Show ContentsChauorthy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Chauorthy

What does the name Chauorthy mean?

Chauorthy is a name whose history is connected to the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Chauorthy family once lived in London, where their name is derived from the place-name Chatworth, now lost. Before this, the name is derived from the Old English personal name Ceatta, with the suffix -worth, which means enclosure or farm. Combined, the name Chatworth meant "Ceatta's farm." 1

Early Origins of the Chauorthy family

The surname Chauorthy was first found in Derbyshire at Chatsworth, a hamlet, in the parish of Edensor, union of Bakewell, hundred of High Peak. This hamlet has been held by the Duke of Devonshire; and consists almost wholly of Chatsworth Park, which extends into the hamlet of Edensor, and the townships of Baslow and Beeley, and comprises 1200 acres of land. The magnificent mansion of Chatsworth is built upon the site of a more ancient edifice, in which Mary, Queen of Scots, passed a considerable portion of her captivity. " 2

The variant Chaworth traces back to "Patrick de Cadurcis, or Chaworth, whose name appears on the Battle Roll, was a native of Little Brittany, and after the victory of Hastings, appears to have been rewarded by grants of land in Gloucestershire. From him descended Thomas de Chaworth, who was summoned to parliament as a Baron in 1299, and whose descend- ants continued for a long series of generations, seated in high repute in the counties of Nottingham and Derby." 3

Early History of the Chauorthy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chauorthy research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1349, 1401, 1430, 1458, 1507, 1568, 1605, 1621, 1622, 1635, 1639, 1644 and 1693 are included under the topic Early Chauorthy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chauorthy Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Chauorthy family name include Chadworth, Chatworth, Chaworth, Shadworth and others.

Early Notables of the Chauorthy family

Notables of the family at this time include Joan Chaworth (1430-1507), the heiress of Alfreton, married in 1458 to John Ormond; George Chaworth, 1st Viscount Chaworth of Armagh (c.1568-1639)...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chauorthy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Chauorthy family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Chauorthy surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Thomas Chadworth who settled in Virginia in 1643; John Shadworth settled in New England in 1765.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  3. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.


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