This interesting surname of Irish origin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic O Croidheagain, the prefix O meaning "descendant of Croidheagan", a personal name from a diminutive of "croidhe" "heart". It is often used as a term of endearment. The surname dates back to the 16th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Crehan, Crean, Cree, Cregan, Creigan, etc.. John, son of Christopher and Elizabeth Creane, was christened on March 1st 1629, at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster, and Amy, daughter of Christian and Elizabeth Creene, was christened on February 5th 1632, at St. Martin in the Fields, Westminster. One, Katherine Creane, daughter of John and Katherine, was christened at St. Dunstan, Stepney, on March 4th 1682. One, Paul Crean was the Commander of the ship "James" which sailed for Barbados on March 10th 1678. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Bishop O'Crean, which was dated 1582, Bishop of Elphin, "The Annals of Loch Ce-", during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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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