Cholay is an ancient Norman name that arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Cholay family lived in Hertfordshire. The family was originally from Eschailles, in Pas de Calais, Normandy, and it is from this location that their surname is derived.
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Early Origins of the Cholay family
The surname Cholay was first found in Hertfordshire where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Cholay family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cholay research. Another 106 words (8 lines of text) covering the year 1449 is included under the topic Early Cholay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Cholay Spelling Variations
Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings. The name has been spelled Challis, Challes, Challers, Challice, Challies, Challiss, Chalis, Chales, Chalers, Chalice, Chalies and many more.
Early Notables of the Cholay family
More information is included under the topic Early Cholay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Cholay family
Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Cholay or a variant listed above: Phillip Challis settled in Newbury Massachusetts in 1637; Edward Challis settled in Virginia in 1639; Robert Chalis settled in New England in 1698.
