Chetham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The Chetham name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in Cheetham, in the county of Lancashire. It is from the place-name Cheetham that the family name is derived.

Early Origins of the Chetham family

The surname Chetham was first found in Lancashire at Cheetham, a township, in the parish and union of Manchester, hundred of Salford. 1 Now part of Greater Manchester, Cheetham dates back to the late 12th century and literally meant "homestead or village by the wood called Chet," from the Celtic word "ced" meaning "forest" and the Old English word "ham." 2 The ancient archeological site Cheetham Close, a megalithic site and scheduled ancient monument is nearby and is generally thought to have been a druidical ritual place with a Roman road passed 'within two hundred yards' of the megalith. As far as the surname is concerned, one of the first records was Geoffrey de Chetham who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. Over one hundred years later, Thomas de Cheteham was listed in Lancashire in 1394. 3 Another branch of the family was found at Allerton in Lancashire. "At the time of the Domesday Survey, three thanes held 'Alretune;' which was in the possession of Geoffrey de Chetham in the reign of Henry III." 1

Early History of the Chetham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chetham research. Another 58 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1640, 1648, 1653 and 1692 are included under the topic Early Chetham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chetham Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Chetham has undergone many spelling variations, including Chetham, Cheetham, Cheetam, Cheetum and others.

Early Notables of the Chetham family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Sir Edward Chetham; and Colonel John Chetham of Southhill House in Somerset, from a branch of the Derbyshire family
Humphrey Chetham, (1580-1653), was founder of the Chetham Hospital and Library, fifth son of Henry Chetham of Crumpsall Hall, near Mandiester, a prosperous merchant of that town. He was baptised at th...
James Chetham (1640-1692), was an English writer on angling, eldest son of Edward Chetham of Smedley, near Manchester and a kinsman of Humphrey Chetham the founder. 4

Migration of the Chetham family to Ireland

Some of the Chetham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chetham migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Chetham were among those contributors:

Chetham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Philip Chetham, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1811

Chetham 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:

Chetham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Edward Chetham, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Harrington" 5
Alfred Chetham, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Harrington 5
Alfred Chetham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harrington" in 1841 5
Edward Chetham, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Harrington" in 1841 5
Mr. E. Chetham, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Harrington" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 15th June 1841 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Chetham (post 1700) +

Humphrey Chetham (1580-1653), English merchant and philanthropist
Sir Milne Chetham,
Sir Nicholas Chetham,
John Chetham, Secretary of the Exchequer

The Chetham 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: Quod tuum tenne
Motto Translation: Hold what is yours

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html