Show ContentsMeeke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Meeke 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 Meeke family

The surname Meeke 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 Meeke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meeke research. Another 68 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1680, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Meeke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Meeke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others.

Early Notables of the Meeke family

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

Ireland Migration of the Meeke family to Ireland

Some of the Meeke 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.


United States Meeke migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Meeke Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Francis Meeke, who settled in Virginia in 1663 along with John and William
  • Guy Meeke, who arrived in Maryland in 1666 1
  • John Meeke, who landed in Maryland in 1674 1
  • Sarah Meeke, who landed in Maryland in 1674 1
  • Walter Meeke, who arrived in Maryland or Virginia in 1674 1
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Meeke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Meeke, who settled in Virginia in 1741
  • Rudolph Meeke, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1744 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Meeke (post 1700) +

  • William Meeke (1758-1830), Member of Parliament for Callan in the Irish Parliament (1790 to 1797) and Member of Parliament for Penryn, Cornwall (1796-1900) (1801-1802)
  • Brent Alan Meeke (b. 1952), retired Canadian professional NHL ice hockey forward who played 75 games in the National Hockey League
  • Mary Meeke (d. 1816), prolific English author who sometimes used the pseudonym Gabrielli
  • Kris Meeke (b. 1979), British professional rally driver, Intercontinental Rally Challenge champion (2009)


  1. 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)


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