Show ContentsCharple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The origins of the Charple name come from when the Anglo-Saxon tribes ruled over Britain. The name Charple was originally derived from a family having lived in Sharples Hall near Bolton in the county of Lancashire. This habitation surname was originally derived from the Old English word scearp meaning sharp and laes meaning pasture. Therefore the original bearers of the surname lived in an area that was defined by it's steep pasture.

Early Origins of the Charple family

The surname Charple was first found in Lancashire at Sharples or Sharples Hall, now a suburb of Bolton, a township of the civil and ecclesiastical parish of Bolton le Moors in the Salford hundred. 1 The first record of the placename was in 1212 when it was listed as Charples. A few years later, it was listed as Sharples and Scharples in 1292.

Early History of the Charple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charple research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1699 is included under the topic Early Charple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charple 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 Charple include Sharples, Sharpless and others.

Early Notables of the Charple family

More information is included under the topic Early Charple Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Charple 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: Edward Sharples arrived in Virginia in 1623; John Sharples and his wife Jane and seven children arrived in Delaware in 1682; M. and T. Sharpless arrived in Baltimore in 1820..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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