Show ContentsChackfield History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Chackfield surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village of Chatfields or of Catsfield, in Sussex. 1 2 However, another source claims the name came from "Catfield (field frequented by wild cats), in Norfolk. " 3

Early Origins of the Chackfield family

The surname Chackfield was first found in Sussex, where William Chattefeld was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. A very rare name, we must look to 1525 to find the next entry, that of Richard Chatfield in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1525. 4

Early History of the Chackfield family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chackfield research. Another 173 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1500, 1525, 1685, 1800, 1818 and 1839 are included under the topic Early Chackfield History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chackfield Spelling Variations

Before 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 Chackfield include Chatfield, Chadfield, Chatfields, Chattefeld, Chatfeld, Chadfielde, Chadfeld and many more.

Early Notables of the Chackfield family

Distinguished members of the family include William de Chattefeld, a prominent 13th century landholder in Sussex. Later, Edward Chatfield (1800-1839), painter, belonged to an old English family, and was son of John Chattield, a distiller at Croydon, and Anne Humfrey, his wife. He was originally destined for the East India House; but having an innate predilection for art, and there...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chackfield Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chackfield family

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: George Chatfield, who settled in Connecticut in 1639; Francis Chatfield, who arrived in Connecticut in 1639; Edward Chatfield, who came to New York, NY in 1821.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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