Show ContentsChesshir History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Chesshir is a name of ancient Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in the maritime county of Cheshire. "The name is a contraction of Chestershire. At the time of the Roman invasion, the county formed part of the territory occupied by the Cornavii; in the first division of Britain by the Romans it was included in Britannia Superior, and in their subsequent subdivision became part of Flavia Cæsariensis. Under the Saxons it was a portion of the powerful kingdom of Mercia; and upon the division of England into three great districts by Alfred, it was comprehended in that called Mercenlege, or the "Mercian jurisdiction." Cheshire is within the diocese of Chester, and province of York." 1

Early Origins of the Chesshir family

The surname Chesshir was first found in the Close Rolls where Thomas de Chastirshir was listed 6 Edward II (during the sixth year reign of King Edward II.) The Yorkshire Poll Taqx Rolls of 1379 list Henricus de Chesterschyr. 2

Early History of the Chesshir family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chesshir research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1622, 1662, 1695, 1696, 1705, 1711, 1714, 1727, 1738 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Chesshir History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chesshir Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Chesshir family name include Chessire, Cheeshire, Cheshyre, Cheshire, Chesser, Chesshyre, Chesher, Chesshere, Chessor, Chessyre, Chessheire and many more.

Early Notables of the Chesshir family

Distinguished members of the family include Henry Cheshire, Sheriff of Dublin, who died in the year 1622. John Cheshire (1695-1762), was an English physician, "stated to have been educated at Oxford, although he does not seem to have graduated there." 3Sir John Chesshyre (1662-1738), was an English lawyer, son of Thomas Chesshyre of...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chesshir Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Chesshir family to Ireland

Some of the Chesshir 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 Chesshir family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Chesshir surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Fred Cheeshire who arrived in Philadelphia in 1867; John Cheshire arrived in Maryland in 1731; Thomas Cheshire settled in New England in 1700; Robert Chessheire settled in Virginia in 1635.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, 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)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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