Chetwood Family Crest, Coat of Arms and Name History

Origins of Chetwood:
Chetwood is a name of old Anglo-Saxon origin and acquires from a family once having resided in or near the settlement of Chetwood in the division of Buckinghamshire.  The Chetwood family is said to have resided there for at least 26 generations.  The surname Chetwood belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which acquired from pre-existing names for towns, hamlets, parishes, or farmlands.  The English language only became regulated in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names.  As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people’s names raised. Chetwood has noted under many different variations, including Chetwode, Chetwood, Chetwoode, Chitwood, Chitwode and much more.

Variations:
More common variations are: Cheetwood, Chetwoode, Cheatwood, Chatwood, Chetwode, Chitwood, Chetwodd, Cheatwod, Chattwood, Chittwood.

England:
The surname Chetwood first appeared in Buckinghamshire where they decline from Robert de Thain, who held Chetwode under the Priest of Baieux in the time of William the Champion.  John de Chetwode during the reign of Edward 111 married the heiress of Oakley, of Oakley of Staffordshire.  “This estate of Chetwode, as shows to me, has been in the possession and inheritance of the Chetwodes longer than any land or estate in this division of Buckingham has continued the property of any other family now there existing.”  “Sir John Chetwode, Bart., is lord of the estate, and principal landed owner [of Lower Whitley, Cheshire].”

United States of America:
Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Chetwood or a variant listed above: Marie Chittwood who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1635.  John Chitwood settled in Barbados in 1694.  William Chitwood settled in Virginia in 1636.

Blazons & Genealogy Notes

1) Notes: (Oakley, co. Stafford, bart.; since also of Chetwode and Ogden, co. Berks, and Whitley, co. Chester). Blazon: Quarterly, argent and gules four crosses patee counterchanged. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi lion issuant gules. Motto —Corona mea Christus.
2) Notes: (Oakley, co. Stafford, bart.; since also of Chetwode and Ogden, co. Berks, and Whitley, co. Chester). Blazon: Quarterly, argent and gules four crosses patee counterchanged. Crest—Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi lion issuant gules. Motto —Corona mea Christus.