireland of the late 18th and 19th centuries featured a rapidly increasing population and an agricultural-based economy. This combination proved to be disastrous in the 1840s after a couple of failed potato harvests. Thousands died of disease and starvation, and thousands more left the country, often bound for North America. Those that survived the journey to North America were put to work building the bridges, canals, roadways, and railways needed for the development of an industrial society. Those Irish, although often despised by those already established in North American cities and towns, played an instrumental role in making Canada and the United States the powerful and wealthy nations that they are today. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has shown many immigrants bearing the name Creeley: Thomas Crilly, who sailed to America in 1812; Bernard Crilly, age 30; Bridget Crilly, age 25; Michael Crilly, age 19; John Crilly, age 3; and Ann, age six months, who all settled in Quebec in 1834.

Contemporary Notables of the name Creeley (post 1700) +

Robert Creeley (1926-2005), American poet and author of more than sixty books