| ![Show Contents]() Cretney History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland Early Origins of the Cretney familyThe surname Cretney was first found in Galloway (Gaelic: Gall-ghaidhealaibh), an area of southwestern Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Dumfries and Galloway, that formerly consisted of the counties of Wigtown (West Galloway) and Kirkcudbright (East Galloway), where they held a family seat. In a strange convolution of heritage and translation from the Gaelic, this name, Cretney is descended from MacBratney, or MacBhreatnaich, the Gaelic, meaning a son of the Strathclyde Briton, or children of the Britons, who settled amongst the Gaels. From their home lands in Clontag and Knockane in Galloway in Western Scotland they descended to Martin Birty who appears in records in 1471. They were known as the Clann a'Bhreatannich, and were originally from the Island of Gigha off Kintyre, a branch of the Galbraiths as early as 1230. The name evolved to Makbretny, and thence to Vretny and Cretny. Early History of the Cretney familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cretney research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1590, 1685 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cretney History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cretney Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: MacBretney, Bretny, Bretney, MacBratney, Vretny, Cretney, Cretnie, Cretny, McBretnach, McBratny, MacBraten, MacBretnie, McVretney and many more. Early Notables of the Cretney familyMore information is included under the topic Early Cretney Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Cretney family to Ireland
Some of the Cretney family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Cretney migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Cretney Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Thomas Cretney, aged 20, originally from Isle of Man, arrived in New York in 1892 aboard the ship "Etruria" from Liverpool & Queenstown 1
- James Cretney, aged 27, originally from Isle of Man, arrived in New York in 1899 aboard the ship "Teutonic" from Liverpool, England 1
Cretney Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Robert Cretney, aged 53, originally from Douglas, Isle of Man, arrived in New York in 1900 aboard the ship "Campania" from Liverpool, England 1
- Alex Cretney, aged 22, originally from Donyhar, Isle of Man, arrived in New York in 1907 aboard the ship "Campania" from Liverpool, England 1
- Margaret Cretney, aged 33, originally from Burnley, England, arrived in New York in 1914 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England 1
- Phyllis Cretney, aged 2, originally from Burnley, England, arrived in New York in 1914 aboard the ship "Baltic" from Liverpool, England 1
| Cretney migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Cretney Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. H. Cretney, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Diana" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 11th July 1840 2
| Contemporary Notables of the name Cretney (post 1700) | + |
- Thomas Grant Cretney (1870-1938), American businessman and politician who served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1915
- Louis Ronald "Ron" Cretney, Manx politician, Minister of Education (1990-1991) in the Isle of Man Government
- John Thomas Cretney (1879-1956), English professional footballer
- David Cretney (b. 1954), Manx politician and entrepreneur, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Isle of Man Government (2006-2010), Minister of Community, Culture and Leisure (2010–2011), Minister of Infrastructure (2011–2014)
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: Quad ero spero
Motto Translation: What I shall be, I hope.
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Cretney migration to the United States 
Cretney migration to New Zealand 
