Creeck History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The chronicles of the Creeck family reach back into Scottish history to an ancient tribe known as the Picts. The ancestors of the Creeck family lived in the lands of Creich in Fife. "This place is supposed to have derived its name, signifying in the Gaelic language, rocky or rugged ground, from the general appearance of its surface. " 1

Criech is a parish, in the county of Sutherland, 11½ miles from Tain. "This place is famed for a contest which happened in the eleventh or twelfth century, between the Scots and the Danes, at Druimleah, near Bonar-Bridge, whence the invaders, after being completely routed, retired to their ships at Portnacoulter, at present called the Meikle Ferry. " 1

Early Origins of the Creeck family

The surname Creeck was first found in Fife, at Creich, derived from the ancient Celtic word "crug" which means a mound or hill. 2

"The parish of Creich, in the northern part of Fifeshire, contains the remains of an ancient casde but there is no trace of any family bearing the name occupying the lands. Douenaldus (i.e. Donald) de Creych, a cleric, was one of the witnesses to a confirmation charter by Walter, son of Alan of the land of Tubermor between 1204 and 1241. " 3

While the surname hails from Scotland, there are at least two listing of the same name further south in England, specifically Creech East in Dorset and Creech St. Michael in Somerset.

Both date back to the Domesday Book where they were listed as Cris and Crixe, respectively. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Robert de Criche, Nottinghamshire 5 and Kirby's Quest listed Peter de Cryche, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign). 6

Early History of the Creeck family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creeck research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1403, 1423, 1429, 1544, 1585, 1611, 1659, 1693, 1700, 1720, 1745 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Creeck History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creeck Spelling Variations

When the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Creeck has been written Creech, Creich, Creigh, Craich, Creych, Creyche and others.

Early Notables of the Creeck family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Thomas Creech (1659-1700), an English translator of classical works, and headmaster of Sherborne School, born at Blandford in Dorset. His...
Another 27 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Creeck Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Creeck family

The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Creeck: Stephen Creigh who settled in Philadelphia in 1850.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. 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)
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)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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.