Show ContentsChisham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Chisham family

The surname Chisham was first found in Roxburghshire 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 Chisham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chisham research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1176 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Chisham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chisham Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Chisholm, Chissolm, Chisham, Chisholme, Chism, Chisolm, Chisolt, Chissum and many more.

Early Notables of the Chisham family

More information is included under the topic Early Chisham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Chisham family to Ireland

Some of the Chisham 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.


West Indies Chisham migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 1
Chisham Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Chisham who settled in Jamaica in 1774

Contemporary Notables of the name Chisham (post 1700) +

  • James M. Chisham, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Atchison, Kansas, 1898-1910 2


The Chisham 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: Feros ferio
Motto Translation: I am fierce with the fierce.


  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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