This extraordinary name is in fact Olde English pre 7th century and is locational from the village called 'Chipchase' in Northumberland. The translation is from 'cipp' meaning a fence or logged area, and 'ceas' - a mound. The general interpretation is that the name means a place for holding or possibly trapping animals. The village name is first recorded in 1229 as 'Chipches' and later in 1256 as Chipeches. The name is well recorded in London suggesting that a major clearance of the village took place with wholesale emmigration at the end of the 16th century. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Chipchase. which was dated 1603 Married Catherine Walker at Newcastle upon Tyne during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Good Queen Bess 1558-1603. 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.