Surname Cresey - Meaning and Origin
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Cresey: What does the surname Cresey mean?
The surname Cresey is of English origin and can be found mainly in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. It is thought to be a variation of the French name 'Cressy' which translates as 'of the Cross'. It could also have derived from the Welsh name 'Cresse' or the Anglo-Saxon word 'Cres' meaning 'clay-covered hill'.
The earliest known records of the name Cresey appear in the mid-14th century where a William Cresse was documented in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1376.
Through the centuries, bearers of the Cresey surname have been involved in a variety of professions including merchants, traders, labourers, clergymen and land owners.
The Cresey surname has made its way throughout the modern era, producing a raft of well-known people such as William Cresey who starred in the 1960s BBC sitcom 'Steptoe and Son' and BBC news presenter Peter Sissons who was born Peter Cresey.
In summary, the surname Cresey is of French, Welsh and Anglo-Saxon origin and is thought to have derived from the words 'Cressy' and 'Cres', meaning a hill covered in clay. Through the centuries, bearers of the surname have been involved in a variety of professions from merchants to sitcom stars.
Order DNA origin analysisCresey: Where does the name Cresey come from?
The last name Cresey is most commonly found in Canada and the United States. In the United States, Cresey is particularly common in the Midwest and Southern regions, though there are some outliers elsewhere.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Cresey is most common in the states of Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. More specifically, out of all the counties in the US, the highest number of Cresey families live in Manistee County in Michigan. Similarly, Cresey is most common in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario in Canada. The counties with the highest numbers are Lambton and Halton in Ontario.
In both the US and Canada, Cresey is somewhat uncommon. FamilyTreeDNA states that the Cresey surname is found in only 4 of every million people. Still, the frequency of the name in certain parts of the United States and Canada indicates that there is a high concentration of Cresey families in those regions. In addition, it is likely that many Cresey families are not recorded in the United States and Canada, and the name may be more widespread than the data suggests.
Variations of the surname Cresey
The surname Cresey can take several different spellings and variants, including Crissey, Crisey, Crissy, Crisy, Cressy, and Crecey. The root of the surname likely comes from the Old French word “crescey”, meaning “large village”.
As with many surnames, Cresey has evolved over time. In some cases, spellings of the name have changed to reflect different when the surname is passed from generation to generation. Such variations may represent an attempt to further distinguish one branch of a family from other branches of the same surname.
The Cresey surname is often found with other surnames in combination, most notably Cressy and Crissey. While the two surnames may sound similar, they do not share the same exact origin. Cressy originated from the Old French word “cresce” or “cresson”, meaning “watercress” or “quail”, while Crissey is believed to be a derivative of “Cristen”, a contracted form of Christian.
Among native English speakers, the surname is often pronounced as "Cree-see” or "Criss-ee". The spelling Crecie is sometimes found, while the corresponding French spelling is Crécy. The surname is found in Britain, North America, and to a lesser extent in Ireland and Europe.
Variations of the Cresey surname can be found across various countries and regions. Local dialects may influence the pronunciation and spelling of the surname, making it difficult to keep track of all the forms of the surname that exist today. However, the original root of the surname remains relatively consistent.
Famous people with the name Cresey
- Ben Cressey: American professional ice hockey player
- Rob Cressey: former American professional baseball pitcher
- Tom Cressey: former English footballer who played for Reading and West Ham United
- Paul Cressey: former American football defensive back
- Brenda Cressey: British author
- Nastassja Cressey: Canadian actress
- Steve Cressey: American songwriter and producer
- John Cressey: English cricketer
- Peter Cressey: Australian actor
- Robert Cressey: Canadian actor and stage director