Creasey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Creasey

What does the name Creasey mean?

Creasey is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Creasey family lived in Northumberland. The family originally lived in Crecy (Cressy), Normandy. The name was "from the Lordship so named, near Dieppe and Rouen. Hugh de Cressy, and Simon, occur in Normandy 1180-1195. Anselm and Gilbert de Cressy c. 1119 held lands from the Earls of Warrenne in England." 1 The same source continues with another possible origin. "Hugh de Cresseio was of Huntingdonshire, 1130. He was son of Guy le Roux, Lord of Creci in La Brie, Senschal of France." 1

Early Origins of the Creasey family

The surname Creasey was first found in Norfolk at Beeston Regis, a parish, in the union of Erpingham, hundred of North Erpingham. "Here are some remains, consisting chiefly of the west end of the church, with a small tower, and part of the chapter-house, of a priory of Augustine canons, founded in the reign of John by Lady Isabel de Cressey, and the revenue of which, at the Dissolution, was £50. 6. 4." 2 Hugh de Cressy (died 1189) was an Anglo-Norman administrator and nobleman. Unfortunately little more is known of both people.

The Battle of Crécy (Cressy) was fought on 26 August 1346 near Créy, in northern France. This important English victory over the much larger French army led by Philip VI of France was due to tactical flexibility learned from battles with the Vikings, Muslims and the Scots.

Early History of the Creasey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Creasey research. Another 125 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1390, 1450, 1605, 1646 and 1674 are included under the topic Early Creasey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creasey Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Creasey, Cressy, Crecy, Cressi, Crease, Cresey and others.

Early Notables of the Creasey family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Hugh Cressy, English politician, Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire in 1390. Robert Cressy (fl. 1450?), was a Carmelite, a student at Oxford, where he distinguished himself as a theologian. Hugh Paulinus Cressy...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Creasey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Creasey Ranking

In the United States, the name Creasey is the 13,822^nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3

Creasey migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Creasey or a variant listed above:

Creasey Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Creasey, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1832
Charles Aston, Edward, and George Creasey, who all, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1852

Creasey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Creasey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Creasey, aged 26, a farm labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

Creasey 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:

Creasey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Sarah M. Creasey, who arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand aboard the ship "Caroline Coventry" in 1869 4
William Creasey, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ocean Mail" in 1875

Contemporary Notables of the name Creasey (post 1700) +

John Creasey MBE (1908-1973), English author of crime thrillers, publishing over 600 books under 28 different pseudonyms, founder of the Crime Writers' Association in 1953
Harold Creasey (1883-1952), British bronze medalist sport shooter at the 1908 Summer Olympics
General Sir Timothy May Creasey KCB OBE (1923-1986), British Army officer, General Officer Commanding of the British Army in Northern Ireland, and later Commander of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces

Citations +

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)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html