CHILDS

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

Childs

Childs is a surname of English origin, derived from the Middle English word "child," meaning a young person or offspring. It is a patronymic surname, indicating descent from a person named Child.

Origin and Distribution: The surname Childs has its roots in medieval England, and is most commonly found in the southern counties. It can be traced back to the 12th century, where early recordings of the name include Ricardus Chyld (1279) in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire.

Variants: Variants of the surname Childs include Childe, Chyld, and Child.

Notable Bearers:

Robert Child (1739-1797): English banker and landowner, whose name lives on in the prestigious Child & Co. bank.
Lucy Worsley Childs: Contemporary English historian and television presenter known for her work on British history.

Modern-day Influence: The Childs surname continues to be well-documented in modern genealogical research and is borne by individuals across the United Kingdom and in countries with links to the British diaspora.

References:

Reaney, P.H., and Wilson, R.M. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Routledge, 1991.
Hanks, P., and Hodges, F. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1988.

There are approximately 11,719 people named Childs in the UK. That makes it the 779th most common surname in Britain. Around 180 in a million people in Britain are named Childs.

Surname type: From name of parent

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

Andrew
Christopher
David
James
John
Mark
Michael
Paul
Peter
Robert

Female

Angela
Elizabeth
Emma
Helen
Jennifer
Lisa
Margaret
Mary
Patricia
Sarah
Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.