Show ContentsCheesman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Anglo-Saxons of Britain first developed the name Cheesman. It was a name given to someone who was a maker or seller of cheese. [1] [2]

The surname Cheesman literally means the cheeseman. The surname Cheesman is derived from the Old English word ciese and the West Saxon word cyse, which both mean cheese. The suffix man is one of the most common suffixes for occupational names.

Early Origins of the Cheesman family

The surname Cheesman was first found in Cheshire where Henry le Cheseman was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1260. A few years later, William le Chesman was listed in Sussex in 1311 and later again, Thomas Chesman, le Chusman was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. Over in Somerset, Adam le Chisman and Alice Chisman were listed there in the Subsidy Rolls for 1327. [3]

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included John le Cheseman, Huntingdonshire. [4]

Early History of the Cheesman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheesman research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1273, 1523, 1553, 1554, 1559, 1563, 1564, 1573, 1574, 1579, 1580, 1584, 1585, 1591, 1592, 1598, 1616, 1620, 1643, 1652, 1665, 1675 and 1704 are included under the topic Early Cheesman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheesman Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Cheesman have been found, including Cheeseman, Cheesman, Cheesemen and others.

Early Notables of the Cheesman family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Cheesman (c. 1598-1665) was an English merchant and politician that settled in Virginia in the 1620s. He settled in what eventually became Elizabeth City County, Virginia. Early records show that...

Cheesman Ranking

In the United States, the name Cheesman is the 12,663rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [5]


United States Cheesman migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Cheesman, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Cheesman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Edward Cheesman, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • John Cheesman, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • Thomas Cheesman, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [6]
  • Lieutenant Cheesman, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 [6]
  • William Cheesman, who arrived in Maryland in 1672 [6]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Cheesman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Sarah Cheesman, who landed in New York in 1820 [6]
  • James Cheesman, who arrived in New York in 1835 [6]
  • D W Cheesman, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]
  • George Cheesman, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [6]
  • William Pale Cheesman, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1857 [6]

Australia Cheesman migration to Australia +

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

Cheesman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Cheesman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 [7]
  • Barbara Cheesman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 [7]
  • Lydia Cheesman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 [7]
  • James Cheesman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 [7]
  • Elizabeth Cheesman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rajasthan" in 1840 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Cheesman 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:

Cheesman Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • R S Cheesman, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship London
  • Mr. George H. Cheesman, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Katherine Stewart Forbes" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th March 1852 [8]
  • Thomas Cheesman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Artemesia" in 1854
  • Emma Cheesman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Artemesia" in 1854
  • Ellen Cheesman, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Artemesia" in 1854
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cheesman (post 1700) +

  • Paul Robert Cheesman (1921-1991), American archeologist and a professor of religion
  • Barry Cheesman (b. 1959), American professional golfer
  • James D. Cheesman, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Allegany County, 1915, 1931 [9]
  • David Williams Cheesman (1824-1884), American Republican politician, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California, 1859; Treasurer, U.S. Mint at San Francisco, 1861 [9]
  • Thomas Cheesman (1760-1835), English engraver and draughtsman, one of the best pupils of Francesco Bartolozzi [10]
  • Thomas Cheesman (1816-1874), English cricketer
  • Brian Eldon Frederick Cheesman (b. 1929), former English cricketer
  • Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman (b. 1968), English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London
  • Wayne Cheesman, Canadian former ice hockey left winger
  • Sean Cheesman, Canadian dancer and choreographer
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. 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)
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAJASTHAN 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Rajasthan.htm
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 25 Nov. 2019


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