Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. fretty sa. in each interstice a crescent gu”
A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Creevey family of England.
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Ar. fretty sa. in each interstice a crescent gu”
The Creevey arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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.
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.
The family name Creevey is rooted in the northern regions of England, with historical records confirming that members of the family were well-established in the city of York by the year 1620. The name likely evolved from an occupational or descriptive nickname, as was common for surnames emerging in the late medieval period. During the seventeenth century, York served as a vital hub for trade and administration, which suggests that early Creevey ancestors were likely involved in the local merchant classes or skilled trades that defined the city’s economy. As the family grew, they integrated into the social fabric of Yorkshire, leaving behind traces in parish registers and legal documents that highlight their presence in a society transitioning from the Elizabethan era into the Stuart period. By maintaining a steady foothold in this historic city, the early Creevey family contributed to the local community through their work and daily lives, helping to shape the regional history of northern England.
Old French for broken heart or a place name of origin.
