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Chaffee Family History & Genealogy

2,515 biographies and 77 photos with the Chaffee last name. Discover the family history, nationality, origin and common names of Chaffee family members.

Chaffee Last Name History & Origin

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History

During the time of King Ethelred the Unready and Queen Emma of Normandy c1000 AD, a region in southern England near Chard possibly called"Ceaffa's Clumb," was given to a close confidant and follower of Queen Emma.  This area later was known as Chaffcombe, the old Middle English meaning "light, breezy valley."  Many years later, as people developed a last name, instead of using John of Chaffcombe, for example, it became John Chaffe, or Chaffy.  In America, the two ee's did not develop until the 1700's, hence Chaffee.  Another possibility of the name Chaffee comes from the French "la chauve," meaning "the bald."  

Name Origin

Possibly from the region in southern England, Chaffcombe, the Middle English for "light, breezy valley."
Possibly from the French, "la chauve," meaning the bald
First known country to use a form of this surname was England.  My 9th great grandfather came to Hingham, Massachusett Plymouth Bay Colony, in 1647, from England.  As he could not read or write, he made an X and someone signed Thomas Chaffe.  These documents still exist in Massachusetts and Connecticut museums....

Spellings & Pronunciations

Chaffee, Chaffe, Chaffy, Chaffie, Chaffey, Chafe

Nationality & Ethnicity

British Isles Norman French and/or combination of English bloodlines

Famous People named Chaffee

Roger Bruce Chaffee, Nancy Ann Chaffee, Suzy Chaffee, Herbert Chaffee (went down with the Titanic), Adna Romanza Chaffee, Jerome Bunty Chaffee, there are more.  Go to this link:

Early Chaffees

These are the earliest records we have of the Chaffee family.

Phila (Farnum) Chaffee of Cheshire, Massachusetts United States was born on April 6, 1801 in Cheshire, and died at age 74 years old on January 12, 1876.
Walter Scott Chaffee
Walter Scott Chaffee Jr. was born on February 2, 1835. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Walter Scott Chaffee.
Mary Mornilva Chaffee
Mary Mornilva Chaffee was born in 1852. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Mornilva Chaffee.
Mary Augusta Ellis  Chaffee
Mary Augusta Ellis Chaffee was born on May 1, 1868. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Augusta Ellis Chaffee.
John "Hyde"  Chaffee
John Chaffee was born on January 29, 1869. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John "Hyde" Chaffee.
Mabel Chaffee of Hampden, Hampden County, MA was born on February 27, 1871, and died at age 96 years old in September 1967.
Thomas Chaffee of Gardiner, Kennebec County, ME was born on April 15, 1873, and died at age 99 years old in December 1972.
Myron Chaffee of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri was born on April 26, 1873, and died at age 92 years old in January 1966.
Lucia "Lorena" Davison Chaffee
Lucia Davison Chaffee was born on August 4, 1873. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lucia "Lorena" Davison Chaffee.
Claude Chaffee of Vermont was born on June 17, 1874, and died at age 90 years old in July 1964.
Frank Chaffee of Florida was born on October 12, 1874, and died at age 92 years old in May 1967.
Carrie Chaffee of Bath, Steuben County, NY was born on March 24, 1874, and died at age 100 years old in June 1974.

Chaffee Family Photos

Discover Chaffee family photos shared by the community. These photos contain people and places related to the Chaffee last name.

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Chaffee Family Tree

Discover the most common names, oldest records and life expectancy of people with the last name Chaffee.

