| ![Show Contents]() Meech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of MeechWhat does the name Meech mean? The surname Meech comes from the Old English word "meek," which means "humble" or "merciful." It is thought to derive from a nickname for a timid person. 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. Early Origins of the Meech familyThe surname Meech was first found in Fife, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland. Early History of the Meech familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meech research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1680, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Meech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Meech Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others. Early Notables of the Meech familyMore information is included under the topic Early Meech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Meech family to IrelandSome of the Meech 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.
| Meech migration to the United States | + |
Meech Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Meech, who settled in Salem in 1629
- John Meech, who settled in Charles Town Massachusetts in 1635
Meech Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Jessie Hannah Meech, aged 47, originally from Beaminster, England, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Adriatic" from Southampton, England 2
- Harry Meech, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Caronia" from London, England 2
- Samuel W. Meech, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Mystic" from Marseilles, France 2
| Meech migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia included the Third Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Third Fleet - Miss Jane Meech, (b. 1757), aged 30, English settler convicted in Exeter, Devon on 30th March 1786, sentenced for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the ship "Charlotte" leaving on 13th May 1787 arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 22nd January 1788 1
Following the Third Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include: Meech Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Matthew Meech, aged 28, a sawyer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Lady Macdonald" 3
- Robert Meech, aged 35, a sawyer, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Confiance" 4
| Meech migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Meech Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Henry Meech, aged 28, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
- Mary Ann Meech, aged 25, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Oriental" in 1840
- Mr. Henry Meech, (b. 1811), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 5
- Mrs. Meech, (b. 1814), aged 25, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on 31st January 1840 5
- William Meech, aged 21, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Catherine Stewart Forbes" in 1841
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Meech (post 1700) | + |
- Karen Jean Meech, American astronomer at the Institute for Astronomy in the University of Hawaii. Asteroid 4367 Meech, discovered by Schelte J. Bus on March 2, 1981, is named in her honor 6
- William B. Meech, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 7th District, 1848 7
- Stephen Meech, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Preston, 1823 8
- Harold M. Meech, American Republican politician, Mayor of Middletown, Connecticut, 1917; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Middletown; Elected 1918 8
- H. P. Meech, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from West Hartford; Elected 1920 8
- Ezra Meech (1773-1856), American politician, Member of Vermont State Legislature; U.S. Representative from Vermont, 1819-21, 1825-27; Presidential Elector for Vermont, 1840 8
- Athol Charles Meech (1907-1981), Canadian rower who won the Bronze in the 1928 Summer Olympics
- Thomas Cox Meech (1868-1940), English journalist, author and lawyer
- Derek Meech (b. 1984), Canadian ice hockey defenceman and winger for the Detroit Red Wings
- Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
- Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
- South Australian Register Monday 9th April 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lady Macdonald 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/ladymacdonald1855.shtml
- South Australian Register Tuesday 30th November 1858. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Confiance 1858. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/confiance1858.shtml
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- Karen Meech. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Karen Meech. Retrieved from http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~meech/
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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