The ancestors of the bearers of the Charnack family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Charnock. It was established there in a pair of townships in Standish in the county of Lancashire. This surname is derived from the Old English Charnok which means one who lives beside the pile of stones. Often times this pile of stones served a primitive marker to establish borders for villages or counties. [1]
However, another source claims the name was originally Norman having "derived from the town of Chernoc, in Normandy." [2]
The surname Charnack was first found in Lancashire at Charnock, Heath, a township, in the district chapelry of Adlington, parish of Standish, union of Chorley, hundred of Leyland. Charnock-Richard is a nearby township, in the district chapelry of Coppull, parish of Standish, union of Chorley "This place was held in moieties by the Charnocks and Banasters. " [3]
"The Charnocks, who have their present home in the Ormskirk district, take their name from Lancashire townships. Roger de Chernock was mayor of Liverpool in 1437." [4]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charnack research. Another 80 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1526, 1581, 1524, 1525, 1588, 1645, 1614, 1587, 1648, 1624, 1628, 1680, 1630, 1693, 1656, 1690, 1663, 1696, 1696, 1670 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Charnack History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Charnack include Chernock, Charnock, Chernick, Chernocke and many more.
Distinguished members of the family include Thomas Charnock (c.1526-1581), an English alchemist and occultist who devoted his life to the quest for the Philosopher's Stone. Born in the Isle of Thanet, Kent, in 1524 or 1525, he travelled "all over England in quest of knowledge, he fixed his residence at Oxford, and there fell in with a noted chemist named. " [5]
Roger Charnock (1588-1645), was an English politician, Member of Parliament for Newton in 1614; Thomas Charnock (1587-1648), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Newton in 1624; and Stephen Charnock (1628-1680), was an English Puritan Presbyterian clergyman. [5]
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Another 98 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Charnack Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.