Most Common First Names

Updated Chaffee Biographies

Lieutenant Court Benjamin Chaffee Jr. was born to Dr. Court Benjamin Chaffee Sr. (1886 - 1949) and Myrtle Sydna McDaniel (1890 - 1980). His father was born in Kentucky and his mother was born in Tennessee. He had two sisters, Mary Ellen and Myrtle Patricia. Court was a veteran of the United States Air Force, serving from June 29, 1951 through January 31, 1975. He became a Lieutenant.
Dorothy E. Wack, (1920 – 2009), born Dorothy Emily Chaffee in El Paso, Tx. mother Emily Dorothy Esterbrook, father Charles Livingston Wesley Chaffee. After her parents divorced in the late 1920s, her now single mother and her four children, Dorothy, William, Rowand, and Ted moved the to NYC. When the Depression hit, she was unable to support her family, and they moved to Taos, NM. Times continued to be very hard for them in Taos, they often went hungry. Dorothy was greatly influenced by living in the burgeoning artist capital of Taos in the 1930's. From an early age, she showed artistic talent. Being a resourceful young teenager with beautiful flaming red hair, she stood out, and had a friendly, outgoing nature. Needing to earn money to help support her family, she sought artists in the community willing to teach her. Two elder members of the disbanded Taos Society of Artists, Joseph Henry Sharp and Eanger Irving Couse, mentored her. With these mature artists’ help, she quickly learned enough to make money by painting the plaza storefront windows with advertising and holiday themes. Their influence can be seen in her distinctive portrait style. Andrew Dasburg mentored her as well as groups of other young artists who eventually came to be known as "Taos Moderns." His influence can be seen in her still-lifes, and early abstracts, especially in her color choices and composition. As she matured, she continued to hone her craft and worked at a gift shop in the plaza, where she developed business acumen. After World War Two, she married William Paul Wack. They moved to Brownsville Tx. where they owned and operated a successful Southwestern gift shop and restaurant. They never had children. She was an active member of the Brownsville Art League for nearly two decades, serving on many committees, and for a period as president. She was passionate in her efforts to promote the League's art shows and exhibits ensuring the League artists had opportunities to show and sell their work. A much-loved painting teacher and mentor, she influenced generations of artists. Soon after being unexpectedly widowed in 1971, within weeks she was told she had cancer and had six months to live. This prompted her to move to Long Beach to be near her brothers. Her cancer miraculously went into remission. She joined the Long Beach Art League and continued to paint and teach for another 30 years. A prolific painter, she treasured her paintings and after 1971, rarely parted with any. Her personal collection totaled over 130 paintings at her passing. Her preferred medium was oil on canvas. Dorothy specialized in ethnic Americana portraits. As a portraitist, she had many paid commissions. Over the years, as her artistic talents evolved and styles changed, she experimented with cubism, abstract, mixed media collages, landscapes, cityscapes, and botanicals. She often won first place and Best in Show for lifelike portraits and realistic complex still-lifes. Note: she was often known to buy used paintings for their frames and canvases, which she would then paint over, so the foundations of her works are not always indicative of when they were painted, and often, upon examination, they will be shown to be an overpainted painting, or even two-sided paintings, often mounted in non-period frames. Despite failing eyesight and crippling arthritis, she painted into her 80s. If asked what she did for a living, she proudly responded, “I am an artist”.
Mary Ellen (Bransfield) Chaffee was born on January 14, 1925 to William Thomas Bransfield and Marjorie E (Wilcox), and had siblings Harry E Bransfield, Lucille Yennie, Donald Bransfield, and William Wallace. Mary Chaffee died at age 65 years old on July 26, 1990. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ellen Chaffee.
Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Helen Temple.
Lawrence A Chaffee of Pownal, Bennington County, VT was born on June 27, 1916, and died at age 87 years old on November 1, 2003.
Kenneth R Chaffee of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI was born on February 14, 1919, and died at age 88 years old on October 15, 2007.
Kenneth H Chaffee of Saint Albans, Franklin County, VT was born on December 21, 1912, and died at age 74 years old in December 1986.
Raymond H Chaffee of North Clarendon, Rutland County, VT was born on April 25, 1902, and died at age 76 years old in November 1978.
Willard L Chaffee of Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, KS was born on February 22, 1917, and died at age 81 years old on February 28, 1998.
Willard L Chaffee of Hilmar, Merced County, CA was born on June 21, 1911, and died at age 87 years old on December 25, 1998.
Frank L Chaffee of Carson City, Montcalm County, MI was born on August 6, 1918, and died at age 77 years old on October 6, 1995.
Earl William Chaffee of Dallas, Dallas County, TX was born on August 1, 1918, and died at age 88 years old on July 9, 2007.
Earl T Chaffee of Vestal, Broome County, NY was born on May 10, 1916, and died at age 70 years old in November 1986.
Wayne E Chaffee of Allen, Hillsdale County, MI was born on February 10, 1908, and died at age 80 years old on December 25, 1988.
Richard M Chaffee of Longmeadow, Hampden County, MA was born on December 6, 1911, and died at age 89 years old on October 24, 2001.
Richard C Chaffee of Nashville, Barry County, MI was born on January 22, 1919, and died at age 78 years old on April 5, 1997.
Richard W Chaffee of Wadsworth, Medina County, OH was born on October 26, 1926, and died at age 78 years old on August 19, 2005.
Richard N Chaffee of Portville, Cattaraugus County, NY was born on February 23, 1918, and died at age 86 years old on December 14, 2004.
Edwin M Chaffee of Tiffin, Seneca County, OH was born on October 14, 1925, and died at age 75 years old on June 10, 2001.
Frederick P Chaffee of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK was born on January 20, 1923, and died at age 84 years old on April 9, 2007.

