Chew Family Origins & Migration 
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1030:
de Cheux was situated in Basse-Normandy on the coast of modern France.
He journeyed with William the Conqueror across the English Channel to invade England.
1066:
at the Battle of Hastings de Cheux contributed significantly to William's conquest and as a result
was deeded conquered lands in Devonshire.
1380:
by 1380 Chew descendants were situated in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Worcestershire, Suffolk and Somersetshire, the
last being the origin of our Chew ancestors in America
1615-22:
John Chew jorneyed from England to Virginia Colony and established his business in James Cittie
[today known as Jamestown]. His wife Sarah, children, and servants made the trip separaetly. John
completed arrangements in England and settled in Virginia in 1622.
1649:
John with wife Sarah and sons Samuel and Joseph migrated to lands in Anne Arundel County
in the new colony of Maryland formed in 1632 by the king on petition from George Calvert,
Baron of Baltimore. Samuel's son, Samuel [2nd] was born at Anne Arundel in 1660.
1735:
second Samuel's daughter Mary Chew married John Hepburn, son of Dr. Patrick Hepburn, at
Prince Georges, Maryland, and began the lineage we share. The Chew descendants became movers and shakers
in many states on the Atlantic coast.
A more detailed study at Chew Family Origins + Migration Page.
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This lineage of the Chew families lived under these flags:
Basse-Normandie
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Normandy
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William the Conquerer
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Somersetshire
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England
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Calvert
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Name Origin & Heraldic Arms
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Chew Name Meaning and History
English: habitational name from a place in Somerset named Chew Magna, which
is named for the river on which it stands, a Celtic name, perhaps cognate with
Welsh "cyw" young animal or bird, chicken. [ancestry.com]
Chew Surname Origin: (English) 1. Belonging to Chew, which may take
its name from the River Chew; or both river- and place-name may be from the
Anglo-Saxon personal name Ceawa. 2. the Anglo-Saxon personal name Ceawa
[doubtless from Old English ceowan, to chew, eat]
Source: Surnames of the United Kingdom, A Concise
Etymological Dictionary; Henry Harrison; Vol.1 & 2.; The Eaton Press,
190 Ebury Street, London, S.W; 1912
The word CHEW generally means winding water, the EW being a varian
of the French EAU meaning water. The word CHEWER is a western dialect for a
narrow passage and CHARE is Old English for turning. The River Chew that runs
through Somerset to the River Avon is a narrow, twisting river of water. Many
believe that the name CHEW began in Normandy as CHEUX, and came to England with
the Norman Conquest during the 11th century. The earliest record of the name
CHEW is in the Domesday Survey, the name CHEW appears as CHIWE when it states
that the Bishop of Wells holds CHIEW. The city of Wells is in Somersetshire
about forty miles from the Devonshire boundary. The belief that CHIWE refers to
Chew Magna located about fifteen miles to the north. Note that Devonshire is
where Le Cu was granted land (bounded by Somersetshire to the northeast). The
name also appears as Chyu in 1164 at Bath, and Keu in 1260 at Suffolk and as
Chewe as far North as Lancashire in 1430. It isn't certain when the surname CHEW
or CHEWE became permanently adopted, but it was about the last half of the 14th
century. There is a John Chewe at Salisbury in 1383. About 300 years after the
name was Chiwe Magna was mentioned by the Bishop of Wells. It is believed that
the name was taken from places like CHEW MAGNA or CHEWTON.
[http://www.ronulrich.com/ulrich/CHEW-tree.html]
Chew Armorial Bearings
In the book "Ancestral Records and portraits : a compilation from the archives of Chapter I.,
the Colonial Dames of America" page 499, is given the blazon of Chew arms as follows:
"Gules, in chief or three leopards' faces proper, a chevron of the
second or. These are the arms of the Chews of Somersetshire, England, Maryland, Maidstone and Cliveden."
The topmost of the three arms shown here is drawnfrom the blazon cited above.
The second which was found at houseofnames.com bears no resemblace whatever to Chew arms. It uses a
ship;s wheel and head of a wyvern or griffin, which is found on the flag of Somerset County. The author
deems it wholly inaccurate.
The third is for the area in which Cheux, France is located. It uses leopards like the Normandie flag and arms.
Ii is shown only for relevant information.
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Chew by author from blazon
Chew by houseofnames.com
Arms of Clavados-Cheux in Basse-Normandie [wikipedia.org]
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Chew Factoids
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