Hi Michael: Thank you for the historical information! I didn't know any
of that. I'd wondered whether those similar sounding names were related,
but had not read anything at all about the background or forms of the
name.
My grandfather did tell me the family dates back to the Norman Conquest
so that fits with the history. I wish I'd asked him more about it at the
time. As the saying goes, "If wishes were horses.........."
Thanks again, Jacqueline
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Cheeseman [mailto:forever_fossicking@bigpond.com]
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 6:10 PM
To: CHANT-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: RE: [CHANT] Geographical spread
Hi Jacqueline
The origins of any surname is partially congecture. No one wrote
down origins of surnames until the early 1800's.
Chant as you probably know is believed to originate from Old
French (the Norman's were French) for someone who is a singer.
Chaunt is believed to be the old spelling and the earliest
occurance is said to be Fifeshire in the 11th Century suggesting
it's Norman in origin.
Chantler/Chauntor are versions seen in eastern England,
Cant in Northern England and Chaunt/Chant is the form in
the southern part of England. For the Southern version
Somerset appears to be the earliest place at the moment
though it was already commonly found in Dorset by the
start of the early Parish registers and closely followed
by occuring in Devon by the late 1500's. Lincolnshire
also had Chant's by the early 1500's. So determining a
point of origin is suggestive but not conclusive.
regards
Michael Cheeseman
-----Original Message-----
From: Jacqueline Douglas [mailto:jdouglas@dccnet.com]
Sent: Sunday, 21 March 2004 9:39 PM
To: CHANT-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: RE: [CHANT] Geographical spread
Hello Sean and List: I didn't know that Somerset was the home of the
Chant name. I'm always on the lookout for the origin of my branch, and
I'm stuck in Middlesex (Shoreditch and nearby) in the mid-1700's. Do you
think all of the Chants initially came from Somerset? If so, do you have
any idea of the earliest use of the Chant surname?
Does anyone else on the list have any idea of the actual roots of the
Chant name? Was it originally Chant or Chaunt or Chanson or Chantler or
something else? Was the name originally Norman or Saxon or what have
you? Were the earliest Chants vocalists for the church? Candle makers?
Something else?
I've been curious about all these things for ages, but not much luck
finding the answers so far. Does anyone have ideas about this?
Regards to all, Jacqueline
-----Original Message-----
From: Sean Leyland [mailto:jellore@allstate.net.au]
Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2004 3:30 AM
To: CHANT-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [CHANT] Geographical spread
Hello Listers,
Just a point of interest. Whilst transcribing the 1891 census I came
across 422 people with the name Chant residing in Somerset. However I
came across a further 900 ish people with the name born in Somerset but
living in other parts of the country, proving how the name really
started to spread by the end of the 19th century. It also proves, as of
course we all know that Somerset was/is certainly the home of the name.
It has been a week or so since messages have come into the list. Please
remind me if I promised look-ups but did not follow through.
Regards,
Sean
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