Chitwod History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Chitwod surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in Chetwood, a parish, in the union, hundred, and county of Buckingham. "The church, made parochial in 1480, is remarkable for some beautiful specimens of stained glass, formerly belonging to a priory of Augustine monks, founded by Sir Ralph de Norwich in 1244, and which was dissolved on account of its poverty in 1460, and annexed to the abbey of Nutley. There was also a hermitage dedicated to St. Stephen and St. Lawrence, founded by a member of the Chetwode family, the representative of which claims suit and service, by prescriptive right, over this place and some neighbouring hamlets, that are said to have been included within the limits of an ancient forest of 1000 acres, called Rockwood." 1

The family was "seated at Chetwode, co. Bucks, as early as the Conquest. There soon after, Robert de Chetwode founded a priory. The family resided at Chetwode for more than twenty generations." 2

Early Origins of the Chitwod family

The surname Chitwod was first found in Buckinghamshire where they descend from Robert de Thain, who held Chetwode under the Bishop of Baieux in the time of William the Conqueror. John de Chetwode during the reign of Edward III married the heiress of Oakley, of Oakley of Staffordshire.

"This manor of Chetwode, as appears to me, has been in the possession and inheritance of the Chetwodes longer than any estate or manor in this county of Buckingham has continued the property of any other family now there existing." 3

In Cheshire, "Sir John Chetwode, Bart., is lord of the manor, and principal landed proprietor [of Lower Whitley]." 1

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. Robert de Chetewod was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1206 in Warwickshire and Ralph de Chetwode was found in the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1262. John de Chetwode was found in the Feet of Fines for Surrey (1346-1347). 4

Early History of the Chitwod family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chitwod research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1650, 1720 and 1797 are included under the topic Early Chitwod History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chitwod Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Chitwod include Chetwode, Chetwood, Chetwoode, Chitwood, Chitwode and others.

Early Notables of the Chitwod family

Distinguished members of the family include Knightly Chetwood (1650-1720), Dean of Gloucester, the eldest son of Valentine Chetwode of Chetwood, by Mary, daughter of Francis Shute, Esq. of Upton, Leicestershire, and grandson of Richard Chetwode, Esq. of Oakley in Staffordshire...
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chitwod Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chitwod family to Ireland

Some of the Chitwod family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 44 words (3 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 Chitwod family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: Marie Chittwood who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635; John Chitwood settled in Barbados in 1694; William Chitwood settled in Virginia in 1636.

The Chitwod 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: Corona mea Christus
Motto Translation: Christ is my crown.

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.
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)