This interesting surname of English origin is a locational name from a place called Chidgley in West Somerset. The first element of this was probably from an Old English pre 7th Century personal name of uncertain form and meaning, plus "leah" "wood" or "clearing". The surname dates back to the mid 17th Century, (see below). Variations in the idiom of the spelling include Chedsey, Chedzey, Chedgly, Chedgey, etc.. Susanna, daughter of Philip of Philip and Alice Chidgey, was christened on September 2nd 1655, and their son John was christened on December 26th 1657, at St. Botolph Bishopsgate, London. Susan Chedgey married Henry Osburne on January 22nd 1681, at St. James, Dukes Place, London. Cornelius, son of James and Mary Chidgey, was christened at St. Mary Whitechapel, London, in May 1781. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Chidlow, a rector, which was dated 1652, Death Records, during the reign of Commonwealth, 1649 - 1660. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.