Chatters is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Chatters family lived in Somerset. They were originally from Carteret Manche, Normandy.
The surname Chatters was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chatters research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1090, 1178 and 1494 are included under the topic Early Chatters History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Chatters include Chaytor, Chater, Chaters, Chator, Chators and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Chatters Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Chatterss to arrive on North American shores: J. Chayter who settled in Baltimore in 1823. James Chaytor settled in Baltimore in 1823; Mary and William Chaytor arrived in New York City in 1823; John Chaytor settled in Newbury in 1635..