| ![Show Contents]() Chatham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Chatham comes from when the family resided in Cheetham, in the county of Lancashire. It is from the place-name Cheetham that the family name is derived. Early Origins of the Chatham familyThe surname Chatham was first found in Lancashire at Cheetham, a township, in the parish and union of Manchester, hundred of Salford. 1 Now part of Greater Manchester, Cheetham dates back to the late 12th century and literally meant "homestead or village by the wood called Chet," from the Celtic word "ced" meaning "forest" and the Old English word "ham." 2 The ancient archeological site Cheetham Close, a megalithic site and scheduled ancient monument is nearby and is generally thought to have been a druidical ritual place with a Roman road passed 'within two hundred yards' of the megalith. As far as the surname is concerned, one of the first records was Geoffrey de Chetham who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. Over one hundred years later, Thomas de Cheteham was listed in Lancashire in 1394. 3 Another branch of the family was found at Allerton in Lancashire. "At the time of the Domesday Survey, three thanes held 'Alretune;' which was in the possession of Geoffrey de Chetham in the reign of Henry III." 1 Early History of the Chatham familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chatham research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1640, 1648, 1653 and 1692 are included under the topic Early Chatham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chatham 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 Chatham include Chetham, Cheetham, Cheetam, Cheetum and others. Early Notables of the Chatham familyNotables of this surname at this time include: Sir Edward Chetham; and Colonel John Chetham of Southhill House in Somerset, from a branch of the Derbyshire family.Humphrey Chetham, (1580-1653), was founder of the Chetham Hospital and Library, fifth son of Henry Chetham of Crumpsall Hall, near Mandiester, a prosperous merchant of that town. He was baptised at the collegiate church of Manchester on 10 July 1580. He received his education at the Manchester grammar school under Dr. Thomas Cogan. "For several years before his death he had 'taken up and maintained' twenty-two poor boys of Manchester, Salford, and Droylsden; and...
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chatham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chatham RankingIn the United States, the name Chatham is the 7,548th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4  Migration of the Chatham family to Ireland
Some of the Chatham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Chatham migration to the United States | + |
A 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:
Chatham Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Chatham, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 5
Chatham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- R F Chatham, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
- Anne Chatham, aged 23, who immigrated to America from England, in 1892
- John G. Chatham, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Lincoln, in 1892
- Mrs. Chatham, aged 25, who landed in America from Lincoln, in 1892
- Margt. Chatham, aged 27, who landed in America, in 1894
Chatham Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- James Chatham, aged 47, who landed in America from Edinburgh, in 1903
- Wilfred Chatham, aged 6, who settled in America from Gateshead, England, in 1904
- Fanny Chatham, aged 32, who landed in America from Gateshead, England, in 1904
- Ester Chatham, aged 25, who immigrated to the United States, in 1911
- S Chatham, who immigrated to the United States, in 1912
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Chatham migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Chatham Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century- Maud E. Chatham, aged 42, who settled in Edmonton, Canada, in 1914
| Contemporary Notables of the name Chatham (post 1700) | + |
- Charles Lorenzo Chatham (1901-1975), former Major League Baseball infielder
- Russell Chatham (b. 1939), contemporary American landscape artist
- Matt Chatham (b. 1977), American football linebacker
- Rhys Chatham (b. 1952), American composer, guitarist, and trumpet player
- Richard Thurmond Chatham (1896-1957), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from North Carolina 5th District, 1949-57 6
- Hugh G. Chatham, American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 26th District, 1915-16 6
- Gerald Chatham, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1940 6
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Quod tuum tenne
Motto Translation: Hold what is yours
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Chatham migration to the United States 
Chatham migration to Canada 
England
Ireland
