Show ContentsPeick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Peick is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Peick family lived in Kent. It is thought that Peachy is of topographical origin, distinguishing a bearer who lived near a peach tree, sold peaches, or was associated with the fruit in some other way. In French it is written peche, and the addition of the letter y on to the end of the name is probably the result of its Anglicization.

The family was "an ancient baronial family, called in charters, De Peccato. They appear as early as the reign of King Stephen, and they were doubtless of Norman extraction. They were of prime importance in Kent, temp. Edward. I." 1

Early Origins of the Peick family

The surname Peick was first found in Kent where the name descends from the baronial name Peche, Latinized De Peccato. One of the oldest recordings of the name is found in a stained glass window at Lullingstone in Kent. 1

Willielmus Peccatum was a Domesday under-tennant in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. 2 "William Pecatum was an under-tenant in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. The name may have been altered to Beach and Beachy. It has also been found as Peach and Peachy." 3

"Richard Peché was Bishop of Coventry 1162-1182, and another of the same name was Archdeacon of Malpas in Cheshire. In the course of time, [the name] lapsed into the form of Peachey or Peach. " 4

"Ralph Peche (perhaps William's son) about 1113 received from Roger, the second son of the Earl of Clare, the manor of Birdbrook in Essex ; one of those granted by Gilbert Lord Peche to Edward I.: and in 1134 Hamo Peche, in right of his wife Alice, one of the four sisters and coheirs of William Peverell, was Lord of Brunne in Cambridgeshire, and held a barony of his own in Suffolk of twelve knights' fees. He was Sheriff of Cambridge from 1164 to Easter 1166: and paid scutage on nineteen fees in 1168. He was followed by two sons, Geoffrey and Gilbert. Gilbert's wife was "a sister of that famous Fitz Walter, who led the Barons' party in the time of King John. On Fitz Walter's banishment, she had to find hostages for her loyalty. One of these hostages was her own daughter Alice." 4

Robert Peccin (Peche) was listed in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire (1176-1177). 5 Sir John Peche (Pecche) (c. 1285-before 1335 in Honiley, Warwickshire) was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports from 1323 to 1324.

Early History of the Peick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peick research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1164, 1671, 1723, 1736, 1737, 1794 and 1808 are included under the topic Early Peick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peick Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Peick family name include Peachy, Peach, Peache, Peachee, Peachey, Peche and many more.

Early Notables of the Peick family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Peick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Peick family

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Peick family to immigrate North America: William Peachee, who arrived in west New Jersey in 1664; Daniel Peachey settled in Virginia in 1753; William Peachy settled in Newcastle Del. in 1677..


Contemporary Notables of the name Peick (post 1700) +

  • Doris Ann Peick, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1996 6


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Baring-Gould S., Family Names and their Story. London: Seeley, Service & Co. Limited, 1913. Print
  4. Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 2 of 3
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook