| ![Show Contents]() Meck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Meck was first used as a surname among the descendants of the ancient Scottish people known as the Picts. It was a name for a timid person. Meck is a nickname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Meck comes from the Old English word meek, which means humble or merciful. 1 2 3 Early Origins of the Meck familyThe surname Meck was first found in Fife, where "a family of this name held lands from the abbots of Cupar from the middle of the fifteenth century. William Mek had a tack of part, of Cowbyr in 1457, Will Meyk was tenant of Coupergrgange in 1468, and William Meyk was tenant of Balmyl in 1485." 4 Further south in England, Richard Mek was registered in Somerset in 1299 and later, Robert le Meke was listed as a Freeman of York in 1300. 5 Early History of the Meck familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meck research. Another 157 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1549, 1584, 1676, 1680, 1684, 1695, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Meck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Meck Spelling VariationsBefore the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Meck has been spelled Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others. Early Notables of the Meck familyMore information is included under the topic Early Meck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Meck family to Ireland
Some of the Meck family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 76 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Meck migration to the United States | + |
In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Meck:
Meck Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Johan Bernhard Meck, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 6
| Contemporary Notables of the name Meck (post 1700) | + |
- Jackie A. Meck, American politician, Mayor of Buckeye, Arizona, 2013 7
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Jungor ut implear
Motto Translation: I am joined that I may become full.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Meck migration to the United States 
Scotland
Ireland
England
