Chiddox History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

When the ancestors of the Chiddox family emigrated to England following the Norman Conquest in 1066 they brought their family name with them. They lived in the parish of Rochdale in Lancashire. They were granted the lands near Chadwick in this area by William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. "Lancashire is the true home of the surname. This surname is to be met with in every town in Lancashire. It must have crossed the Atlantic at an early period, as it is strongly represented in the States directories." 1

"The Chadwicks of Chadwick in Rochdale parish are a very old and distinguished family dating back from the present to the 14th century; the hamlet of Chadwick has been in their possession since the family was founded: Healey Hall has been for many centuries a seat of the family. 2

Another source notes an alternate spelling of the hamlet: "Chadwyke, a hamlet in the parish of Rochdale, the property of the family in the XIV. cent." 3

Early Origins of the Chiddox family

The surname Chiddox was first found in Staffordshire at Mavesyn Ridware, a small village and civil parish now in the in Lichfield District. The family claim descendancy from the Cawardens and ultimately the Malvesyns who came with the Conqueror. 4

"The Chadwicks belong to one of the most ancient and eminent of Staffordshire families, known as the Chadwicks of Ridware in this county." 2 But the earliest record in rolls of the family lies in the aforementioned Lancashire where Nicholas de Chadwyke, was listed temp. Edward III (during the reign of King Edward III.) Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Elena Chadwyk. 1

Chadwick is also "a hamlet and manor, in the parish and union of Bromsgrove, Upper division of the hundred of Halfshire, Droitwich and E. divisions of the county of Worcester." 5 However, we can find no relationship with the locale and the surname.

Early History of the Chiddox family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chiddox research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1080 and 1335 are included under the topic Early Chiddox History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chiddox Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Chiddox has been recorded under many different variations, including Chadwick, Chadwicke, Chadwyck, Chaddick, Chadwich, Shadduck and many more.

Early Notables of the Chiddox family

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

Migration of the Chiddox family to Ireland

Some of the Chiddox 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 Chiddox family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Chiddoxs were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Charles Chadwick who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630; and an important branch of the family settled in Toronto, Canada. Elizabeth Chadwick settled in Potomac Maryland in 1728.

The Chiddox Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In candore decus
Motto Translation: There is honour in sincerity.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.