As described in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

(origin: Local) From the city of Chichester, Sussex, England, whose Saxon name was Cissanceaster; from Cissa, the son of Aella, who settled the kingdom of the South-Saxons; and ceaster or chester, a city, from castrum, a Roman station.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.


Patronymica Britannica (1860)

CHICHESTER. The family were ancient in Devonshire before their connection with Ireland, and the name is doubtless derived from Chichester, co. Sussex, though some genealogists assert that it is from Cirencester, co. Gloucester.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.


Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

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