Creed Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from a place so called in Cornwall, and means “(the church of) St. Creda or Crida”, named after a 7th Century female priest who considered to have come from Ireland. More common variations are: Creedy, Creede, Creedo, Coreed, Creeda, Cred, Creedey, Careedy, Creedee, Creedeu.

The surname Creed first appeared in Cornwall Where they held a family seat from very early times, some say well before the Norman Invasion and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 AD. The very first recording spelling of the family was shown to be that of Wadin Crede, dated 1191, in the “ Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire”. It was during the reign of King Richard 1, who was known as King Richard 1, dated 1189-1199.  Surname all over the country became a necessity with the introduction of personal taxation.  It came to be known as Poll Tax in England.  Surnames all over the country began to develop with unique and shocking spelling varieties of the original one.

Some of the people with the name Creed who arrived in the United States in the 17th century included John Creed, who arrived in Virginia in 1662.  Edward Creed, who settled in Virginia in 1663.  Edward Creed, who arrived in Maryland in 1670.  John Creed, who landed in Maryland in 1670.  Jonathon Creed, who came to Barbados in 1679 with his wife and daughter. People with the surname Creed who landed in the United States in the 18th century included Mathew Creed, who landed in Virginia in 1714. Some of the people with the surname Creed who arrived in the United States in the 19th century included Penelope Creed who arrived in New York in 1820. Some of the people with the name Creed who arrived in the Canada in the 19th century included William Creed, aged 16, a clerk, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig “Charity” from Kinsale, Ireland.   Some of the individuals with the surname Creed who landed in Australia in the 19th century included Mary Creed, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship “Elgin”.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) (Sarum, co. Wilts, granted 4 June, 1663). Erm. on a chev. engr. sa. three leopards’ faces or.
2) (London). Erm. on a chev. sa. cotised gu. betw. three estoiles of the last as many leopards’ faces or. Crest—A dove with an olive branch ppr.
3) Same Arms, the field ar. Crest—A demi wolf reguard. erminois holding in the dexter paw an estoile gu.
4) Per pale sa. and gu. on a chev. engr. per pale or, and erm. three leopards’ faces of the second. Crest—On an oak branch vert a dove ar. with a sprig in his beak ppr. charged on the breast with a cross pattee gu.
5) (All Saints, Barnwell, co. Northampton. Arms from the monument of Dorothy, dau. of John Creed, Esq., of Oundle, ob. 1714). Az. a chev. betw. three swans ar.