Churchward One-Name Study

(Click on picture to enlarge) The church of St. Mary and St. Gabriel, Stoke Gabriel, Devon

Churchward
One-Name Study

Topics

About the Churchward One-Name Study
Variants
Origin of the surname
Frequency of the name
Distribution of the name
Data
Contact Details

About the Churchward One-Name Study

Like most other one-name researchers, I started off back in 1971 with an overriding curiosity in just my own direct ancestors, but after many early successes I hit a brick wall with the failure to establish the birth place of my g-g-g-grandfather, John Churchward, in 1778. Trawling through all possible Devon parishes I eventually found three likely candidates, and researching all possible links led to a mass of data unrelated to my own particular line.

Join them all together and what do you get? A one-name study!

Many years later, John's birthplace was finally established - in spite of the 1851 Census enumerator's error in giving him the same surname as his married daughter.

For the past 20 years or so I have maintained correspondence with Churchwards and their descendants all over the UK, Australia, Canada, USA and New Zealand, and the store of knowledge is still growing.

Variants

The surname is often confused with CHURCHYARD (of Suffolk origin) and its variant CHURCHARD, but the only likely variant - CHURCHWOOD - is usually found in indexes as a mistranscribed CHURCHWARD. CHURCHYARDs and CHURCHARDs have therefore not been followed up, but the few and far between CHURCHWOODs have been included.

Origin of the surname

It is undoubtedly occupational in origin, based upon the churchwarden's function in the village church, and all early occurrences have been found in a fairly localised area of the South Hams in Devon.

Frequency of the name

In spite of infant mortality and emigration, the UK Churchwards continued a healthy growth in numbers throughout the second half of the 19th. Century. From the census returns for England and Wales there were 236 in 1841; 298 in 1851; 343 in 1861; 394 in 1871; 437 in 1881; 495 in 1891 and 516 in 1901.

Distribution of the name

Before the advent of the railways, very few Churchwards escaped from Devon. They were most numerous in Stoke Gabriel; Buckfastleigh; Paignton and adjoining parishes, although they are also found in the early registers of Brixham. It is from Brixham that possibly a few found their way to Newfoundland and hence Canada and America.

Once the railways had been established, several (my own family included) went further afield to seek work, whilst some of the better-educated became engineers; missionaries and soldiers in various parts of the world. Australia and Canada were the favourite destinations.

The most famous holder of the surname was George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933). Born in Stoke Gabriel, he became the Chief Engineer of the GWR, and was Swindon's first mayor. He is still very much revered by steam train enthusiasts.

Data

A large quantity of data has been collected, much of which will eventually be added to the Guild's Archive. It includes references to the surname from:-

Births; marriages and deaths from the Civil Registration Indexes for England and Wales from 1837 to 2002.

The 1841; 1851; 1861; 1871; 1881; 1891 & 1901 Census Returns for England and Wales.

The Probate Registry Indexes from 1858 to 1984.

Many parish register entries, especially Devon.

Several copies of wills, BMD certificates etc.

Extracts from the IGI and other Internet sources.

Contact details

For further information, contact:

Mr Brian G Churchward
38 Longhouse Barn,
Penperlleni,
Pontypool,
Monmouthshire
NP4 0BD
UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail:

This page last updated 8 March 2008.