Champion first appears as a middle name in my Nutter line.
Thomas D. Nutter named his 3rd son, Joel Champion Nutter b. 1821 in
Livingston Co., NY. There was a prominent man in Rochester, NY with last name
Champion. I have found no ties to that family, but perhaps Thomas admired the man.
Joel named one of his sons Joel Champion Jr. b. 1883 (this was a son from a
second marriage and much younger wife). He was born in Cedar Springs, MI. He
died in the state of Washington in 1958.
Joel Champion Nutter's brother John McMillan Nutter (McMillan was his
mother's maiden name) named a son Champion Nutter b. 1846 in Livingston Co., NY.
All of these Joel Champion Nutters lived in Michigan at one point in their
lives.