THE ORIGIN OF THE SURNAME.
This Churchward Family Background information was complied by Brian Churchward (churchward@one-name.org).

It is generally accepted that the name CHURCHWARD is occupational in its origin, i.e. most probably an official of the church - such as a ward(en) of the church, hence Churchwarden shortened to Churchward.
Two other suggestions have locative origins, e.g. someone who lived near the church, or churchward, or possibly someone from a large village/town which was subdivided into wards and who lived in the church ward.
Some Australians who had researched their roots claimed descent from the Saxon name CYRCEWEARD, but when I consulted an expert in old languages, he thought that this was a very unlikely derivation.

NOTE: The name should not be confused with CHURCHYARD. The Chuchyard famiIies are very definitely of Suffolk origin, whereas most, if not all, Churchward roots are in Devon. Our name is often misspelt as CHURCHWOOD, but that form is very rare and most occurrences in old records are none other than Churchwards misinterpreted by the clerk recording them. It is therefore highly likely that modern day Churchwoods are descendants from misspelt Churchwards. Similarly the appearance of the surname CHURCHARD in the 19th Century seems to have East Anglian roots and could therefore be nothing more than a misspelt Churchyard.

THE ROOTS OF THE SURNAME.
The vast majority of Churchwards believe their roots are firmly planted in the West Country county of Devon. Certainly the South Hams area of Devon has contained Churchwards as long as there have been records, and the parish registers of Paignton; Brixham; Buckfastleigh and, in particular, Stoke Gabriel contain many of them spread over the centuries. The parish registers for Stoke Gabriel started in 1539, and the very first entry in the first week of February is that of the baptism of Thamsen - child of Thomas Churchward.
Parishes such as Buckfastleigh; Staverton and Paignton have all contributed their own distinctive branches of the surname, but most people turn to Stoke Gabriel as being the "spiritual" home of all Churchwards.

THE STOKE GABRIEL CHURCHWARDS.
For at least four centuries there were Churchwards in and around Stoke Gabriel - a small parish on the river Dart, between Paignton and Totnes. Although not weaithy landowners living in large mansions, they were certainly one of the more influential families in the area, for the most part being yeoman farmers. If there was a main family home in the village then it was Hill House - reputed to have been built in its original form in 1445. In the 19th Century, however, as travel became easier, the Churchwards started to spread their wings. They became railway pioneers; civil engineers; scholars; missionaries; and soldiers, and they found their way to America; Canada; South Africa; Australia and most parts of Polynesia. In fact, anyone with "get-up-and-go" seems to have got up and gone. As a result of this emigration, this particular family's long association with the village was broken when there was no-one left to carry on at Hill House. A cousin - Fred Churchward - eventually took over in the early part of this century. As a retired banker he was probably the only one left who could afford to maintain the way of life, and he soon ingratiated himself with the villagers as their adopted "squire". After Fred's death in 1922, the mantle fell on Fred's only son - Charles Frederick (Charlie) - who proceeded to give away or spend whatever was left until he was forced to sell Hill House, since then it has been a private hotel (The Gabriel Court Hotel). The last Churchward to live in Hill House (1926) was Brigadier-General Paul Rycaut Stanbury Churchward (1858-1935). Charlie lived on in the village until his death in 1952, - which finally severed the link between the Churchward family and Stoke Gabriel. Today the only Churchwards in Stoke Gabriel are the Australian and American tourists who are descendants of the original family, and who are inevitably drawn there to visit their roots - the churchyard being full of their ancestors. Since I started my genealogical hobby in 1971, I have written to and/or met almost twenty members of the Stoke Gabriel branch, including five Australians and three Americans. I therefore have amassed more facts and stories about this branch than any other.

THE BUCKFASTLEIGH CHURCHWARDS.
The earliest Churchward record in the Buckfastleigh registers is, I think, in 1698 - which suggests that they originated somewhere else -Stoke Gabriel, for example. That connection is still unproven, but I am in touch with several members of this branch who are still trying to prove it. Of the ten or so Buckfastleigh descendants known to me, three are Canadian. There are no Churchwards in Buckfastleigh today.

THE STAVERTON CHURCHWARDS.
This branch is even later in its origin, the earliest Churchward event in the parish registers being in 1808. Most, if not all, of this branch seem to have migrated towards Torquay from where quite a few emigrated to Australia. I have had contact with five of their descendants, two of whom are Australian.

THE BRIXHAM AND PAIGNTON CHURCHWARDS.
Although almost as old as the Stoke Gabriel branch, I have not as yet researched these two branches - mainly because I have not had contact with anyone who was interested.

MY OWN FAMILY.
Like many other families, mine also moved to follow their work. They were cabinet makers in Plymouth in the early 19th Century who then moved up to Exeter, but by mid-century several of them had migrated up to the East End of London in search of work. One branch headed by George (b. 1809) who married Mary Ann Lamb and had two daughters (Elizabeth and Jane), seems to have vanished from all U.K. records - emigration being the most obvious explanation - but to where?. After 20 years searching I only discovered the birthplace of my earliest known ancestor - John Churchward (1778-1856) - as recently as 1995. Although he was married in the Stoke Damerel parish of Plymouth in 1800, and died on Exeter, his parish of birth as listed in the 1851 Census is Berry Pomeroy, which is one of the parishes adjoining Stoke Gabriel. At the time of writing I have yet to compiete all my researches into the Berry Pomeroy parish registers, but one of the earlier marriages actually took place in Stoke Gabriel - hence linking them with that specific Churchward branch.

"ONE-NAME" RESEARCH.
Over the past 26 years I have amassed a good deal of information on Churchwards past and present, far and wide. I am always anxious to share this with others, and also to add to it whenever I can. If you have any queries, or if you can add to my store of information I would be only too pleased to hear from you.

Brian G. Churchward.
email: churchward@one-name.org

Churchwards by Country, State (Province, etc.)

Canada	Australia	New Zealand

Japan