Chilman Family History

Possibly from Middle English childesman ‘servant or attendant of a young noble’; see the 1276 record. Childman (from Middle English child ‘young noble’ + man) may have the same meaning. Alternatively, perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English personal name Childman (Old English *Cildmann) which is one of the late Old English personal names compounded with -mann with the same elements as in (i).

Nicholas Childman was the son of Childman in 1279, as recorded in Hundred Rolls (Cambs). This name also derives from the Old English personal name Cēolmund (from cēol ‘ship’ + mund ‘protection, guardian’) which was common in the 8th and 9th centuries and recorded once later about 1050 in Herts.

It must have continued in use after the Conquest at least in Somerset. For -man from -mund, compare Osman.