Guild of One-Name Studies
One-name studies, Genealogy
Study: Churchward
Category: 3 - A study where research using core genealogical datasets and transcriptions is well under way on a global basis.
Website: www.churchward.info
DNA website: www.familytreedna.com/public/Churchward/default.aspx
Contact: Mr Brian Churchward
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 40 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.
The earliest record of the surname (to date) was in the Devonshire Lay Subsidy in 1332, when Walter Churchward of Paignton was assessed at 2s.
The most famous holder of the surname was George Jackson Churchward (1857-1933). Born in Stoke Gabriel, he became Chief Engineer of the GWR, and was Swindon's first mayor. He is still very much revered by steam train enthusiasts. He is buried in Swindon.
Before the advent of the railways, very few Churchwards escaped from South Devon. They were most numerous in Stoke Gabriel; Buckfastleigh; Paignton; Staverton 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 favourite destinations.
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 2005 (1878 births, 1378 marriages and 1297 deaths).
The 1841; 1851; 1861; 1871; 1881; 1891; 1901 & 1911 Census Returns for England and Wales.
The Probate Registry Indexes from 1858 to 2001.
Many parish register entries, especially Devon.
Several copies of wills, BMD certificates etc.
Extracts from the IGI and other Internet sources.
Website:- www.churchward.info
DNA Project Profile:- http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=Churchward
DNA Project website:- www.familytreedna.com/public/Churchward
See also the Churchward Family History Wiki:- http://churchward.com/wiki