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Some history on the Meek Surname in Ireland The earliest reference to a Meek in Ireland is of Thomas Meek, who settled in County Tyrone (West of Antrim), around 1610. Thomas Meek was an English sailor in the battle led by Sir Frances Drake against the Spanish Armada in 1588. He was the captain of the 150-ton ship called the John Trelway. She served in the battle for six weeks and had a crew of 30 men. Thomas Meek was apparently from the Cornwall region. Also, his ship, the John Trelway, appears to have been named after a Cornish Nobleman. Like Drake, Thomas was probably a Dissenter (Protestant, but not Anglican). Numerous of them were 'Planted' in Ireland by Sir Arthur Chichester. Thomas seems to have brought at least four sons with him in Ireland: Francis, Matthew, James, and Arthur Meek. Frances Meek (d. 1664) lived on a plantation settlement in Carrickfergus Ireland (County Antrim) and had 4 children. Matthew Meek established a family in County Monaghan, later his line moved to County Down. Arthur Meek lived in County Dugannon and was murdered by Catholics in 1641, and evidently died childless. James Meek's line appears untraced, but he may have been the father of Thomas Meek the Elder. Thomas's sons had many descendants, and many people have been successful in tracing their lines back to Thomas. It appears Thomas Meek of the Armada to is the likely progenitor for many of the Meeks in Ireland.