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Here is a different theory:

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English (almost exclusively U.S.): nickname occasionally used as a given name in its own right. It derives from the English term of endearment, itself probably from Middle English chukken to cluck (of imitative origin). It is now often used as a pet form of Charles. Pet form: Chuckie.
http://www.ancestry.com/facts/Muntz-places-origin.ashx?fn=Chuck&Submit=Check+meaning

Llewella's got a good point; but another point is illustrated by a family I know, where there are Chip, Chuck and Charlie, all actually named Charles. Charles doesn't lend itself to nicknaming - unlike Robert, which can give you Bob, Rob and Bert very comfortably and in the Middle Ages could give you Robin and Hob as well. Basically, Charlie is all that it offers. So, wouldn't parents (and these are American parents, remember: no Chucks etc happen elsewhere to my knowledge) go for a short, snappy word starting with Ch- and make grateful use of it?

My guess is that it's one of those -kin nicknames that got cut short (like Jack or Hank). But not before a bit of that good old R elimination that was also fairly common for nicknames.

This message was edited 11/11/2009, 10:44 AM