Chyld History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

The many generations and branches of the Chyld family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a military officer in the 10th century, probably comparable to a modern sergeant. In the Old English, it was rendered cild, which meant child. It was applied to the rank above the common soldier in that period, probably because they were in charge of "children." Later, in the 13th and 14th centuries, it came to denote a young man in training for the knighthood.

Early Origins of the Chyld family

The surname Chyld was first found in Hertfordshire. However, some of the family were found at Wanstead in Essex in later years. "The village is situated on the borders of Waltham Forest, near the main road from London to Cambridge; and is principally worthy of note as the site of Wanstead House, built in 1715, by Sir Richard (son of Sir Josiah) Child, created Viscount Castlemain in 1718, and Earl of Tylney in 1731. This splendid mansion was considerably enlarged and embellished by his descendants, and was surrounded by a very extensive park, laid out with great taste, and interspersed with gardens, pleasure-grounds, and grottos." 1

The name is derived from "the son and heir in noble and royal families. The word was employed by Spenser, and in the old ballads, as the "Childe of Elle," "Child Waters," &c. See English Surn. i. 214. In Domesday Book, the epithet Cild or Cilt is applied to several persons of distinction. Le Child. " 2

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. lists Godwin Child, Berkshire, Henry III-Edward I. 3 Later the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Brian le Child, Cambridgeshire; and Walter le Child, Oxfordshire. and later again, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls listed Robertus Childe as holding lands there at that time. 4

In Scotland, the name is derived "from the Old English personal name Cild. The 'exact sense of the name is uncertain. The singular is used as a title of honour in late Old English times and this is found also throughout the Middle Ages, as in Childe Roland'. It was synonymous with enfant in France. Henricus Child was canon of Scone c. 1275. James Chyld was canon of Monymusk, 1549. Robert Cheild, burgess of Dundee, 1564. 5

Early History of the Chyld family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chyld research. Another 148 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1280, 1379, 1606, 1630, 1638, 1642, 1660, 1673, 1674, 1677, 1684, 1690, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1702, 1703, 1705, 1708, 1713, 1715, 1721, 1740 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Chyld History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chyld Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Chyld were recorded, including Child, Childe, Childs, Childes and others.

Early Notables of the Chyld family

Notables of the family at this time include William Child (1606-1697), an English composer and organist, First Organist of the Chapel Royal (1660-1697); and Sir John Child, 1st Baronet (died 1690), Governor of Bombay, first governor-general of the British settlements in India.John Child (1638?-1684), was a Baptist preacher, born at Bedford about 1638, apprenticed to a handicraft; after a while he adopted another calling, and removed to Newport Pagnel, Buckinghamshire. 6Sir Josiah Child of Wanstead, 1st Baronet (1630-1699), was an English merchant, economist proponent of mercantilism and Governor of the East India Company; he purchased Wanstead House in Essex in 1673...
Another 101 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chyld Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chyld family

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Chyld family emigrate to North America: Joseph Childs who settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, and became a freeman in 1654. Benjamin Childs of Roxbury, Massachusetts, lived at what is now Brookline, Massachusetts. Benjamin's son Ephraim was killed by the Indians at Northfield on September 4th in the year 1675.

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.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print