Chism History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Chism

What does the name Chism mean?

While this Scottish Clan traditionally hails from Scotland, "it has been strongly asserted their Lowland Scotland and northern England origin was because they were actually Norman. The name is Saxon enough, from cisil, gravel, and holm, a river island. Thus Chisholm would mean an islet with a gravel soil." 1

Early Origins of the Chism family

The surname Chism was first found in Roxburghshire where the family held the barony of Chisholm in Roberton. 2

Early History of the Chism family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chism research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1176 and 1715 are included under the topic Early Chism History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chism Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Chisholm, Chissolm, Chisham, Chisholme, Chism, Chisolm, Chisolt, Chissum and many more.

Early Notables of the Chism family

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

Chism Ranking

In the United States, the name Chism is the 4,181^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Chism family to Ireland

Some of the Chism family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chism migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Chism Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Finley Chism, who landed in Virginia in 1776 4

Chism Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Chism, who settled in Philadelphia in 1840
J E Chism, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
J W Chism, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 4
N Chism, aged 35, who settled in America, in 1892
Martin Chism, aged 24, who landed in America, in 1893
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Chism Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Margaret Chism, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
Shirley D. Chism, aged 39, who landed in America, in 1911
Harry L. Chism, aged 36, who landed in America, in 1919
Wm. W. Chism, aged 21, who settled in America, in 1920
Edward Chism, aged 25, who settled in America from Ballyshannon, Ireland, in 1922
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Chism (post 1700) +

Thomas Raymond "Tom" Chism (b. 1955), American former Major League Baseball player
Devon Dwayne Chism (b. 1987), American NBA basketball player
Sydney Chism, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 2000, 2008 5
John C. Chism, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Albany County 1st District, 1868 5
Fred C. Chism, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ashford, 1914, 1922 5
Charles D. Chism, American Republican politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Ashford, 1906 5

The Chism Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Feros ferio
Motto Translation: I am fierce with the fierce.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html