The name Creagh is an Anglicization of the Irish word crabbach, meaning branch. About a thousand AD, a clan used tree sprigs in their head gear to identify themselves in battle. They were given a name, a special priviledge, and land for service to a local king. There have been a number of famous men bearing that name including several Archbishops. The Creaghs first immigrated to America in the mid 18th century to Virginia. My name is William Gerard Creagh. My parents moved to Texas from south Alabama in the 1930's. There is an interesting cemetary near the small town of Catherine, near Selma, which was on a Creagh plantation. It is an Alabama historical site.
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Well not to nitpick but the name is one of the first examples of a cognomen and is derived from the Gaelic word craobh, meaning tree branch. Creagh's were a branch of the 'O Neill family from Co.Clare. The prodestant side stayed in Clare while the Catholics moved to Limerick.
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Do you have in your notes a Jane Creagh born about 1818, in Shelby Co. Tennessee, married a John Tims in Al.about 1837. Her daughter Isabelle was born 1839 and married James K.P. Knight. We are looking for her parents and any connection to Cherokee ancestery. Please email me direct. Thanks for your help. Marzell
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Hello! Did your family move to Texas from Suggsville,AL? My grandfather John Wesley Creagh moved from Suggsville to Selma around 1900.--Lee Jones
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Not to "nitpick" you "nitpicking" but quite a few Catholic Creaghs stayed in County Claire. My Great Gandfather (who later anglicized the name to "Cray") came to America from County Claire in the 1890s.
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Actually, to 'nitpick' your 'nitpicking' of my 'nitpicking'.. follow that :p if you will...There are very few catholic Creaghs living in county Clare (yes that is how you spell it) but I am one of them, so first hand knowledge here, I take it you dont live here? in any Case Cray is not Creagh or least not any longer <shocked> and hardly pertains to the subject matter at hand.
2cents for you.
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Two Cents well taken. Thank you for bringing me up to date (by at least a century). I have to admit my information is not first hand (more like fourth generation). My Great-Grandfather came to America as a Creagh from County Clare and later anglicized his name to Cray (At that time there was a great deal of anti-Irish sentiment in the states). I was always told the bulk of the family stayed behind in County Clare. From what you're saying, that "bulk" has lost a lot of weight. Thank you also for reminding me how to spell. I now live in New England where half the towns have British names and the other half have American Indian names. You'd think I'd have learned to spell counties and townships by now.
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I AM SEARCHING INFORMATION ABOUT MY GRANDFATHER'S FAMILY . HE WAS BORN IN ST. CROIX. HE MIGRATED TO THE US EARLY 1900'S . HE WENT TO LINCOLN UNIVERSITY TO BECOME A DENTIST. MARRIED MY GRANDMOTHER KATIE ADAMS . THE LIVED IN WAYCROSS GEORGIA. IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING PLZ CONTACT ME.
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I have another variation on this. The route is from the gaelic word for those who used to bring the cattle from the higland to the lowland in winter. Another variant comes from the gaelic word for warrior. This is believed to be a branch of the O'Neill clan, who's badge is the red hand of Ulster. There is also a Creagh castle on the west coast of Ireland, which is now rumoured to house an illicit still! Unfortunately I have no idea how to spell the gaelic words, so haven't
My knowledge of my branch of the family goes back to 1901 London and my great, great grandmother, who was a widowed seamstress in the census records.
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I'm descended from the Protestant Creaghs of Cahirbane Co. Clare (earliest record Charles Creagh b. ca. 1695), but I'd be interested in knowing more about the Protestant/Catholic split in the family.
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