Chetwynd

This is a very ancient noble and honourable surname of Olde English pre 7th Century origins. It derives from the personal name "Ceatta" which may have translated as "Cat" plus "ge" meaning district or place and "wind" - Ceatta's windy place. Whatever the precise meaning the village appears in the 1086 Domesday Book as "Catewinde" and in the Fees Rolls of 1242 as"Chetewind" and "Chettewind". The recordings of the surname are amongst the earliest on record; examples include the following; John de Chedewinde of Salop in the Kings Rolls of 1273 and Adam de Chetewynde in the Hundred Rolls of Salop for the same date. Amongst the entries in the National Biography are Edward Chetwynd (1577 - 1639) Dean of Bristol in 1617, John Chetwynd, son of Edward (1623 - 1692) Prebendary of Bristol, and Viscount Chetwynd, (1685 - 1770) Master of the Mint (1744 - 1769). The Coat of Arms is Blue, with a chevron between three Mullets (knights spurs), all in Gold. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Chetwynd, which was dated 1180 Lord of the Manor of Chetwynd, Shropshire, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Church Builder" 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.