Chidler

This very unusual surname is something of a puzzle. It appears to be English, and certainly has been since before the 17th century. However over the centuries its spelling has gone through a number of changes to the point where its true origin is a matter of considerable guesswork. As shown below the early surviving church registers suggest that the "original" spelling was Chadler, Thomas Chadler being a witness at the christening of his son Ledeat (?) as recorded, at St John's church, Hackney, London. Is "Chadler" a mispelling of something else like Chandler or even Saddler? This we do not know, but given that the 17th century was a time of great social and religious upheavals, compounded by the famous Civil Wars of 1640 - 1660, it is known that education fell to the lowest standards of the last thousand years. All we can say is that the name seems to be occupational, it is probably a development of Chandler, and the records show that on December 29th 1696 John Chardler was a witness at the same church of St. John's, Hackney, that on February 15th 1730, Mary Cheadler married Henry Netch at the church known as St Andrews by the Wardrobe, in the city of London, whilst on May 26th 1776, John Chidler married Ann Bailey at St Leonard's church, Shoreditch, London. This was in the reign of King George 111, known as "Farmer George", 1760 -1820.