Popular Chaffee Biographies

Nancy Ann  Chaffee
Nancy Ann Chaffee was born on March 6, 1929. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Nancy Ann Chaffee.
Clarence Fay  Chaffee
Clarence Fay Chaffee of Ventura, Ventura County, CA was born on November 28, 1889 in Piru, and died at age 89 years old in June 1979. Clarence Chaffee was buried on June 27, 1979 at Ventura, Ca.
Dorothy E. Wack, (1920 – 2009), born Dorothy Emily Chaffee in El Paso, Tx. mother Emily Dorothy Esterbrook, father Charles Livingston Wesley Chaffee. After her parents divorced in the late 1920s, her now single mother and her four children, Dorothy, William, Rowand, and Ted moved the to NYC. When the Depression hit, she was unable to support her family, and they moved to Taos, NM. Times continued to be very hard for them in Taos, they often went hungry. Dorothy was greatly influenced by living in the burgeoning artist capital of Taos in the 1930's. From an early age, she showed artistic talent. Being a resourceful young teenager with beautiful flaming red hair, she stood out, and had a friendly, outgoing nature. Needing to earn money to help support her family, she sought artists in the community willing to teach her. Two elder members of the disbanded Taos Society of Artists, Joseph Henry Sharp and Eanger Irving Couse, mentored her. With these mature artists’ help, she quickly learned enough to make money by painting the plaza storefront windows with advertising and holiday themes. Their influence can be seen in her distinctive portrait style. Andrew Dasburg mentored her as well as groups of other young artists who eventually came to be known as "Taos Moderns." His influence can be seen in her still-lifes, and early abstracts, especially in her color choices and composition. As she matured, she continued to hone her craft and worked at a gift shop in the plaza, where she developed business acumen. After World War Two, she married William Paul Wack. They moved to Brownsville Tx. where they owned and operated a successful Southwestern gift shop and restaurant. They never had children. She was an active member of the Brownsville Art League for nearly two decades, serving on many committees, and for a period as president. She was passionate in her efforts to promote the League's art shows and exhibits ensuring the League artists had opportunities to show and sell their work. A much-loved painting teacher and mentor, she influenced generations of artists. Soon after being unexpectedly widowed in 1971, within weeks she was told she had cancer and had six months to live. This prompted her to move to Long Beach to be near her brothers. Her cancer miraculously went into remission. She joined the Long Beach Art League and continued to paint and teach for another 30 years. A prolific painter, she treasured her paintings and after 1971, rarely parted with any. Her personal collection totaled over 130 paintings at her passing. Her preferred medium was oil on canvas. Dorothy specialized in ethnic Americana portraits. As a portraitist, she had many paid commissions. Over the years, as her artistic talents evolved and styles changed, she experimented with cubism, abstract, mixed media collages, landscapes, cityscapes, and botanicals. She often won first place and Best in Show for lifelike portraits and realistic complex still-lifes. Note: she was often known to buy used paintings for their frames and canvases, which she would then paint over, so the foundations of her works are not always indicative of when they were painted, and often, upon examination, they will be shown to be an overpainted painting, or even two-sided paintings, often mounted in non-period frames. Despite failing eyesight and crippling arthritis, she painted into her 80s. If asked what she did for a living, she proudly responded, “I am an artist”.
Howard Davison Chaffee
Howard Davison Chaffee of Oceanside, San Diego County, CA was born on January 10, 1902, and died at age 84 years old in December 1986.
Lucia "Lorena" Davison Chaffee
Lucia Davison Chaffee was born on August 4, 1873. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lucia "Lorena" Davison Chaffee.
Alice Ellen Chaffee
Alice Ellen Chaffee was born on March 30, 1904. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Alice Ellen Chaffee.
Wallace Hyde Chaffee
Wallace Hyde Chaffee was born on March 30, 1895. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Wallace Hyde Chaffee.
Walter Scott Chaffee
Walter Scott Chaffee Jr. was born on February 2, 1835. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Walter Scott Chaffee.
Belle Minerva (Sidnam)
Belle Minerva (Sidnam) Chaffee was born on February 3, 1874 in Iowa United States, and died at age 48 years old on January 22, 1923 in CA. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Belle Minerva (Sidnam).
Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Helen Temple.
Mary Ellen (Bransfield) Chaffee was born on January 14, 1925 to William Thomas Bransfield and Marjorie E (Wilcox), and had siblings Harry E Bransfield, Lucille Yennie, Donald Bransfield, and William Wallace. Mary Chaffee died at age 65 years old on July 26, 1990. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Mary Ellen Chaffee.
Grant Leslie Chaffee
Grant Leslie Chaffee Jr. was born on April 28, 1899. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Grant Leslie Chaffee.
John Lee Chaffee was born on February 20, 1939 in Livingston, Park County, Montana United States, and died at age 79 years old on August 30, 2018 in Billings, Yellowstone County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember John Lee Chaffee.
Nova Violet Chaffee was born on June 1, 2015. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Nova Violet Chaffee.
David Lee Chaffee was born on April 21, 1936 in Livingston, Park County, Montana United States, and died in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, ID. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember David Lee Chaffee.
Diane Susan (Chaffee) Ascheman was born on January 8, 1955 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho United States to Cecil LeClare Chaffee and Lorraine June (Walker) Chaffee, and has siblings David Lee Chaffee and John Lee Chaffee. Diane Ascheman died in Billings, Yellowstone County, MT. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Diane Susan (Chaffee) Ascheman.
Walter Keith Chaffee was born in 1903. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Walter Keith Chaffee.
Lorraine June (Walker) Chaffee was born on April 8, 1918, and died at age 78 years old on February 17, 1997 in Idaho Falls, Bonneville County, Idaho United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Lorraine June (Walker) Chaffee.

