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An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2016
Origins Available: Scottish-Alt
The clans of the Pictish people in ancient Scotland
were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Meek. It was a name for a timid person. Meek is a nickname
, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames
. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Meek comes from the Old English word meek,
which means humble or merciful.
The surname Meek was first found in Fife
, where they held a family seat
from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland.
In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Meek has appeared Meek, Meeke, Meeks, Meik, Meech, Meach, Mekie and others.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Meek research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1680, 1797 and are included under the topic Early Meek History in all our PDF Extended History products
More information is included under the topic Early Meek Notables in all our PDF Extended History products
Some of the Meek family moved to Ireland
, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland
is included in all our PDF Extended History products
Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia
, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan
societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Meek:
Meek Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Thomas Meek, who arrived in Maryland in 1663
- John Meek, who arrived in Maryland in 1664
Meek Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- George Michal Meek, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732
- Johann Nicolaus Meek, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750
- Michael Meek, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752
- Robert Meek, who landed in America in 1765
- Friedrich Meek, who landed in America in 1778
Meek Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Michel Meek, who landed in America in 1851
- Georg Meek, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872
- Brice Meek, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878
Meek Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Joseph Meek, English convict from Wiltshire, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia
- John Meek arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "City Of Adelaide" in 1839
- James Meek arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "David Malcolm" in 1848
- Robert Meek, aged 36, a labourer, arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Charlotte Jane"
Meek Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- H. Meek arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harkaway" in 1858
- Edward Meek, aged 15, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- William Meek, aged 13, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Alfred Meek, aged 11, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Georgina Meek, aged 36, arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "La Hogue" in 1874
- Barbara Anita Meek (1934-2015), American actress, best known for her role as Ellen Canby for three seasons on Archie Bunker's Place
- Fannie L. Meek, American Republican politician, Candidate for Missouri State House of Representatives 10th District, 1966
- Mrs. Charles Meek Jr., American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Missouri, 1956
- Cecil Meek, American Democrat politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1952
- Carrie P. Meek (b. 1926), American Democrat politician, Member of Florida State House of Representatives, 1979-83; Member of Florida State Senate, 1983-92; U.S. Representative from Florida 17th District, 1993-2003
- Bert B. Meek, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1920, 1928
- Alexander Beaufort Meek (1814-1865), American Democrat politician, Member of Alabama State House of Representatives, 1853, 1859; Speaker of the Alabama State House of Representatives, 1859
- Alexander A. Meek, American politician, U.S. Attorney for Indiana, 1818-21
- Forrest B. Meek, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State Senate 36th District, 1966
- Fred Meek, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1956, 1964
- The Meek Family of Washington County, Virginia by Danny Morris Fluhart.
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto. Motto:
Jungor ut implearMotto Translation:
I am joined that I may becom full.
- Weis, Frederick Lewis, Walter Lee Sheppard and David Faris. Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came to New England Between 1623 and 1650 7th Edition. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0806313676).
- Best, Hugh. Debrett's Texas Peerage. New York: Coward-McCann, 1983. Print. (ISBN 069811244X).
- Burke, John Bernard Ed. The Roll of Battle Abbey. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing. Print.
- Hanks, Patricia and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. Print. (ISBN 0-19-211592-8).
- Browne, James. The History of Scotland it's Highlands, Regiments and Clans 8 Volumes. Edinburgh: Francis A Niccolls & Co, 1909. Print.
- Fairbairn,. Fairbain's book of Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland, 4th Edition 2 volumes in one. Baltimore: Heraldic Book Company, 1968. Print.
- Innes, Thomas and Learney. Scots Heraldry A Practical Handbook on the Historical Principles and Mordern Application of the Art and Science. London: Oliver and Boyd, 1934. Print.
- 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).
- Holt, J.C. Ed. Domesday Studies. Woodbridge: Boydell, 1987. Print. (ISBN 0-85115-477-8).
- Adam, Frank. Clans Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands 8th Edition. London: Bacon (G.W.) & Co, 1970. Print. (ISBN 10-0717945006).
The Meek Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Meek Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.
This page was last modified on 4 November 2015 at 10:12.
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