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The founding heritage of the Catchpolle family is in the Anglo-Saxon culture that once dominated in Britain. The name Catchpolle comes from when one of the family worked as a medieval policeman, called a cacherel. The name comes from the weapon carried by the cacherel, called a catchpole, used to hold people around the head so as to subdue them. The cacherel was often colloquially referred to the weapon he carried. 1
The surname Catchpolle was first found in Dorset or Caterpole, Suffolk. 2
Proving the longstanding occupation, the first record of the family was found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Aluricus Chacepol. 3 Later, Hugo le Cachepol was registered in the Assize Rolls for Somerset in 1221. Robert Chacecapel was found in the Pipe Rolls for Devon in 1201. 4
Another source explains in more detail; in that the name was derived from "a village as well as a town officer; an undersergeant who obtained his name from catching his victim by the head by means of a long wooden forceps that nipped by the throat the delinquent who was wanted. The name was borne by Margaret Catchpole, the horse-thief who was sentenced to be hanged at Ipswich, but was transported, in 1841 [to Australia]. We have the name also as Catchpool. In 'Piers Plowman's Vision' we are told, of the two thieves crucified on Calvary, 'A Catchpole came forth And cracked both their legges.' " 5 The weapon the catchpoll carried may still be seen in the Tower of London.
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Geoffrey le Cachepol, Oxfordshire; and Ralph le Cachepol, Oxfordshire. 6
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catchpolle research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1561, 1587, 1627, 1647 and 1695 are included under the topic Early Catchpolle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Catchpolle has been spelled many different ways, including Catchpole, Catchpolle, Cageypole, Cachpole, Cachpool and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Catchpolle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Catchpolles to arrive in North America: Richard Cattchpol who settled in Virginia in 1770.