Show ContentsCroake History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Irish Croake name is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Cróc," from the Old Norse "Krokr."

Early Origins of the Croake family

The surname Croake was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they have been on record since the 13th century.

Early History of the Croake family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Croake research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1241, 1299 and 1324 are included under the topic Early Croake History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Croake Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Croke, Crough, Croak, Croc, Crok, Croake and others.

Early Notables of the Croake family

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

Ireland Migration of the Croake family to Ireland

Some of the Croake family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Croake migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Croake Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Thomas and William Croake, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1860

New Zealand Croake 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:

Croake Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Croake, aged 36, a farmer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 1
  • Elizabeth Croake, aged 37, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 1
  • Mary Croake, aged 16, a servant, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 1
  • Richard Croake, aged 15, a labourer, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 1
  • Jane Croake, aged 13, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bombay" in 1842 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Croake (post 1700) +

  • Megan Croake, American actress, known for You Can't Stop the Beat (2008) and Again (2010)
  • Nena Jolidon- Croake (1865-1934), American politician, Member of the Washington House of Representatives (1913-1915)
  • Thomas Francis Croake (1902-1978), American jurist, Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (1961–1972)


  1. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 7th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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