Churchwood is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a verger, who was responsible for showing the congregation to their seats and for the upkeep of the church buildings and surrounding grounds.
The surname Churchwood was first found in Gloucestershire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Churchwood research. Another 27 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1275 is included under the topic Early Churchwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Churchwood has appeared include Churchward, Chirchewart, Cyrceweard, Circwoerd and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Churchwood Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Churchwood arrived in North America very early: