Meeks History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient Scottish name Meeks is carried by the descendents of the Pictish people. It was a name for a timid person. Meeks 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 Meeks comes from the Old English word meek, which means humble or merciful. 1 2 3
Early Origins of the Meeks family
The surname Meeks 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 Meeks family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meeks 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 Meeks History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Meeks Spelling Variations
Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Meeks has appeared Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others.
Early Notables of the Meeks family
More information is included under the topic Early Meeks Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Meeks Ranking
In the United States, the name Meeks is the 1,037th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 6
Migration of the Meeks family to Ireland
Some of the Meeks 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.
Meeks migration to the United States +
Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Meeks name:
Meeks Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Moss Meeks, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 7
Meeks Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Ernest V. Meeks, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1896
Meeks Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
- Clarence Meeks, who landed in America, in 1908
- Everitt Victa Meeks, aged 29, who settled in America, in 1909
- Eugene Meeks, aged 67, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
- Catherine Meeks, aged 17, who immigrated to America from Tenahely, Ireland, in 1910
- Hamilton Meeks, aged 48, who landed in America, in 1911
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Meeks migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Meeks Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Miss Sarah Meeks, British Convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
- Mr. James Meeks, English convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 2nd November 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Contemporary Notables of the name Meeks (post 1700) +
- Aaron Joseph Meeks (b. 1986), American NAACP Image Award-winning actor, from Watts, California
- James T. Meeks (b. 1956), American politician, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate from the 15th District (2003)
- Travis Shane Meeks (b. 1979), American musician, lead singer, guitarist and song writer
- Jodie Meeks (b. 1987), American professional NBA basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Ron Meeks (b. 1954), American NFL football defensive coordinator
- Gregory Weldon Meeks (b. 1953), American politician, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives
- Cordell D. Meeks, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1948 10
- Benjamin F. Meeks, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at El Dorado, Kansas, 1894-98 10
- Ben S. Meeks (1902-1995), American Democratic Party politician, Member of Missouri State House of Representatives from Oregon County, 1937-38, 1945-56, 1961-64 10
- Barbara Meeks, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 2012 10
- ... (Another 25 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
The Meeks 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.
Suggested Readings for the name Meeks +
- Descendants of Nathan Meeks and Wife, Sarah C. Jones by Sallie Stewart Harrison.
- The Meek Family of Washington County, Virginia by Danny Morris Fluhart.
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)
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th March 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html