NameCensus.

UK surname

Chaffe

An English surname derived from the Old French term "chafe" meaning "brazier" or "stove".

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Chaffe surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 358, ranked #12,931, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brixton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Teignbridge and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaffe is 416 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.7%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

358

2016, ranked #12,931

Peak year

1999

416 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chaffe had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016, ranked #12,931.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 362 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chaffe surname distribution map

The map shows where the Chaffe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Chaffe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chaffe over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 132 #14,174
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 362 #10,020
1997 modern 392 #11,178
1998 modern 412 #11,108
1999 modern 416 #11,110
2000 modern 404 #11,306
2001 modern 394 #11,344
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 401 #11,264
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 386 #11,537
2007 modern 389 #11,604
2008 modern 383 #11,876
2009 modern 402 #11,682
2010 modern 405 #11,874
2011 modern 380 #12,326
2012 modern 353 #12,877
2013 modern 346 #13,291
2014 modern 353 #13,183
2015 modern 356 #13,009
2016 modern 358 #12,931

Geography

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Where Chaffes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brixton, London parishes, St Pancras, Widecombe-in-the-Moor and Buckfastleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Teignbridge, Islington and North Lincolnshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Brixton Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Widecombe-in-the-Moor Devon
5 Buckfastleigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
2 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge
3 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
4 Islington 015 Islington
5 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chaffe

These lists show first names that appear often with the Chaffe surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chaffe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chaffe, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Chaffe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chaffe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Chaffe is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chaffe is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chaffe falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chaffe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chaffe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chaffe

The surname Chaffe has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ceaf," which means "chaff" or the dry protective casings of grains or seeds that are separated during threshing. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with grain or agriculture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chaffe can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1195, where a person named Richard Chaffe is mentioned. The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Chauf."

In the 13th century, the surname was sometimes associated with place names, such as Chaff Court in Kent, which was recorded as "Chavecurt" in 1285. This suggests that some individuals bearing the name may have derived it from the location where they lived or worked.

Notable individuals with the surname Chaffe include John Chaffe, a member of the English Parliament who represented Bridport in 1388. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Chaffe, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1554.

In the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled "Chaffey," as evidenced by the birth of Christopher Chaffey in 1588 in Mere, Wiltshire. This variation in spelling was common during that period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

During the 17th century, the name Chaffe appeared in various records across England, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, where a William Chaffe is listed as a resident of Wiltshire. In the same century, a notable figure was Robert Chaffe, a merchant and landowner from Somerset, who lived from 1628 to 1692.

In the 18th century, the Chaffe surname was found in various parts of England, with records indicating individuals residing in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One notable figure from this period was John Chaffe, a clergyman and author who lived from 1711 to 1786 and served as the Rector of Wilton, Wiltshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Chaffe has been associated with various occupations, including agriculture, trade, and clergy, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chaffe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaffe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 133 Chaffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.05x.

County Total Index
Devon 133 30.05x
Surrey 29 2.80x
Middlesex 27 1.27x
Yorkshire 9 0.43x
Channel Islands 5 7.94x
Gloucestershire 4 0.96x
Hampshire 2 0.46x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.37x
Cornwall 1 0.42x
Glamorgan 1 0.27x
Hertfordshire 1 0.68x
Royal Navy 1 3.95x
Somerset 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Buckfastleigh in Devon leads with 39 Chaffes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1911.76x.

Place Total Index
Buckfastleigh 39 1911.76x
St Pancras London 16 9.35x
Brixton 14 2800.00x
Lambeth 13 7.01x
Yealmpton 13 1911.76x
Tormoham 11 58.73x
Addington 9 1836.73x
Battersea 7 8.95x
Newton Ferrers 7 1372.55x
Kensington London 6 5.07x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 6 1016.95x
Dawlish 5 151.52x
Kingsteignton 5 406.50x
Plymouth Charles The 5 25.64x
Ashburton 4 188.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 10.19x
Dunsford 4 701.75x
Linthorpe 4 31.80x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 11.73x
Soothill 4 52.56x
St Helier 4 19.50x
Compton Gifford 3 215.83x
Modbury 3 265.49x
St Marylebone London 3 2.64x
Aston 2 1.35x
Cornwood 2 235.29x
Farnworth 2 13.23x
Newton Abbot St Mary 2 53.91x
Portsea 2 2.34x
Exeter St David 1 26.46x
Ipplepen 1 166.67x
Llandaff 1 8.12x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.21x
Morley 1 9.12x
Royal Navy 1 4.62x
Saltash 1 53.48x
South Huish 1 454.55x
St Martin 1 25.91x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.23x
Taunton St Mary 1 15.92x
Totnes 1 38.61x
Watford 1 8.80x
Westminster St James 1 4.57x
Wolborough 1 17.86x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chaffe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 11
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Louisa 5
Emma 4
Ann 3
Anne 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Harriett 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Therisa 2
(Mrs) 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Francis 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Lavina 1
Loyce 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chaffe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 24
John 16
George 10
Henry 8
Richard 7
Thomas 7
Robert 5
Alfred 3
Charles 3
James 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Harry 2
Nicholas 2
(Mr) 1
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Joseph 1
Roger 1
Sampson 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Walter. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Chaffe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chaffe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Chaffe surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chaffe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 358 in 2016. That gives Chaffe a modern rank of #12,931.

What does the Chaffe surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French term "chafe" meaning "brazier" or "stove".

What does the Chaffe map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chaffe bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.