Chawner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Chawner is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as a person who makes or deals in blankets. The surname Chawner is derived from the Old English word chalouner, which in turn comes from chaloun, which means blanket.

Early Origins of the Chawner family

The surname Chawner was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat. From their early beginnings, for the next few centuries, the family name also acquired other estates or manors as branches established themselves throughout England. The major conflicts of the eras, such as the War of the Roses, the English Reformation, and the English Civil War sometimes found them to be in opposing camps, with conflicting interests.

Early History of the Chawner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chawner research. Another 87 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1567, 1573, 1583, 1607, 1840 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Chawner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chawner Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Chawner are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Chawner include Chawner, Chawnor, Chauner, Chaunor, Chawnere and many more.

Early Notables of the Chawner family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

William Chawner, the Vicar of Hurdsfield in Cheshire in the 1840s

Chawner migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Chawner or a variant listed above:

Chawner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Chawner, who settled in Philadelphia in 1856
Robert Chawner, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 1

Chawner migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Chawner Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward Chawner, British settler travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Joseph Fletcher" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th March 1858 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Chawner (post 1700) +

Henry Chawner Shenton (1825-1846), English sculptor who studied in the schools of the Royal Academy and at Rome, son of Henry Shenton
Henry Chawner Shenton (1803-1866), English engraver, born at Winchester
Rupert Chawner Brooke (1887-1915), British poet known for his War Sonnets written during his one day of limited military action in the First World War

The Chawner Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nil desperandum
Motto Translation: Never despairing.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html