Show ContentsChesnall History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Chesnall family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the farmstead of Chisnall which was in the township of Coppull in the parish of Standish in Lancashire. 1 The surname Chesnall belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Chesnall family

The surname Chesnall was first found in Lancashire, at Chisenhall. One of the first records of the family was found in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire where Roger de Chysenhale was listed 1284-1285. 1

Edward Chisenhall was recorded here in 1646. Some of the family were also found in Cheshire as the Will at Chester recorded Alice Chisnall, of Chisnall, widow, 1607; and Humphrey Chisnall, of Coppull, 1610. 2

Early History of the Chesnall family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chesnall research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1362, 1607, 1610, 1653, 1671 and 1689 are included under the topic Early Chesnall History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chesnall Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Chesnall include Chisnall, Chisnell, Chesnall, Chesenhall, Chesnal, Chesnall, Chisenhall, Chysenhale and many more.

Early Notables of the Chesnall family

Notables of the family at this time include Edward Chisenhall or Chisenhale (d. 1653?), English historian, the eldest son of Edward Chisenhall, esq. of Chisenhall, Lancashire. "He bore a colonel's commission for Charles I in the civil war, and was in Lathom House...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chesnall Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chesnall family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Chesnall were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Martha Chisnell, who settled in America in 1758; Johanna Chisnall, who arrived in America in 1765; Peter Chisnall, who settled in America in 1770; George Chisnell, who came to Allegheny Co., PA in 1880.



  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  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)


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