Cheeke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Cheeke is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was a name given to a 'chick' or one with a prominent jaw. 1 2 One source notes that while this etymology is the more typical understanding of the name, we should consider that it may have been a Norman name originally as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae notes that "William Cecus occurs in Normandy 1198." 3

Early Origins of the Cheeke family

The surname Cheeke was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 which included: Walter Chike, Oxfordshire. 4 Over in Somerset, Thomas Chike was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year's reign of Edward III.) 5

Early History of the Cheeke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheeke research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1514, 1548, 1557, 1586, 1592, 1595, 1601, 1604, 1613, 1653, 1658 and 1659 are included under the topic Early Cheeke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheeke Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Cheeke were recorded, including Cheek, Cheeke, Cheeks, Cheke, Chick, Chicke and others.

Early Notables of the Cheeke family

Notables of the family at this time include

Sir Thomas Cheek or Cheke (died 1659), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons (1604-1653); and his daughter, Essex Cheeke (d. 1658), later Dame Essex Bevil and then Countess of Manchest...
William Cheeke (fl. 1613), was an English scholar who entered Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1592, and proceeded B.A. in Lent term 1595. 6

Cheeke migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Cheeke family emigrate to North America:

Cheeke Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Henry Cheeke, who settled in Philadelphia in 1823
John Cheeke, who arrived in New York in 1823

Cheeke migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 7

Cheeke Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Phillip Cheeke who settled in Barbados in 1685

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies