This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the church' (compare Kirk), from residence beside the church porch orgate; v. Kirkus.

John atte Churche, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

Robert atte Chyrche, Norfolk, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Stephen Church, Kent, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

John Atte-cherch rector of Metton, Norfolk 1338: History of Norfolk.

William Attechirche, Norfolk, 29 Edward I: ibid.

1505. Baptised — Elizabeth, d. Richard Church: St. James, Clerkenwell.

1611. William Bundocke and Katherine Churche: Marriage Lic. (London).

Among the synonyms officially reported by local registrars and recorded by Matheson when he was Registar—General were Aglish and Church. I think this is one of the few cases where an English name has been translated into Irish (eaglais, pronounced aglish, is the Gaelic for a church). The name Church is English, from atte churche, that is dweller near the church, and has been established in Ulster since the seventeenth century-families of Church will be found in the hearth money rolls of several northern counties, Derry being their main location, while two tituladoes called Church appear in the “census”

of 1659 in the barony of Loughinsholin in that county. In the next century we begin to find them also in Munster, particularly in Co. .Cork and Co. Kerry, not in large numbers but always in prominent positions. However they were still large landowners in Co. Derry up to the time of the Land Act of 1903.

Matheson omits to state where the name Aglish occurred and I have never met an instance of it myself, except as a place name in Co. Waterford and Co. Tipperary.

(Anglo-Greek) Dweller by the Church [Middle English chirche, chyrche, Old English cirice, Greek κυριακόν] Robert atte Chyrche.—Hundred Rolls

Old-English atte churche: the name of a family settled in Ulster since the seventeenth century. Matheson says it has been made Aglish (in Munster). SIF 33

(English) Dweller near a building used for Christian worship.

From residence near one. In the H.R. this name is found under various forms, as Atte Chirche, De la Chirke, Ecclesia, De Ecclesia, and Ad Ecclesiam.

Local. A house of Christian worship, derived from the old English chirch, and Scottish Kirk, Latin circus, and this from the Gaelic cearcal, a temple, a round building. The root of Church is from the Gaelic car, roundness, from which we have cirke or kirke.

In the 16th century the family of Church or Churche held the manor of Woodham - Mortimer; and in the 17th century, Mr. William Church owned part of the Arnolds estate in Lamborn parish (M.).