Chartters History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The name Chartters was originally from Chartres in the department of Eure-et-Loire, France. 1

Early Origins of the Chartters family

The surname Chartters was first found in Devon, where Richard de Chartray is generally considered to be the progenitor of the family. He was listed as holding lands there temp. Henry III-Edward I. Later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Alan de Chartres, Huntingdonshire; and John de Chartres, Lincolnshire. 2

The movement to Scotland where the name is best known is very interesting. " 'The Sirname of Carnatto, which we English Charters, is very ancient with us.' In the reign of William the Lion, Walter de Carnoto gifted the church of Trauerflet (Trailflat) and the church of Dungrey or Drumereyoch to the Abbey of Kelso. In 1266 we have a charter confirming this gift which supplies us with the names of four generations: Robert called of Carnoto, knight, son and heir of Thomas de Carnoto, son and heir of Thomas de Carnoto, son and heir of Walcher de Carnoto. " 1

Early History of the Chartters family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chartters research. Another 224 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1166, 1249, 1296, 1361, 1467, 1479, 1523, 1527, 1565, 1593, 1597, 1599, 1620, 1621, 1625, 1628, 1639, 1641, 1675, 1700, 1711, 1732 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Chartters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chartters Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Chartters has appeared as Charteris, Charters, Charter, Charteres, Chartteris, Chartters and many more.

Early Notables of the Chartters family

Notable among the family at this time was Henry Charteris the Elder (d. 1599), Scottish printer; and his son, Henry Charteris the Younger (1565-1628), a Scottish minister and Principal of Edinburgh University from 1599 to 1620; and his son, Lawrence Charteris (1625-1700), Scottish minister. 3Francis Charteris (1675-1732), was a colonel, notorious criminal, son of John and second son of Sir John Charteris of Amisfield. "On the death of his uncle without male issue he became male representative of the family of Amisfield, but the estate passed to his cousin Elizabeth, sole heiress of his uncle. Her son, Thomas Hogg, assumed the...
Another 202 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chartters Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chartters family to Ireland

Some of the Chartters family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chartters family

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them: William Charteris who settled in Virginia in 1622; J. Charter settled in San Francisco Cal. in 1850; John Charter settled in Virginia in 1638; Lawrence Charters settled in St. Christopher in 1716.

Citations +

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print