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Show ContentsChilds History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The founding heritage of the Childs family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Childs comes from when one of the family worked as a military officer in the 10th century, probably comparable to a modern sergeant. In the Old English, it was rendered cild, which meant child. It was applied to the rank above the common soldier in that period, probably because they were in charge of "children." Later, in the 13th and 14th centuries, it came to denote a young man in training for the knighthood.

Early Origins of the Childs family

The surname Childs was first found in Hertfordshire. However, some of the family were found at Wanstead in Essex in later years. "The village is situated on the borders of Waltham Forest, near the main road from London to Cambridge; and is principally worthy of note as the site of Wanstead House, built in 1715, by Sir Richard (son of Sir Josiah) Child, created Viscount Castlemain in 1718, and Earl of Tylney in 1731. This splendid mansion was considerably enlarged and embellished by his descendants, and was surrounded by a very extensive park, laid out with great taste, and interspersed with gardens, pleasure-grounds, and grottos." 1

The name is derived from "the son and heir in noble and royal families. The word was employed by Spenser, and in the old ballads, as the "Childe of Elle," "Child Waters," &c. See English Surn. i. 214. In Domesday Book, the epithet Cild or Cilt is applied to several persons of distinction. Le Child. " 2

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. lists Godwin Child, Berkshire, Henry III-Edward I. 3 Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Brian le Child, Cambridgeshire; and Walter le Child, Oxfordshire. and later again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Robertus Childe as holding lands there at that time. 4

In Scotland, the name is derived "from the Old English personal name Cild. The 'exact sense of the name is uncertain. The singular is used as a title of honour in late Old English times and this is found also throughout the Middle Ages, as in Childe Roland'. It was synonymous with enfant in France. Henricus Child was canon of Scone c. 1275. James Chyld was canon of Monymusk, 1549. Robert Cheild, burgess of Dundee, 1564. 5

Early History of the Childs family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Childs research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1280, 1379, 1606, 1630, 1638, 1642, 1660, 1673, 1674, 1677, 1684, 1690, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1702, 1703, 1705, 1708, 1713, 1715, 1721, 1740 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Childs History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Childs Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Childs has been spelled many different ways, including Child, Childe, Childs, Childes and others.

Early Notables of the Childs family

Notables of the family at this time include William Child (1606-1697), an English composer and organist, First Organist of the Chapel Royal (1660-1697); and Sir John Child, 1st Baronet (died 1690), Governor of Bombay, first governor-general of the British settlements in India.John Child (1638?-1684), was a Baptist preacher, born at Bedford about 1638, apprenticed to a handicraft; after a while he adopted another calling, and removed to Newport Pagnel, Buckinghamshire. 6Sir Josiah Child of Wanstead, 1st Baronet (1630-1699), was an English merchant, economist proponent of mercantilism and Governor of the East India Company; he purchased Wanstead House in Essex in 1673...
Another 101 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Childs Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Childs World Ranking

In the United States, the name Childs is the 1,033rd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 7 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Childs is ranked the 738th most popular surname with an estimated 58 people with that name. 8 And in the United Kingdom, the name Childs is the 756th popular surname with an estimated 8,836 people with that name. 9

United States Childs migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Childss to arrive in North America:

Childs Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Benjamin Childs, who landed in Roxbury, Massachusetts in 1630 10
  • Tho Childs, aged 30, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Speedwell" 10
  • Rich Childs, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 10
  • Richard Childs, who landed in Virginia in 1639 10
  • Joseph Childs who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and became a freeman in 1654
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Childs Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Robert Childs, aged 27, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1774 10
  • William Childs, aged 21, who arrived in Maryland in 1775 10
Childs Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Childs, who landed in Ohio in 1809 10
  • Charles Childs, who landed in America in 1810 10
  • G Childs, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 10
  • C W Childs, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 10
  • W Childs, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Childs migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Childs Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Benjamin Childs, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • Mr. John Childs, (Giles), British Convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • John Childs, Welsh convict from Monmouth, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. Richard Childs, (b. 1798), aged 24, English ploughman who was convicted in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1878 13
  • Mr. Abraham Childs, (b. 1780), aged 51, English servant who was convicted in Southampton, Hampshire, England for life for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eleanor" on 26th June 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1835 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Childs migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Childs Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Childs, aged 21, a baker, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • Mr. Harry Childs, (b. 1851), aged 18, British ploughman travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Hydaspes" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th September 1869 15
  • Miss Charlotte Childs, (b. 1844), aged 24, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 15
  • Mr. Charles Childs, (b. 1848), aged 22, English farm labourer, from Dorset travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 16
  • Mr. Frederick E. Childs, (b. 1850), aged 20, English labourer, from Dorset travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 16

Contemporary Notables of the name Childs (post 1700) +

  • Henry Childs (1951-2016), American NFL football tight end who played from 1974 to 1984
  • William "Billy" Edward Childs (b. 1957), American composer and jazz pianist
  • Roy A. Childs Jr. (1949-1992), American critic and essayist
  • Toni Childs (b. 1957), American singer/songwriter, best known for her Emmy Award winning "Because You're Beautiful"
  • Ozro W. Childs (1824-1890), American horticulturalist
  • Mary Ellen Childs (b. 1957), American composer, founder of the ensemble Crash
  • Mary Louise Milliken Childs (1873-1936), American philanthropist
  • Marquis William Childs (1903-1990), American journalist, winner of the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
  • John Childs, American pioneer aviator, nicknamed "Flying Man" performed the first known flight in America on September 13, 1757
  • George William Childs (1829-1894), American publisher, co-owner of the Philadelphia Public Ledger
  • ... (Another 76 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Harold Bertram Hope Childs, British Musician from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 17
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. William Childs, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 18
HMS Royal Oak
  • Leonard Childs, British Leading Writer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 19
  • George J. Childs, British Petty Officer with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 19
North Sea Flood
  • Joyce Childs, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
  • Leslie Childs, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
  • Stephen Childs, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

Suggested Readings for the name Childs +

  • Genealogy of the Child, Childs, and Childe Families: of the Past and Present in the United States and the Canadas, from 1630 to 1881 by Elias Child.
  • Harris, Vredenburg, Child and Allied Families (including the Childs Family) by Marian J. Newell.
  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  8. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  9. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  10. 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)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eleanor
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  18. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  19. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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