Creech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

A family in the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland was the first to use the name Creech. They lived in the lands of Creich in Fife. "This place is supposed to have derived its name, signifying in the Gaelic language, rocky or rugged ground, from the general appearance of its surface. " 1

Criech is a parish, in the county of Sutherland, 11½ miles from Tain. "This place is famed for a contest which happened in the eleventh or twelfth century, between the Scots and the Danes, at Druimleah, near Bonar-Bridge, whence the invaders, after being completely routed, retired to their ships at Portnacoulter, at present called the Meikle Ferry. " 1

Early Origins of the Creech family

The surname Creech was first found in Fife, at Creich, derived from the ancient Celtic word "crug" which means a mound or hill. 2

"The parish of Creich, in the northern part of Fifeshire, contains the remains of an ancient casde but there is no trace of any family bearing the name occupying the lands. Douenaldus (i.e. Donald) de Creych, a cleric, was one of the witnesses to a confirmation charter by Walter, son of Alan of the land of Tubermor between 1204 and 1241. " 3

While the surname hails from Scotland, there are at least two listing of the same name further south in England, specifically Creech East in Dorset and Creech St. Michael in Somerset.

Both date back to the Domesday Book where they were listed as Cris and Crixe, respectively. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included Robert de Criche, Nottinghamshire 5 and Kirby's Quest listed Peter de Cryche, Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign). 6

Early History of the Creech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creech research. Another 164 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1394, 1403, 1423, 1429, 1544, 1585, 1611, 1659, 1693, 1700, 1720, 1745 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Creech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creech Spelling Variations

In medieval Scotland, names were more often spelled according to sound than any regular set of rules. An enormous number of spelling variations were the result. Over the years, the name Creech has been spelled Creech, Creich, Creigh, Craich, Creych, Creyche and others.

Early Notables of the Creech family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Thomas Creech (1659-1700), an English translator of classical works, and headmaster of Sherborne School, born at Blandford in Dorset...
His father, also called Thomas Creech, died in 1720, and his mother, Jane Creech, died in 1693, both being buried in the old church in that town7...

Creech Ranking

In the United States, the name Creech is the 2,206^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 8

Creech migration to the United States +

In such difficult times, Ireland, Australia, and North America looked like better homes for many Scots. The trips were expensive and grueling, but also rewarding, as the colonies were havens for those unwelcome in the old country. That legacy did not die easily, though, and many were forced to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. The Scottish legacy has resurface in more recent times, though, through Clan societies, highland games, and other organizations. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the old Scottish name of Creech:

Creech Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Creech, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 9

Creech Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Roland Harold Creech, aged 38, who landed in America from London, in 1904
William Leslie Creech, aged 19, who settled in America from London, in 1905
Harris Creech, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States, in 1905
Walter Creech, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from Glamorgan, in 1906
Margaret Creech, aged 29, who landed in America, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Creech (post 1700) +

William Creech Sr. (1845-1918), American philanthropist, nicknamed "Uncle" William Creech
Don Creech (1948-1980), American actor, keeper of the thousands of Muppets for the Jim Henson company from 1980 to 2002, when the New York workshop was closed down
Lieutenant Jesse Orin Creech (1895-1948), American World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories
General Wilbur Lyman Creech (1927-2003), American Commander of the United States Air Force (USAF) Tactical Air Command (TAC) from May 1, 1978 to December 31, 1984
Sharon Creech (b. 1945), American novelist of children's fiction
F. B. Creech, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from South Carolina, 1940 10
Elizabeth Creech, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1972 10
Dale Creech, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Iowa, 2012 10
Clarence Creech, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1964 10
Charles M. Creech, American politician, Member of North Carolina State House of Representatives from Johnston County, 1897-98 10
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html