The surname Creagh is an Anglicized form of the Irish name Mac Craith. It originates from the Gaelic sept (clan) Mac Craith, who were chieftains of the Ui Fiachrach Aidhne, a division of the western Irish tribe of Connacht. The name is derived from the personal name Craite or Craig, and means "descendant of Craite."
The Mac Craiths were an important family in medieval Ireland, with their territory centered around the present-day county of Galway. Over time, due to various historical events such as the Norman invasion and English colonization, many Irish families, including the Mac Craiths, were forced to adopt Anglicized versions of their names for administrative purposes. This is how the surname Creagh came into existence.
Learn more about the origin of the last name Creagh
The meaning and origin of the last name Creagh
The surname Creagh is an anglicized form of the Irish name Craigh, which is derived from the Gaelic "Cró-ach" or "Cró-eogh." These Gaelic terms mean 'round hill' or 'curved nose,' respectively. The name was primarily found in counties Clare and Limerick in Ireland, where it likely originated as a local name for someone who lived near a particular geographical feature with the mentioned characteristics. Over time, the name spread to other parts of Ireland and later to other countries due to migration and anglicization during British rule. Today, the surname Creagh is still common in Ireland but can also be found in other English-speaking countries.
Geographical distribution of the last name Creagh
The surname Creagh is predominantly found in Ireland, particularly in counties Clare and Limerick, which are located on the west coast. This name is associated with the ancient Irish sept of O'Crioch, meaning "rock" or "stone fort." Over time, some members of this clan anglicized their name to Creagh or Cregg. Today, descendants of the O'Crioch can also be found in other parts of Ireland, as well as in countries where Irish immigrants have settled, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and Britain. The distribution of the surname Creagh outside Ireland is largely due to emigration events such as the Great Famine in the mid-19th century.
Variants and spellings of the last name Creagh
The surname Creagh has various spellings and variations, primarily due to phonetic and orthographic changes over time. Some of these include:
1. Creagh - the original and most common spelling from Ireland.
2. Cregg - a variant that originates from County Galway in Ireland and is often used interchangeably with Creagh.
3. Creegh - an alternative spelling found less frequently.
4. Craig or Kraig - these spellings are likely influenced by the Anglicization of Irish names during the English colonization, as they share similar pronunciation but have Scottish origins. However, some families of Craig and Kraig may claim Irish descent.
5. Cregg-Harrison - a compound surname formed by combining Creagh (or Cregg) with Harrison, possibly indicating a marriage between families of these names.
6. Creege, Creeghe, or Creage - less common phonetic variations of the name Creagh.
7. MacCreagha or MacCrea - Gaelic forms of the surname found among Irish speakers in Ireland and those with Irish heritage elsewhere.
8. De Creagh and O'Creagh - Anglicized versions of the original Irish sept names, Mac Creaigh (descendants of Creaigh) and O Creaigh (descendants of Creamhthach).
Famous people with the last name Creagh
Notable individuals with the surname Creagh include:
1. Patrick Crean (born 1943), an American film and television executive who served as President of Worldwide Television Production for Sony Pictures Television. He was responsible for producing popular shows like "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul," and "The Crown."
2. Liam Creagh (born 1986), a British-Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Cork City in the League of Ireland. He has also represented the Republic of Ireland at various youth levels.
3. Rory Creagh, an Australian actor best known for his roles in television series such as "Home and Away," "All Saints," and "Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities."
4. Sir Robert Creagh (1802-1875), an Anglo-Irish statesman who served as the 3rd Baronet of Castle Grovey in County Roscommon, Ireland. He was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons and later became a Privy Councillor.
5. John Creagh (1809-1874), an Irish lawyer and politician who served as Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1852 to 1858, and as Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench in Ireland from 1861 until his death.
These individuals have made significant contributions in various fields such as entertainment, sports, politics, and law.
Genealogical research on the last name Creagh
The Creagh surname is primarily found in Ireland, originating from Counties Cork and Tipperary. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic O Craoch or Mac Craith, derived from the Irish word "craice" which means 'stony' or 'rocky'. According to the 1926 book 'Irish Surnames their History and Meaning', Creagh was a sept of the O'Briens of Munster. The name is also found in Scotland, where it is believed to be an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic MacCreaghaich, meaning 'son of the stony place'. Notable bearers of the name include Sir Cornelius Creagh, an Irish lawyer and judge, and John Creagh, a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars. The name has also been associated with various political and literary figures throughout Irish history.
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated :
Share the origin of your last name with your friends
The last name Creach is of Scottish origin. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "crèach" meaning "herd" or "plunder", suggesting that it may have been associated wit...
The surname Creacy is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic "O Croinin" which means "descendant of Cróeen," a personal name meaning "round-faced." The family was original...
The surname Creager is of English origin and it is derived from a nickname for a person with a curly or kinky hair. The name is an anglicized form of the Old French "crespiere," me...
The surname Crean is of Irish origin and comes from the Gaelic name "Mac Craith," which means "son of Craig." The name Craig itself is derived from the Old Norse word "Kraekr," mea...
The surname "Creantor" is of French origin. It is derived from the occupational name for someone who was a creator or artisan, often involved in manual labor or skilled craftsmansh...
The surname Creary is of English origin and is a variant of Cree, which has Norman-French roots. The original form was "de Crei" or "Creii," which meant "from Creil," a town in Pic...
The surname "Creasy" is of Old English origin. It is derived from a nickname for a person who was clumsy or careless, as the word "crese" meant unskillful or awkward in Middle Engl...
The last name "creativemind" appears to be a modern English surname that is likely to have been created as a combination of the words "creative" and "mind." It is not a traditional...
The surname Crebassa is believed to have origins in France and Italy. In French, it might be derived from the Occitan word "cresp" meaning "crooked," while in Italian, it could ori...
The last name "Crechet" has French origin. It is believed to be a habitational surname derived from the place name "Crèche" in France, which means "manger" or "crib" in French. It...
The surname "Credo" has Italian origin. It comes from the Latin word "believed" which means "I believe", and was used as a declaration of faith in the Christian religion. This surn...
The last name "credz" does not appear to have a widely recognized origin or meaning. It is possible that it is a variant of another surname or a relatively new creation. Without fu...
The last name "Crehueras" is of Spanish origin. It is derived from the word "creyer," which means to believe or trust in Spanish. The name likely originated as a surname for indivi...
The surname Creide does not have a clearly defined origins that can be definitively traced to one specific region or time period. Surnames often originated as a result of various f...
