Show ContentsChildres History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Childres surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in or near an orphanage; the location of the specific orphanage that gave rise to the surname Childres is not known in modern times. The surname Childres may have also been a nickname for an orphan, or an occupational name applied to someone who ran an orphanage. Further research showed the name was derived from the Old English word cildra-hus, which means children's house or orphanage. 1

Early Origins of the Childres family

The surname Childres was first found in Yorkshire 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.

Early History of the Childres family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Childres research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1565, 1607, 1623, 1645, 1670, 1838, 1870, 1876, 1905, 1922, 1973 and 1974 are included under the topic Early Childres History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Childres Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Childres include Childers, Childress, Childres and others.

Early Notables of the Childres family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Childres Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Childres family to Ireland

Some of the Childres family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 119 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Childres family

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants: T.J. and W.J. Childress who arrived in San Francisco, California, in 1850.


Contemporary Notables of the name Childres (post 1700) +

  • Rachel Childres (b. 1986), American former professional wrestler, known by her ring name Rachel Summerlyn
  • Joseph Childres, American musician, co-founder of Vendetta Red, an American alternative rock band from Seattle, Washington


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print


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