Show ContentsChurchward History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient name of Churchward finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from a name for a verger, who was responsible for showing the congregation to their seats and for the upkeep of the church buildings and surrounding grounds.

Early Origins of the Churchward family

The surname Churchward was first found in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Churchward family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Churchward research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1275 is included under the topic Early Churchward History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Churchward Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Churchward family name include Churchward, Chirchewart, Cyrceweard, Circwoerd and others.

Early Notables of the Churchward family

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


Canada Churchward migration to Canada +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Churchward surname or a spelling variation of the name include :

Churchward Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • W. Churchward who sailed to Quebec in 1784
  • Widow Churchward, who landed in Quebec in 1784
Churchward Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. W.E. Churchward, (b. 1824), aged 31, English plumber, from Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England, UK departing from Falmouth destined for Quebec, Canada aboard the ship "Barque John" on 3rd May 1855 which sank after striking the reef, he survived the sinking 1
  • J. E. Churchward, May Churchward, and Robert Churchward who were all on record in the census of Ontario, Canada of 1871

Australia Churchward migration to Australia +

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

Churchward Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Churchward, (b. 1796), aged 23, English labourer who was convicted in Surrey, England for life, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1829 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Churchward (post 1700) +

  • H. J. Churchward, American politician, Socialist Labor Candidate for U.S. Senator from Washington, 1950 3
  • George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933), English locomotive engineer
  • Joseph Churchward QSM (b. 1933), Samoan New Zealander graphic designer and typesetter
  • James Churchward (1851-1936), British born occult writer


The Churchward Motto +

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: Suaviter in modo
Motto Translation: Gentle in manner.


  1. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/wreck_of_emigrant_ship_john_1855.pdf
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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