Map of England showing where the Cree arms are recorded
The Cree arms were recorded in Middlesex, c. 1786.
Middlesex was the county around London, and City money flowed straight into it. Merchants and officials bought estates within reach of the capital, and a new estate brought a coat of arms with it.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in England when the Cree arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Middlesex.
Origin & History of the Cree Family in England
The family name Cree has roots that stretch back to the British Isles, with historical records confirming the presence of the family in Middlesex by 1786. While the name is relatively rare, it is believed to have originated as a locational surname, likely referring to individuals who lived near a specific creek or a small stream. During the eighteenth century, members of the Cree family were often documented in parish registers and local administrative records as they navigated the social and economic shifts of the Industrial Revolution. Many families during this period were moving into urban centers like London to find new opportunities in trade and craftsmanship. By tracking these early ancestors through baptismal and marriage certificates, historians can see how the family established itself within the local community long before the turn of the nineteenth century.
Cree Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Crecy
A locative name referring to a place in northern France.
This name
CreeA habitational surname for someone who originated from the town of Crecy-en-Ponthieu.
also spelled
Crey
Related arms
Creyvariant spelling
Barlowrecorded with Cree, same area
Eastrecorded with Cree, same area
Grayrecorded with Cree, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
London Metropolitan Archives, St. Mary, Whitechapel, Parish Register of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, P93/MRY1/015
The National Archives, General Register Office: Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths surrendered to the Non-Parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857, RG 4
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
branchPeace, and new growth
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
chiefAuthority, wisdom and dominion
shipEnterprise, and a great voyage undertaken
branchPeace, and new growth
roundelA coin, and one who has been to the crusades
