NameCensus.

UK surname

Chaffer

A surname derived from the Old English word "ceafor" meaning beetle or insect.

In the 1881 census there were 408 people recorded with the Chaffer surname, ranking it #7,852 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, down from #7,852 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Otley and Sidlesham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Middlesbrough and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaffer is 501 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.2%.

1881 census count

408

Ranked #7,852

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

1911

501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chaffer had 408 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,852 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 501 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Chaffer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chaffer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Chaffer 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 372 #6,857
1881 historical 408 #7,852
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 465 #8,499
1911 historical 501 #7,820
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 336 #12,889
1999 modern 341 #12,851
2000 modern 339 #12,857
2001 modern 322 #13,098
2002 modern 323 #13,325
2003 modern 315 #13,384
2004 modern 318 #13,374
2005 modern 318 #13,302
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 307 #13,907
2009 modern 316 #13,933
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 303 #14,415
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 307 #14,608
2015 modern 304 #14,617
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

Back to top

Where Chaffers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Otley, Sidlesham and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Middlesbrough and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Otley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sidlesham Sussex
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Middlesbrough 002 Middlesbrough
2 Kingston upon Hull 033 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Middlesbrough 001 Middlesbrough
4 Middlesbrough 014 Middlesbrough
5 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Chaffer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Chaffer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chaffer, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chaffer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chaffer is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chaffer falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chaffer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Chaffer

The surname CHAFFER has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ceaf," which means chaff or husks of grain. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with chaff or threshing grain.

One of the earliest known references to the CHAFFER name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named William Chaffere is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, variations of the name, such as Chaffare and Chaffur, appeared in various historical records across different regions of England. This could be attributed to the lack of standardized spelling during that period.

The CHAFFER name has also been linked to certain place names in England, such as Chaffer's Green in Hertfordshire and Chaffer's Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names may have originated from individuals bearing the CHAFFER surname who resided in or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the CHAFFER surname throughout history include:

1. John Chaffer (c. 1570-1644), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of St John's College, Cambridge, from 1612 to 1644.

2. William Chaffer (1701-1781), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War.

3. Elizabeth Chaffer (1767-1839), a pioneering English botanical illustrator and naturalist, known for her intricate drawings of plants and insects.

4. Thomas Chaffer (1824-1891), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Pavilion in Whitechapel.

5. George Chaffer (1887-1964), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

While the name CHAFFER may not be as common as some other English surnames, its presence can be traced back several centuries, reflecting the diverse histories and occupations of those who bore this name throughout various periods in England's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Chaffer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaffer 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. Yorkshire leads with 168 Chaffers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 168 4.30x
Lancashire 128 2.74x
Middlesex 37 0.94x
Sussex 15 2.26x
Essex 10 1.29x
Surrey 10 0.52x
Gloucestershire 7 0.91x
Kent 6 0.45x
Durham 5 0.43x
Somerset 5 0.79x
Staffordshire 4 0.30x
Lincolnshire 3 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.84x
Warwickshire 2 0.20x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spotland in Lancashire leads with 27 Chaffers recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.93x.

Place Total Index
Spotland 27 51.93x
Leeds 25 11.34x
Habergham Eaves 21 49.13x
Otley 17 179.32x
Holy Trinity 16 17.03x
Yeadon 15 170.07x
Sidlesham 14 1093.75x
Todmorden Walsden 13 103.75x
Burnley 12 30.47x
Cliviger 11 418.25x
Chelsea London 10 8.42x
Guiseley 9 180.00x
Lockwood 9 64.06x
Bradford 8 8.46x
Halifax 8 13.95x
Thaxted 8 310.08x
West Derby 8 5.85x
Armley 7 40.65x
Hornsey 7 14.04x
Oldham 7 4.64x
Shipley 7 34.53x
Ecclesfield 6 20.96x
Hapton 6 205.48x
Stroud 6 39.89x
Camberwell 5 1.99x
Houghton Le Spring 5 61.73x
Taunton St Mary 5 42.96x
Bury 4 7.49x
Greenwich 4 6.38x
Holme On Spalding Moor 4 156.25x
Liversedge 4 23.02x
Mile End Old Town London 4 4.77x
Newchurch 4 10.45x
Sheffield 4 3.22x
Sproatley Wyton 4 727.27x
West Bromwich 4 5.25x
Wortley In Bramley 4 12.93x
Bramley In Bramley 3 20.07x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 4.04x
Manchester 3 1.43x
Sculcoates 3 4.85x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.78x
Aston 2 0.73x
Dunnockshaw 2 689.66x
Gribthorpe 2 5000.00x
Guisbrough 2 23.45x
Lambeth 2 0.58x
Langley Marish 2 68.49x
Lewisham 2 2.79x
Limehouse London 2 4.62x
Paddington London 2 1.38x
St Anne Soho London 2 8.88x
St Pancras London 2 0.63x
Sutton Stoneferry 2 17.91x
Teddington London 2 22.40x
Westminster St Margaret 2 10.52x
Almondbury 1 5.30x
Althorpe 1 69.93x
Beverley St Martin 1 15.34x
Birkdale 1 8.45x
Bowling 1 2.59x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.31x
Chelmsford 1 7.49x
Chichester St Andrew 1 144.93x
Crompton 1 7.51x
Drypool 1 16.72x
Farnborough 1 11.79x
Feltham 1 25.38x
Great Little Marsden 1 4.67x
Hammersmith London 1 1.03x
Haslingden 1 5.17x
Heap 1 4.03x
Leyton Low 1 6.33x
Lytham 1 14.01x
Roxby Cum Risby 1 178.57x
Southcoates 1 4.61x
Stansfield 1 6.96x
Twickenham 1 5.92x
Westbury On Trym 1 3.82x
Westminster St John 1 2.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 23
Mary 20
Elizabeth 13
Ann 11
Alice 9
Annie 8
Emily 8
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Ellen 6
Eliza 5
Jane 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Rebecca 4
Betty 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Ethel 2
Lucy 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Beaumont 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Dina 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
J.E. 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Johannah 1
Judith 1
Kathleen 1
Lena 1
Lois 1
Louisa 1
Lucretia 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 18
Thomas 14
George 13
James 12
Joseph 9
Richard 9
Charles 6
Henry 6
Benjamin 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Robert 3
David 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Benj. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Forster 1
Fred. 1
Friend 1
Hague 1
Harold 1
Hichard 1
Jabez 1
Judah 1
Lebater 1
Leo 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Marmaduke 1
Ormerod 1
Oswald 1
Rheuben 1
Rob. 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Young 1

FAQ

Chaffer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chaffer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 408 people were recorded with the Chaffer surname. That placed it at #7,852 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chaffer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Chaffer a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Chaffer surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "ceafor" meaning beetle or insect.

What does the Chaffer map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chaffer 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.