Chiles History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Chiles is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who 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 Chiles family
The surname Chiles 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 Chiles family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chiles 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 Chiles History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Chiles 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 Chiles 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 Chiles include Child, Childe, Childs, Childes and others.
Early Notables of the Chiles 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. 6
Sir 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 Chiles Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Chiles Ranking
In the United States, the name Chiles is the 5,554th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 7
Chiles migration to the United States +
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 Chiles or a variant listed above:
Chiles Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Mr. Walter Chiles, English merchant settled in Virginia before 1638 on his own ship "Fame of Virginia" as it was known by 1652, he finally settled in Jamestown, he was a member of the House of Burgesses serving intermittently through the 1640s, and as speaker in 1853, Governor's Council in 1651, and he died in 1653 8
- Mrs. Elizabeth Chiles, English settler arriving in Virginia before 1638 on her husband’s own ship "Fame of Virginia" as it was known by 1652, finally settled in Jamestown. 8
- Mr. Walter Chiles, Jr., English settler arriving in Virginia before 1638 on his father’s own ship "Fame of Virginia" as it was known by 1652, finally settled in Jamestown. 8
- Mr. William Chiles, English settler arriving in Virginia before 1638 on his father’s own ship "Fame of Virginia" as it was known by 1652, finally settled in Jamestown. 8
- Sarah Chiles, who landed in Virginia in 1640 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Chiles Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
- William Chiles, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
Contemporary Notables of the name Chiles (post 1700) +
- Harrell Edmonds "Eddie" Chiles (1910-1993), American founder of the Western Company of North America and an owner of the Texas Rangers
- James J. Chiles (1833-1873), also known as Jim Crow Chiles, American Confederate outlaw who fought with Quantrill's Raiders
- John Chiles (b. 1988), American NFL and CFL football wide receiver who is currently a free agent
- Captain Marcellus Holmes Chiles (1895-1918), United States Army officer who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I, he suffered wounds that ultimately caused his death during those actions
- Linden Chiles (1933-2013), born Truman Linden Chiles, an American character actor, born in St. Louis, Missouri, known for his many roles including Going My Way; The Fugitive; The Man from U.N.C.L.E.; The Time Tunnel; Land of the Giants; The Invaders; The Munsters; and many more
- Rhea Chiles (1930-2015), American First Lady of the State of Florida from 1991 to 1998
- Joseph Ballinger Chiles (1810-1885), early California pioneer and guide
- Lois Cleveland Chiles (b. 1947), American actress and former fashion model known for her role as Dr. Holly Goodhead in the 1979 James Bond film Moonraker
- Admiral (Ret.) Henry Goodman Chiles Jr. (b. 1938), Commander in Chief, United States Strategic Command from 1994 to 1996
- Walter Chiles, American politician, Member of Kentucky State Senate, 1862 9
- ... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html