Show ContentsChidloh History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The lineage of the name Chidloh begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the township of Chidlow, which was in the parish of Malpas in Cheshire. The surname Chidloh 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 Chidloh family

The surname Chidloh was first found in Devon at Chudleigh, a market-town and parish, in the union of Newton-Abbott, hundred of Exminster, Teignbridge. "This place, anciently called Chidleighe, was the residence of the bishops of Exeter, who had a sumptuous palace, of which there are some small remains." 1 2

"Haldon House, is in [the parish of Exmouth, Devon]. Haldon House was originally built by Sir George Chudleigh, the last Baronet of that family, but the mansion and grounds owe their present aspect to the improvements effected since they were purchased by Sir Robert Palk. " 3

The parish dates back to at least c. 1150 when it was named Ceddelegam, and literally means "clearing of a man called Ciedda," or "clearing in a hollow," from the Old English personal name or Old English word "ceod(e)" + "leah." 4

"Half a mile from the town is Chudleigh Rock, a stupendous mass of limestone, in which is a cavern of considerable extent; and near it are very perfect remains of an elliptical encampment, supposed from its form to be of Danish origin, but, from its proximity to a Roman road, to have been previously occupied by that people." 1

"Ashton, [Devon] was for over four centuries the residence of the Chudleigh family, who lived at Place. The manor was given by the Conqueror to Hervey de Helion, and held at ' Domesday ' by his wife. It came to the Chudleighs about 1320. Sir George Chudleigh, the first Baronet, sided with the Parliament when the Civil War broke out, and took part in the battle of Stratton. Not long after he changed sides, and had his house garrisoned in the Royalist interest. It was taken by a party of Fairfax's army in December, 1645; and Colonel James Chudleigh, Sir George's eldest son, was killed at the storming of Dartmouth in the following month, when Place was a garrison for the Parliament. The Chudleigh baronetcy ended in 1745, when Sir James Chudleigh was killed at the siege of Ostend." 3

Early History of the Chidloh family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chidloh research. Another 73 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1601, 1606, 1612, 1618, 1625, 1628, 1629, 1634, 1643, 1656, 1658, 1691 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Chidloh History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chidloh 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 Chidloh has undergone many spelling variations, including Chudleigh, Chudley, Chidley, Chiderleigh, Chidelly, Chudley and many more.

Early Notables of the Chidloh family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir George Chudleigh, 1st Baronet (c.1578-1658), an English landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1601 and 1625, supporter of the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; Sir John Chudleigh (1606-1634), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1628 to 1629; Major-General James Chudleigh (c.1618 -...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chidloh Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Chidloh family to Ireland

Some of the Chidloh 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 Chidloh family

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 Chidloh were among those contributors: Catherine Chidley who settled in Virginia in 1685; John Chidley settled in Virginia in 1737.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  4. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)


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