Chequer Family History

From Middle English cheker, an aphetic form of Middle English Anglo-Norman French escheker, originally a chessboard, later the table that gave name to the king's exchequer; a table for accounts; the Court of Exchequer.

As a surname, it probably denoted a clerk in the exchequer, although Laurence de Scaccario (1279 Hundred Rolls) who has left his name in Chequers (Bucks) was no doubt one of the leading officials of the Exchequer.