Chaffee Death Records & Life Expectancy

The average age of a Chaffee family member is 75.0 years old according to our database of 2,236 people with the last name Chaffee that have a birth and death date listed.

Life Expectancy

75.0 years

Oldest Chaffees

These are the longest-lived members of the Chaffee family on AncientFaces.

Fanny F Chaffee of Winter Park, Orange County, FL was born on October 2, 1894, and died at age 108 years old on December 24, 2002.
108 years
Helen R Chaffee of Rome, Bradford County, PA was born on April 22, 1899, and died at age 106 years old on October 5, 2005.
106 years
Phyllis Julia Kittock Chaffee of Pocatello, Bannock County, Idaho was born on May 18, 1906, and died at age 105 years old on July 3, 2011.
105 years
Blanche Chaffee of Keene, Cheshire County, NH was born on November 18, 1878, and died at age 103 years old in May 1982.
103 years
Emily R Chaffee of Oxford, Worcester County, MA was born on January 9, 1900, and died at age 103 years old on December 2, 2003.
103 years
Stella Chaffee of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska was born on October 2, 1882, and died at age 103 years old in October 1985.
102 years
Juanita R Chaffee of Tampa, Hillsborough County, FL was born on November 2, 1907, and died at age 101 years old on January 11, 2009.
101 years
Dorothy Chaffee of Ransomville, Niagara County, NY was born on January 31, 1893, and died at age 102 years old on June 6, 1995.
102 years
Abbie Chaffee of Haddam, Middlesex County, CT was born on November 24, 1875, and died at age 101 years old in March 1977.
101 years
Ethel M Chaffee of Lewes, Sussex County, DE was born on March 8, 1898, and died at age 102 years old on September 11, 2000.
102 years
Bertha Chaffee of Brooklyn, Kings County, NY was born on December 14, 1881, and died at age 100 years old in August 1982.
100 years
Allen Chaffee of Oakland, Alameda County, CA was born on May 5, 1884, and died at age 100 years old in February 1985.
100 years
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