Origin and popularity of the name CHURCHILL

Origin

Churchill : 1: English (Dorset and Somerset): habitational name from any of various places called Churchill for example in Devon Oxfordshire Somerset and Worcestershire. Most were probably originally named with a Celtic element crūg ‘hill’ (which early on was reinterpreted as Old English cyrice ‘church’) to which was added Old English hyll ‘hill’. Alternatively a topographic name denoting someone who lived ‘(on the) church hill’.2: Americanized form (translation into English) of Finnish Kirkkomäki: habitational name from farms situated near a church or a hill named Kirkkomäki from kirkko ‘church’ + mäki ‘hill’. Established as a hereditary surname since the 19th century in Tavastia southern Ostrobothnia and southwestern Finland.

Spencer : English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name for someone who dispensed provisions or money from Middle English spenser(e) spencer(e) ‘household steward butler almoner’ (Anglo-Norman French espenser Old French despensier). Compare Spence and Spender. There is some dispute about the origins of the Spencer family whose most famous member in recent times was the late Princess of Wales born Lady Diana Spencer (1961–97). Some sources say that they are descended from William the Conqueror's steward Robert Despencer. What is clear is that by the 15th century they had become prosperous from sheep farming in Northamptonshire. Robert Spencer (died 1627) was said to be the wealthiest man in England. Their titles have included Earls of Sunderland and Earls Spencer; and through the female line the 5th Earl of Sunderland also became Duke of Marlborough in 1733. This connection was the result of the marriage in 1700 of the 3rd Duke of Sunderland to the daughter of John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough. The youngest son of this union John Spencer (1708–46) was the father of the 1st Earl Spencer (1734–83).

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Last name frequency

Geographic distribution of the 71,027 individuals with the name CHURCHILL on Geneanet.

This last name in the family trees

See below the Geneanet members' family trees which contain the last name CHURCHILL