Childress
An English surname probably related to Childers, originally pointing to a place-name or local origin rather than the modern word “child.”
The #1,424 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 12,381 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Childress is generally treated as an English surname connected with Childers, an older form found in medieval records. The name is usually understood as locational, referring to someone from a place called Childers or from a similarly named local estate or district. The first element probably goes back to an older place-name element rather than the modern word child, so the surname should not be read too literally.
History
The name appears in English records in forms such as Childers, and later developed variant spellings including Childress. Like many English surnames, it was carried to North America through later migration and became established in the United States. Modern American usage has made Childress the standard spelling in many families.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Childress is one of several surnames that look like they should be straightforward English words but are actually old place-based forms with a longer history.
From the historical record
“London, 1. Childers, Childress.— Local, T Isaliel de Childhera, C. R., 37 Hen. III. 166$. Buried— Thomas Childers : St.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)