|
![Show Contents]() Chass History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The Chass name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having 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 Chass familyThe surname Chass 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 Chass familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chass research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1279, 1327, 1335 and 1500 are included under the topic Early Chass History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Chass Spelling VariationsOnly recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Chass has undergone many spelling variations, including Chaston, Chasten, Chasteyn, Chauston, Causton, Chastonne, Chastone, Chastenne, Chastein and many more. Early Notables of the Chass familyMore information is included under the topic Early Chass Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Chass familyTo escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Chass were among those contributors: 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.
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
|
