Chadkirk

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The surname Chadkirk is very rare. It derives from a place name meaning St. Chad's Chapel or Church, "Kirk" being a word for a place of worship borrowed into English dialects (including Scots English) where Viking influence was strong enough to affect local linguistic usage.

There is only one remaining hamlet called Chadkirk, south-east of Manchester and near Stockport in Cheshire, in the North-West of England.

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St. Chad of Mercia was born in Northumbria (north-east England) in about 635, and died in Lichfield, Mercia (now in Staffordshire, in the English Midlands) on 2nd March, 672.

Chad was one of four brothers, all of whom became priests and two of whom became bishops. Chad's brother, Cedd, founded the Abbey of Lastingham in Yorkshire, and when Cedd died of the plague, Chad succeeded him as Abbot. He subsequently became Bishop of York, though that was successfully contested by St. Wilfrid of Ripon, and Chad's final Church appointment was as Bishop of Mercia (central England.)

It was from his holding the Bishopric of Mercia, that Chad's name became associated with Chadkirk. Tradition says that, as bishop of the diocese, he came on a missionary journey to what became known as Chadkirk, preached there and may have founded a Chapel there. But it is only tradition; there is no proof.

The earliest certain written reference to Chadkirk is in the form of personal name. From the year 1347 there is a transfer of real estate involving William de Chaddekyrke, who describes himsself as a chaplain, but it is unclear whether he was the Chaplain of Chadkirk, or whether he came from the area of Chadkirk and was a chaplain somewhere else.