This most interesting and unusual surname is of Old French origin, introduced into England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is a topographical name for a dweller by the tree stump, or a nickname given to someone of stocky build, from the Old French, Middle English "s(o)uche", a tree stump (probably of Gaulish origin, apparently ultimately related to the Olde English "stocc"). In some cases, the reference may be to a primitive foot-bridge over a stream consisting of a felled tree trunk. Chuck itself actually derives from the Norman form "chouque".
Modern variants of the surname in England include Souch, Sutch, Zouch and Chucks. The surname is first recorded in the late 12th Century (see below), while Roger la Zuche is mentioned in the Book of Fees of Devonshire in 1212. Walter le Chuck appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296. In some instances the name may have been brought from some small French place called "La Souche". Ashby de la Zouch in Leicestershire was held by Roger de la Zuche in 1200. Margaret, daughter of Richard Chuck, was christened on November 30th 1589 at St. Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, in London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Alan de Lachuche, which was dated 1172, in the "Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire", during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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 origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname souch is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname souch, and in addition to the original locations of souch, we can find out where people with the surname souch can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of souch.
The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname souch 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 souch has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname souch, 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 souch developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname souch 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. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname souch.
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 souch 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 souch or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of souch.
Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname souch were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like souch 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. If you or someone you know bears the surname souch, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname souch who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of souch 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 souch, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of souch.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of souch, and at the same time, of surnames in general.