Chatwicke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Chatwicke is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Chatwicke family lived in the parish of Rochdale in Lancashire. They were granted the lands near Chadwick in this area by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. "Lancashire is the true home of the surname. This surname is to be met with in every town in Lancashire. It must have crossed the Atlantic at an early period, as it is strongly represented in the States directories." 1

"The Chadwicks of Chadwick in Rochdale parish are a very old and distinguished family dating back from the present to the 14th century; the hamlet of Chadwick has been in their possession since the family was founded: Healey Hall has been for many centuries a seat of the family. 2

Another source notes an alternate spelling of the hamlet: "Chadwyke, a hamlet in the parish of Rochdale, the property of the family in the XIV. cent." 3

Early Origins of the Chatwicke family

The surname Chatwicke was first found in Staffordshire at Mavesyn Ridware, a small village and civil parish now in the in Lichfield District. The family claim descendancy from the Cawardens and ultimately the Malvesyns who came with the Conqueror. 4

"The Chadwicks belong to one of the most ancient and eminent of Staffordshire families, known as the Chadwicks of Ridware in this county." 2 But the earliest record in rolls of the family lies in the aforementioned Lancashire where Nicholas de Chadwyke, was listed temp. Edward III (during the reign of King Edward III.) Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Elena Chadwyk. 1

Chadwick is also "a hamlet and manor, in the parish and union of Bromsgrove, Upper division of the hundred of Halfshire, Droitwich and E. divisions of the county of Worcester." 5 However, we can find no relationship with the locale and the surname.

Early History of the Chatwicke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chatwicke research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1080 and 1335 are included under the topic Early Chatwicke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chatwicke Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Chatwicke were recorded, including Chadwick, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Shadduck and many more.

Early Notables of the Chatwicke family

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

Migration of the Chatwicke family to Ireland

Some of the Chatwicke family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chatwicke family

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Chatwicke arrived in North America very early: Charles Chadwick who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630; and an important branch of the family settled in Toronto, Canada. Elizabeth Chadwick settled in Potomac Maryland in 1728.

The Chatwicke 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: In candore decus
Motto Translation: There is honour in sincerity.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.