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Home | Up | Introduction | Acknowledgements
Introduction
June 2012
Hello,
my name is Liz Chater, My interest in tracing my family stems from not knowing
anything about its origins. My site is steadily growing, and I have a lot more
information on my database that hasn't yet made it to the website. In the
beginning my searching took me (metaphorically!) to India and Calcutta.
Between 2005 and 2008, my searching took me physically to India, and what an
experience it was. I
shall continue to endeavour to update this site as and when I get more and more information.
What I
have found out is that my grandfather and great grandfather spent some
considerable time in Port Blair, in the Andaman Islands this is where my
grandfather grew up around the 1890's and my great grandfather was a Post
Master. Port Blair is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in the Bay
of Bengal.
The
exciting news for me in January 2005 was to be contacted by an unknown first
cousin. He was keen and interested to know about our family and, more
importantly, he was able to let me see for the very first time, the Chater
Family Bible which dates back to 1831 and holds all the names of my ancestors.
This was an incredible moment, firstly when we met the resemblance we saw in
each other of our parents and secondly, to be able to see that old Bible that
had, over the years, travelled so many miles in its life! It's first entry
was in Dacca in 1831, and here it is today in 2005 in the UK. Since then
we have been in regular contact and get together at various times of the year
for different family occasions.
Definition
of the name CHATER
According to one source I
have found
"...........the
meaning of the name CHATER is derived from the Armenian word Adsvazaturian
(presumably from its two middle syllables) a name meaning Gift of
God.........".
Other variations I have come across that need to be considered
when researching this name are: Astvasatour, Chatoor, Satoor, Astwachatoor,
Astvatsatoor, Asdvatsatoor, Azdvazdzatoor
However, another source, The
English and Welsh Surname Directory has the following definition.
Chater, Chaytor
- (1) Offic. 'the escheator' (?), one who inquired into escheats.
After the death of a tenant an inquiry was made, and if there was failure of
issue, the land escheated or lapsed to his lord. It was the same after
attainder for treason or felony. Possibly Cater (q.v.), but the above
is almost certainly the true derivation (v. Cheat in Skeat's
Dictionary). (2) Offic. 'the chater' v. Cater; of. Candler and
Chandler, &c.
Henry Escaetor, co.
Oxf., 1273. A. Ralph le Chatere, co., Warw., Hen. III-Edw. I.K.
Stephen le Chatere,
co. Warw., ibid.
Thomas Chetur, smyth,
1379: P.T. Yorks. p.41.
Walter le Chatur, co.
Camb., 1273. A. Agnes le Chatur, co. Cambs., ibid.
1737. Married-Thomas
Cheater and Sarah Blackstaff: St. Dionis Backhurch, p.66.
1801. - John Jeans and
Martha Chater: St. Geo. Han.Sq. ii. 235
London, 8,1; New York,
3,1.
Finally, another
definition forwarded to me by a list member from the chater-l rootsweb list is
as follows.
According to the Reader's Digest Encyclopaedia, Chater derives from "achateur" or "buyer" i.e. of foods for a large
household. The words "cater" and "caterer" could in some cases have derived from this job
description. I read somewhere else that all these come French "acheter" (to
buy) which in turn comes from the Latin for to "capture" or
"acquire" (capire?,captivare?)
Whichever meaning of
the name you choose to relate to, I hope the following pages of information are
of some help to you.
I have tried
my best to make sure the information on the following pages are correct.
However, you should do your own independent research to be absolutely sure of
anything here that may interest you.
best wishes
Liz Chater
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