This interesting surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is locational from a place so called in Cornwall, and means "(the church of) St. Creda or Crida", named after a 7th Century female saint who is believed to have come from Ireland. The personal name is derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "creoda", belief, faith. The placename was first recorded as "Sancte Cride" in the Episcopal Registers of 1275. Locational surnames were developed when former inhabitants of a place moved to another area, usually to seek work, and were best identified by the name of their birthplace. The name development since 1191 (see below) includes the following: Alan Crede (1273, Suffolk); John Creyde (circa 1327, Somerset); and Anthony Creede (1577, London). Among the Recordings from Cornish Church Registers are the marriages of Richard Creed and Elizabeth Taylor on July 19th 1595, at Morval, and of Anthony Creed and Mary Holman on May 15th 1713, at Kenwyn. Robert, son of Bernard and Jane Creed, was christened on June 22nd 1743, at Helston, also in Cornwall. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Wadin Crede, which was dated 1191, in the "Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire", during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199. 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.

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