Cherril History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Cherril

What does the name Cherril mean?

The ancient roots of the Cherril family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Cherril comes from when the family lived in the parish of Cherhill, which was located three miles from Calne in the diocese of Salisbury and the county of Wiltshire. 1 The surname Cherril belongs to the large category of Anglo-Saxon habitation names, which were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Cherril family

The surname Cherril was first found in Wiltshire, at Cherhill which dates back to at least 1155 when it was known at that time as Ciriel. The parish is thought to have been derived from the Celtic words for "fertile land," with a Celtic river-name as the first element. 2

Early History of the Cherril family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cherril research. Another 212 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1500 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Cherril History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cherril Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Cherril has appeared include Cherrill, Cheril, Cherril, Cherill, Churhille, Churhylle, Cherrall, Cherhill, Chirel, Cherrille, Keryle and many more.

Early Notables of the Cherril family

More information is included under the topic Early Cherril Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cherril family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Cherril arrived in North America very early: William Cherrall who arrived in New England in 1635.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)