Cretchett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cretchett

What does the name Cretchett mean?

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England of 1066 brought the Cretchett family name to the British Isles. They lived in Oxfordshire. The family originally lived in Criquetot-Sur-Longueville, Normandy, and it is from this location that their name derives. 1

Early Origins of the Cretchett family

The surname Cretchett was first found in Warwickshire where John Criket was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1305. 2

Early History of the Cretchett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cretchett research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1176 is included under the topic Early Cretchett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cretchett Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Cricket, Crickett, Critchett, Critchet, Cricketot and others.

Early Notables of the Cretchett family

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

Migration of the Cretchett family

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Cretchett or a variant listed above: Mary Critchet who arrived in Virginia in 1729; and David and Thomas Cricket arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1814.

Sources +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)