Show ContentsCharsley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Charsley come from when the family resided in the village of Chearsley, in the county of Buckingham just miles from Thames. The surname was originally derived from the variant Cerdiceleagh when translated means the meadow of Cerdic. This surname is one of the habitation names which form a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Charsley family

The surname Charsley was first found in Buckinghamshire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Charsley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Charsley research. Another 199 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1279, 1500, 1575 and 1809 are included under the topic Early Charsley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Charsley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Charsley has been recorded under many different variations, including Charsley, Chearsley, Cherdesle, Chardesle, Chearsleye and many more.

Early Notables of the Charsley family

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


United States Charsley migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Charsley or a variant listed above:

Charsley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Miss Charsley, aged 36, who arrived in New York, New York in 1894 aboard the ship "Normannia" from Hamburg, Germany [1]
Charsley Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • L. E. Charsley, aged 42, who arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Leviathan" from Cherbourg via Southampton [1]
  • Charles Charsley, aged 44, who arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "Caronia" from Liverpool, England [1]

Contemporary Notables of the name Charsley (post 1700) +

  • Walter Augustine Charsley (1869-1948), English footballer who played from Small Heath (1890-1891)
  • William Henry Charsley (1820-1900), English academic, Master of Charsley's Hall, Oxford from 1865 to 1891
  • Charles Christopher "Chris" Charsley (1864-1945), English footballer


  1. Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result


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