| ![Show Contents]() Chasteen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The ancestors of the Chasteen surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they 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 Chasteen familyThe surname Chasteen 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 Chasteen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chasteen research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1335 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Chasteen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chasteen Spelling VariationsBefore English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Chasteen include Chaston, Chasten, Chasteyn, Chauston, Causton, Chastonne, Chastone, Chastenne, Chastein and many more. Early Notables of the Chasteen familyMore information is included under the topic Early Chasteen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chasteen RankingIn the United States, the name Chasteen is the 7,348th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 Migration of the Chasteen familyA great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Nic. Michel Chassin, who arrived in Illinois sometime between 1717 and 1719; Philipp Chassin, who settled in America in 1838; G. R. Chas, who arrived in San Francisco in 1851.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Chasteen (post 1700) | + |
- Joe L. Chasteen (b. 1925), American politician, Member of the Wyoming House of Representatives (1973-1977)
- Sherman Chasteen, American politician, Mayor of Middlesboro, Kentucky, 1950-53 3
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