Chinnech History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the name Chinnech date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Chinnech family lived in an area that was defined by seven oak trees. Chinnech is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree. During the Middle Ages, as society became more complex, individuals needed a way to be distinguishable from others. Toponymic surnames were developed as a result of this need. Various features in the landscape or area were used to distinguish people from one another. In this case the original bearers of the surname Chinnech were named due to their close proximity to the seven oakes.

Early Origins of the Chinnech family

The surname Chinnech was first found in Kent where they held a family seat at Seven-oaks, a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, in the hundred of Codsheath.

"This place, which in the Textus Roffensis is written Seovan Acca, is supposed to have derived its name from seven large oaks that stood upon the eminence on which the town is built. The free grammar school was founded and endowed in 1432, by Sir William Sevenoake, (1378?-1433?), usually written Sennocke, who, being deserted by his parents, was brought up by some charitable persons, and apprenticed to a grocer in London, from which station he rose to be lord mayor of that city, and its representative in parliament, leaving a portion of his wealth to found this school and an hospital for decayed elderly tradespeople. " 1

The variant Sinnock was "a corruption of Sevenoaks. " 2

Early History of the Chinnech family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chinnech research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1418, 1641, 1648, 1666, 1677, 1719, 1740 and 1765 are included under the topic Early Chinnech History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chinnech Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Chinnech are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Chinnech include: Snook, Snooks, Snukes, Sevenoak, Sevenoaks, Sevenoke, Sevenokes, Sinnox, Sinnocks, Sennocke, Sennox, Sevenocke, Sevenockes, Snooke, Snouk, Snouks, Sinnicks, Shinnicks, Shinnocks, Chennix and many more.

Early Notables of the Chinnech family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chinnech Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chinnech family to Ireland

Some of the Chinnech family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chinnech family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Chinnech or a variant listed above: George Snouks who settled in Barbados in 1680 with his servants; James Snooke settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1630; David Snook, his wife and son Joe settled in Georgia in 1733.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.