Chassin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The origins of the Chassin name lie with England's ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Caston, a small village in the county of Norfolk. The surname was originally seen in the Old English form Cattstun, and was also an occupational name for a person who kept watch over a feudal castle.

Early Origins of the Chassin family

The surname Chassin was first found in Cambridgeshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William, Duke of Normandy, having prevailed over King Harold, granted most of Britain to his many victorious Barons. It was not uncommon to find a Baron, or a Bishop, with 60 or more Lordships scattered throughout the country. These he gave to his sons, nephews and other junior lines of his family and they became known as under-tenants. They adopted the Norman system of surnames which identified the under-tenant with his holdings so as to distinguish him from the senior stem of the family. After many rebellious wars between his Barons, Duke William, commissioned a census of all England to determine in 1086, settling once and for all, who held which land. He called the census the Domesday Book, 1 indicating that those holders registered would hold the land until the end of time. Hence, Causton in 1086 was held by Hardwin of Scales, a Norman Baron, and, conjecturally, the ancient ancestor of this surname. The village is on Roman Ermine Street, as in Turdor times became a coaching village.

Early History of the Chassin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chassin research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1335 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Chassin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chassin Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Chassin were recorded, including Chaston, Chasten, Chasteyn, Chauston, Causton, Chastonne, Chastone, Chastenne, Chastein and many more.

Early Notables of the Chassin family

More information is included under the topic Early Chassin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chassin migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Chassin family emigrate to North America:

Chassin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nic. Michel Chassin, who arrived in Illinois sometime between 1717 and 1719

Chassin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Philipp Chassin, who settled in America in 1838

Chassin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Simon Chassin, who arrived in Alabama in 1921 2

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)