Creag Surname, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available: Irish, Scottish

Buy JPG Image »

The surname is one of the many Irish surnames rooted in Gaelic language native to Ireland. The original Gaelic form of the name Creag is Craobhach, derived from the word "craobh," which means "branch."

Creag Early Origins

PDF Coat of Arms
+ Extended History

PDF Coat of Arms + Extended Surname History

Buy PDF History »

The surname Creag was first found in County Clare (Irish: An Clár) located on the west coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where this ancient Irish family was descended from King Niall of "the Nine Hostages," the great General King, who in turn was descended from the Heremon line of Irish Kings. The Creaghs were one of the celebrated septs and leading gentry of the County Clare. They were a branch of the O'Neills of County Clare and tradition has it that they carried green branches with them into battle against the Norsemen at Limerick. Their name is derived from the Irish surname Craobhach, which is the adjective formed from the noun "craob," a branch. Other names are derived from this source as well such as Cray, the anglicized form of O Craoibhe meaning "descendant of Craobhach."

Creag Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Creag family name include Creagh, Crear, Creag, Creavagh, Cray and others.

Creag Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creag research. Another 441 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1848, 1923, 1705, 1585, 1541, 1585, 1676, 1693, 1500, 1505, 1514, 1518, 1520, 1523 and 1689 are included under the topic Early Creag History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creag Early Notables (pre 1700)

Prominent amongst the family at this time was Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Pierce Creagh; and Richard Creagh (died 1585), born in Limerick, he was an Irish Catholic Archbishop of Armagh who died in the Tower of London, his nephew Peter Creagh, was Bishop of Cork and Cloyne from 1676 to 1693...

Another 69 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Creag Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Creag to North America:

Creag Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Isabella Creag, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1772

Creag Family Crest Products

Citations

Other References

Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8).
Woodham-Smith, Cecil. The Great Hunger Ireland 1845-1849. New York: Old Town Books, 1962. Print. (ISBN 0-88029-385-3).
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X).
Fairbairn. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.
Crozier, William Armstrong Edition. Crozier's General Armory A Registry of American Families Entitled to Coat Armor. New York: Fox, Duffield, 1904. Print.
Land Owners in Ireland. Genealogical Publishing. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-1203-3).
O'Hart, John. Irish Pedigress 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4).
Chadwick, Nora Kershaw and J.X.W.P Corcoran. The Celts. London: Penguin, 1970. Print. (ISBN 0140212116).
Zieber, Eugene. Heraldry in America. Philadelphia: Genealogical Publishing Co. Print.
Bell, Robert. The Book of Ulster Surnames. Belfast: Blackstaff, 1988. Print. (ISBN 10-0856404160).
...

The Creag Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Creag Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.

This page was last modified on 6 December 2016 at 08:24.