Origin of the surname Charity

There are many unusual surnames in the world, but 'Charity' is surely amongst the leaders. Its origins are Old French, the word as 'charitet' being introduced into England after the 1066 Norman Invasion. The meaning is far from clear, strictly speaking in medieval times a 'Charitet or Carite' was a hospice or refuge for the sick, and therefore the surname is probably locational for one who lived near such a place or it could be job descriptive for a charity worker or nurse. The locational origin must apply to Geofrey de la Carite in the 1185-87 Pipe Rolls of the county of Hampshire, but Turstan Charite in the 1195 Pipe Rolls of Norfolk is almost certainly a worker at a 'charity' or perhaps one who collected for charity.

The famous English etymologist, the later Professor Reaney of Sheffield University, suggested that the name was a nickname in that the medieval meaning was taken as 'almsgiving', and certainly the later Puritans who christened their daughters 'Charity' had that meaning in mind. For most name holders their origins lie with the first two suggestions. Early examples of the recording include Richard Chaite of Lincoln in the register of the Guild of Corpus Christi for the City of York, and Robert Karitas in the 1236 Friary Rolls of Leicester. Later recordings include those of Sarah Charitie, the daughter of Frederick Charitie who was buried at St James Church, Clerkenwell, London on June 1st 1604, and William Charity, who married Emma Last in London on May 4th 1642, by civil license. The coat of arms granted in Switzerland has a blue field charged with three golden swords, the centre one point up, each surmounted by a gold trefoil. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Herluin Carite, which was dated 1148, The records of the Abbey of Bec, Sussex, during the reign of King Stephen, known as 'Stephen of Blois' 1135 - 1154. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Charity. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of charity is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. The history of the surname charity is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of charity. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname charity is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname charity, and in addition to the original locations of charity, we can find out where people with the surname charity can currently be found.

The surname Charity around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname charity. It is common for surnames like charity to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname charity provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname charity has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Charity

The historical chronicle of charity is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The historical journey of the surname charity can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of charity. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname charity, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of charity developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname charity are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname charity, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname charity, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about charity and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname charity or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of charity.

Notable Figures Named Charity

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished charitys throughout human history. Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all charitys who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname charity were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like charity can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Charity and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of charity. It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname charity. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of charity are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname charity, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of charity, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Charity