Surname Chesher - Meaning and Origin

Chesher: What does the surname Chesher mean?

The last name Chesher is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words “ceser,” meaning “cheese-maker,” and “hyrde,” meaning “herdsman.” This is a locational surname, which means someone who originally came from the village of Cheshire in England. It likely began as a nickname for someone who worked with cheeses, since Cheshire is an area that is renowned for its high-quality dairy.

The name Chesher has been passed down the line for centuries, beginning in the 12th century when it first appeared in written records. In 1273, a man named Robert de Kaeser appears in the "Testa de Neville" census rolls of Cheshire, while in the 1379 poll tax records of Yorkshire, an individual named Robert de Kaesher was listed. Over the years, many members of this family have been born and married in Cheshire, and many have become prominent figures in the area, such as the composer Sir William Chesher, and James Chesher, the High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1559.

Today, the name Chesher is found all over England, as well as in other countries. There are hundreds of people who carry this name, and it serves as a reminder of the history of the area and the people who lived there centuries ago.

Chesher: Where does the name Chesher come from?

The last name Chesher is most commonly found in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is estimated that there are between 50 and 100 Chesher-surnamed individuals living in each of these countries.

The earliest known record of Chesher as a surname dates back to 14th century Germany, where the name would have likely been an occupational name derived from the Middle High German word ceser, meaning "knitter". Records of the name have been found in Germany’s Baden-Wuerttemberg region, suggesting that the name was once common there.

The name is believed to have arrived in the United Kingdom alongside other German settlers during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Historical records of the name have been found largely in the counties of Hampshire and Surrey. It is speculated that this migration occurred as a result of individuals seeking better economic conditions in the U.K.

In the late 1800s, many Chesher-surnamed individuals were recorded as having left the U.K. to seek a new life in the United States. Records of the name in the U.S. date back to California in the late 1800s; today, it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania and the western states, such as Arizona and Nevada.

Today, the degree to which an individual is associated with the surname Chesher may vary depending on which country they are located in. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, the name may be relatively well-known. In the United States, however, the name is not as ubiquitous as it is in other regions, which means some individuals with the name may be the first of their family to bear it in generations.

Variations of the surname Chesher

The Chesher surname has a few variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Chesher is a variant of the more commonly seen surname Cheesman. This surname is of English origin with both the Chesher and Cheesman spelling tracing back to medieval England. The name was originally derived from "Cheese", the trade term given to a person who stored, matured, and sold cheese in a market. The spelling of Chesher can often be found in records of England and have continued to spread across the world with immigration.

Chesworth is another spelling of the same origin as Chesher and Cheesman. It can be found as an English and Irish surname. It is derived from the Old English word "ceosan" meaning to "cut, divide, or section". It is likely that the Chesworth surname originated from people who worked with the land such as farmers and landowners.

Chezier is also a variant of the Chesher surname. This spelling has French origins and has been found to be present in records of France from the early Middle Ages. This surname first appeared in the forms of Chaisier and Chaisière and denoted a person who sold wine from a wine cellar or shop.

In conclusion, the surname Chesher has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Cheesman, Chesworth, and Chezier. Chesher has its roots in England and can be found in historical records of England while its close variant Chesworth has been found to have origins in both England and Ireland. Lastly, the French variant Chezier is derived from Chaisier and Chaisière and denotes a person who worked in the wine industry.

Famous people with the name Chesher

• Blake Chesher: Television actor, best known for his portrayal of Alex Coopman in the Disney Channel show "Bits and Pieces"
• Peggy Chesher: American sculptor known for creating abstract sculptures
• Katherine Chesher: American jazz singer, multi-instrumentalist, and composer
• Raymond Chesher: British film director and producer, most notably his work on “Moby Dick”
• Charles F. Chesher: American author and professor, best known for his books like “The Victorian Perspectives”
• Cory Chesher: Grammy Award-winning record producer and audio engineer, who has worked with artists such as Outkast and Kanye West
• Abraham Chesher: American mathematician, known for developing the concept of algebraic differential equations
• Gordon Chesher: Award-winning author, who has written dozen books including “A Commoner's War”
• Emily Chesher: Classical music composer, best known for her works “Symphonies of Israel” and “A Mountain’s Sorrow”
• Margaret Chesher: British-Canadian philanthropist and one of the first female entrepreneurs in Canada known for the Chesher’s Seeds Company.

Other surnames

CheshamCheshire