This surname is derived from an official title. 'the catchpoll,' one who seized people by the head; a sheriff's officer, a bailiff; Latinized into cachepollus.

'A cachepol cam forth And cracked both their legges.': Piers Plowman.

The weapon the catchpoll carried may still be seen in the Tower of London.

'William Cachepoll, cast, gaiole. Salop': Close Rolls, 55 Henry III.

Geoffrey le Cachepol, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Ralph le Cachepol, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Hugh le Cachepol, c. 1300. Writs of Parliament.

Michael Catchpoole, temp. Elizabeth: Calendar of Proceedings in Chancery, temp. Elizabeth I.

Henry Cachepole, M.P. for Hereford, Close Rolls, 45 Edward III.

1627. Married — Edward Bishop and Bridget Catchpoole: St. Antholin (London).

1647. Buried — William Catchpole, servant to Mr. Humphries, victualler: St. Michael, Cornhill.

(Anglo-French-Latin + Teutonic) Bailiff, Constable [M.E, cachepol— cache, thro. French from Latin captare, to catch + pol, the poll or back part of the head; an O.L.Ger. word] Geoffrey le Cachepol.—Hundred Rolls A cachepol cam forth And craked bothe hire [their] legges, And the armes after, Of either of tho theves.—Piers Plowman, 12220-3

Catchpole, a name also found in Norfolk, signified a petty constable. It has been long in the county of Suffolk. In the list of Suffolk freeholders in 156 L occurs the name of Robert Catchpoll (of Hempstow?) (Lansd.). Catchpoole was the name of the vicar of Bramfield in 1695 (S.). Cachepoll was a Hereford name in the 14th century, a mayor and a representative of the city being thus called (Duncumb's "Herefordshire").