Show ContentsChesson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Chesson name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the market-town and parish of Chesham, which is located three miles from Amersham in the county of Buckinghamshire. This territory was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the site of four mills on lands owned by the Bishop of Bayeux and Hugh de Bolbec. The surname Chesson 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 Chesson family

The surname Chesson was first found in Buckinghamshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Chesson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chesson research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1200, 1297, 1525, 1650, 1728, 1754 and 1804 are included under the topic Early Chesson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chesson Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Chesson has undergone many spelling variations, including Chessum, Chesson, Chessam, Chesham, Cestresham and others.

Early Notables of the Chesson family

More information is included under the topic Early Chesson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chesson Ranking

In the United States, the name Chesson is the 8,847th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


United States Chesson migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Chesson were among those contributors:

Chesson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Clara C. Chesson, aged 41, who arrived in America, in 1909
  • Elfrida May Chesson, aged 53, who arrived in America from London, England, in 1909
  • Harold Chesson, aged 41, who arrived in America, in 1909
  • Mrs. Harold Chesson, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1909
  • Robert William Chesson, who arrived in America from Birmingham, England, in 1915
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Chesson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chesson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Jeanne Chesson who sailed to Canada in 1638
  • Mr. Jeanne Chesson, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 27th March 1638 2

Australia Chesson migration to Australia +

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

Chesson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Chesson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Canton" in 1846 3

New Zealand Chesson 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:

Chesson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Chesson, (b. 1862), aged 17, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Stad Haarlem" arriving in Lyttleton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1879 4
  • William Chesson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Crusader" in 1882

Contemporary Notables of the name Chesson (post 1700) +

  • Wes Chesson, former professional American NFL football player who played from 1971 to 1974
  • James Chesson (b. 1980), American racing driver
  • Peter Lawrence Chesson Jr (b. 1978), American race car driver
  • Lisa Chesson (b. 1986), American three-time gold and two-time silver medalist ice hockey defenseman for the United States
  • Eugene Chesson Jr., American educator and civil engineer
  • Nora Chesson (1871-1906), née Hopper, English poet, wife of Wilfred Hugh Chesson
  • Wilfrid Hugh Chesson (1870-1953), English man of letters
  • Frederick William Chesson (1833-1888), English journalist and prominent anti-slavery campaigner
  • Henry Chesson (1862-1948), Australian politician, Member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1905 to 1918


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANTON 1846. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1846Canton.htm
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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