Contents [hide]

Meek History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Meek History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland-Alt
Scotland
Ireland
England

The clans of the Pictish people in ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Meek. It was a name for a timid person. Meek 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 Meek comes from the Old English word meek, which means humble or merciful. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Meek family

The surname Meek 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 Meek family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meek 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 Meek History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meek Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Meek has appeared Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others.

Early Notables of the Meek family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Meek of Essex

Meek Ranking

In the United States, the name Meek is the 2,600^th most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Meek family to Ireland

Some of the Meek 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.

Meek migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Meek:

Meek Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Meek, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 7
John Meek, who arrived in Maryland in 1664 7

Meek Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Michal Meek, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 7
Johann Nicolaus Meek, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 7
Michael Meek, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 7
Robert Meek, who landed in America in 1765 7
Friedrich Meek, who landed in America in 1778 7

Meek Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michel Meek, who landed in America in 1851 7
Georg Meek, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 7
Brice Meek, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 7

Meek migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meek Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Miss. Catherine Meek, aged 2 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle on 22nd May 1847 8

Meek migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Meek Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Joseph Meek, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Richard Meek, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Mr. Thomas Meek, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
John Meek, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839 12
Mr. Robinson Meek, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Blundell" on 13th March 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Meek 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:

Meek Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

H. Meek, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harkaway" in 1858 14
Mr. Robert Meek, Scottish settler from Carnwath travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 15
Edward Meek, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
William Meek, aged 13, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
Alfred Meek, aged 11, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Meek (post 1700) +

Carrie Mae Pittman Meek (1926-2021), American politician, member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003, representing Florida's 17th congressional district
Barbara Anita Meek (1934-2015), American actress, best known for her role as Ellen Canby for three seasons on Archie Bunker's Place
Fielding Bradford Meek (1817-1876), American geologist and paleontologist
Bill Meek (1922-1998), American football coach
Alexander Beaufort Meek (1814-1865), American politician, lawyer, writer and poet
Forrest B. Meek, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 36th District, 1966 16
Fannie L. Meek, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives 10th District, 1966 16
Mrs. Charles Meek Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1956 16
Cecil Meek, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1952 16
Bert B. Meek, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1920, 1928 16
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Meek family +

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Anna "Annie" Louise Rowley Meek (d. 1912), aged 31, Welsh Third Class passenger from Penarth, Glamorgan who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 17

The Meek Motto +

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.

Citations +

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 47)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CITY OF ADELAIDE 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839CityOfAdelaide.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blundell
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html