What’s in a name?

There was a legend, passed down through the generations of Creeks that our surname originated when a Scottish ancestor, who’s surname was similar to Creek, misspelt his name on his wedding certificate.

Edna and Mary Creek were both firm believers in this story, as were their parents, although it has to be said that Oliver was somewhat sceptical.

The line of the Creeks is straightforward. Charles Plummer’s paternal grandfather, James Creek was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1797 and christened at St Andrew’s church in that city.

Photo courtesy of Duncan McColl

At that point the Creek name disappeared. Before 1797 there were no Creeks to be found in Newcastle nor in the county of Northumberland.

Familysearch.org did, however, list a wedding at St Andrew’s in Newcastle in 1795 between James Creck and a widow, Hannah Elliot, whose maiden name was Plummer.

Photo courtesy of Matt Buck.

The Durham diocese marriage bonds and allegations (1692-1900) records contains the bond that James Creck made before his wedding with Hannah. He signed the document twice. The signature above left was at the top of the bond and the one on the right was at the bottom of the bond.

Is the legend right?