Cray

This interesting surname, of Irish origin with variant spellings Creevy, Creevey, and Creavagh, is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "O'Craoibhe" meaning "descendant of Craobhach", a byname meaning "curly (-headed)" or "prolific" (from "craobh" meaning "branch, bough"). The surname dates back to the mid 17th Century (see below). Church Recordings include John, son of Patrick and Elizabeth Crevey, who was christened on December 9th 1759, at Lying in Hospital, Endell Street, London, James Creevey married Ann Edwards on August 22nd 1811, at St. James', Westminster, and John James, son of George and Mary Creavey, was christened on May 2nd 1813, at St. Saviour, Southwark. John Creevey married Elizabeth Deleney on May 8th 1822, at St. Luke's, Old Street, Finsbury. A Coat of Arms was granted to a Creevey family which consists of a silver field with black horizontal and vertical lines throughout with a red crescent in each section, the Crest being a gryphon sejant (sitting) divided vertically silver and black with gold wings. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Cravy, which was dated 1659, in Petty's "Census", during the reign of Commonwealth, 1649 - 1660. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.