Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Chedsey is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the parish of Chedzoy, near Bridgewater in the county of Somerset. Alternatively, the name could have originated in "Chevtsey, a town in Surrey, England, near the Thames, pronounced by the natives, Chedsey, meaning 'Cerot's Island.'" [1]
The surname Chedsey was first found in Somerset where they held a family seat from ancient times.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chedsey research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1327, 1349, 1369, 1574, 1778, 1510, 1574, 1528 and 1531 are included under the topic Early Chedsey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Chedsey has been spelled many different ways, including Chedzoy, Chedzey, Chidzoy, Chedgey, Chedsey, Chidgey, Chidsey, Chedesy and many more.
Notables of this surname at this time include: William Chedsey or Cheadsey (1510?-1574?), English divine, a native of Somersetshire. "He was admitted a scholar of Corpus Christi...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Chedsey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Chedseys to arrive in North America: