Show ContentsCheise History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The founding heritage of the Cheise family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Cheise comes from when one of the family worked as a cheese-maker or seller of cheese. The surname Cheise is derived from the Old English word cese and the West Saxon word cyse, which both mean cheese. [1] Occupational names frequently refer to the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames. The surname Cheise belongs to this class of names. So as to underline this point, we found Walter le cheser listed in Herefordshire in 1366. [1]

Early Origins of the Cheise family

The surname Cheise was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where John Chese, Norfolk; and Hamo Chese, Salop (Shropshire) are listed. [2]

Eluding to the possible Norman origin of the name one source notes that the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists John Fromage of Normandy, 1195 and that the Hundredorum Rolls of c. 1272 includes an entry for Peter Fromage of England. This same source notes that entries after this point change from French "fromage" to the English term "cheese." [3]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Ricardus Chese; and Thomas Chese. [2]

Early History of the Cheise family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cheise research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1279, 1332, 1366, 1379, 1500, 1597, 1771 and 1808 are included under the topic Early Cheise History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cheise Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Cheise has been spelled many different ways, including Cheese, Chese, Chuse, Chouse, Cheser, Chesse and others.

Early Notables of the Cheise family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cheise Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cheise family

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Cheises to arrive in North America: Edmund Cheese who arrived in New York in 1832 and Robert Cheese in Mississippi in 1890.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. 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)


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