Challon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
France
Wales
Scotland

The surname Challon is derived from the Old English word "chaloun," which means "blanket." This word comes from the place named Châlons-sur-Marne, a prosperous industrial center in Europe, where these items were produced. 1

The name is thought to have been occupational a chaloner,' a manufacturer or seller of chalons, woollen stuffs, especially coverlets or blankets. 2

"In his owen chambre he made a bedde with shetes, and with chalons fair yspredde," Chaucer, Reve's Tale.

Early Origins of the Challon family

The surname Challon was first found in Powys (Welsh: Powys), a Welsh Kingdom in post-Roman times, now a county of Wales created by joining the former counties of Montgomeryshire, Radnorshire, and Breconshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

By the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the name was scattered: Geoffrey le Chaloner, Essex; Thomas le Chalunner, Cambridgeshire; and Nicholas le Chalouner, Derbyshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Elilabetha Chaloner, 1379; Ricardus Schaloner, coverht-wever; Adam Chalonar, coverlid-uvfer. The last two entries are very interesting, connecting as they do the name with the trade. 2

Years later in Scotland, Robert Chalonar held a tenement in Linlithow in 1472 and John Chalonare was a witness there in the same year. 3

Early History of the Challon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Challon research. Another 153 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1472, 1521, 1558, 1559, 1565, 1595, 1615, 1643, 1650, 1661, 1691, 1699 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Challon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Challon Spelling Variations

Welsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Challon has occasionally been spelled Chaloner, Challener, Challenor, Challinor, Chalener, Chalenor, Challoner, Chalinor, Challon, Challin, Challen, Chalen, Chalin and many more.

Early Notables of the Challon family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

Richard Challoner (1691-1781), was a Catholic prelate, son of Richard Challoner, a wine cooper at Lewes in Sussex. "Soon afterwards the father died, leaving his young widow with her infant child total...

Challon migration to the United States +

In the 1800s and 1900s, many Welsh families left for North America, in search of land, work, and freedom. Those who made the trip successfully helped contribute to the growth of industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Challon

Challon Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Kath Challon, who landed in Virginia in 1705 4

Challon migration to Australia +

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

Challon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Challon, aged 36, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Fatima" 5
Thomas Challon, aged 16, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Fatima" 5

Challon 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:

Challon Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Challon, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship "Viscount Sandon" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 13th February 1857 6

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque FATIMA 1850, 521 tons. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Fatima.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html