NameCensus.

UK surname

Chalcraft

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English words "chalker" (chalker or lime-burner) and "craft" (craftsman or skilled worker).

In the 1881 census there were 303 people recorded with the Chalcraft surname, ranking it #9,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 428, ranked #11,234, down from #9,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Godalming, Alton and Petworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Horsham and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chalcraft is 523 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.3%.

1881 census count

303

Ranked #9,654

Modern count

428

2016, ranked #11,234

Peak year

1998

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chalcraft had 303 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016, ranked #11,234.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 499 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chalcraft surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chalcraft surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chalcraft 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 303 #9,654
1891 historical 303 #11,039
1901 historical 499 #8,065
1911 historical 443 #8,611
1997 modern 492 #9,415
1998 modern 523 #9,276
1999 modern 513 #9,478
2000 modern 512 #9,456
2001 modern 495 #9,544
2002 modern 493 #9,728
2003 modern 472 #9,889
2004 modern 475 #9,871
2005 modern 447 #10,266
2006 modern 449 #10,255
2007 modern 436 #10,597
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 438 #10,927
2010 modern 450 #10,915
2011 modern 448 #10,829
2012 modern 431 #11,047
2013 modern 449 #10,850
2014 modern 452 #10,857
2015 modern 431 #11,206
2016 modern 428 #11,234

Geography

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Where Chalcrafts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Godalming, Alton, Petworth, Sundridge and Dunsfold, Bramley, Shalford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Horsham, Havant and West Devon. 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 Godalming Surrey
2 Alton Hampshire
3 Petworth Sussex
4 Sundridge Kent
5 Dunsfold, Bramley, Shalford Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 005 Waverley
2 Horsham 016 Horsham
3 Horsham 014 Horsham
4 Havant 013 Havant
5 West Devon 003 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chalcraft

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chalcraft

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chalcraft, 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 Chalcraft surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chalcraft 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chalcraft is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chalcraft is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chalcraft falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chalcraft 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 Chalcraft, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chalcraft

The surname Chalcraft is of English origin, originating in the county of Derbyshire during the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "calce" meaning lime or chalk, and "croft" meaning a small enclosed field or meadow. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived near or worked on a chalky or lime-rich field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chalcraft can be found in the Derbyshire Parish Registers of 1275, where a William de Chalcroft is mentioned. The spelling variations during this period include Chalcroft, Chalcrofte, and Chalcrafte, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time.

The Chalcraft surname is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, as it likely emerged later. However, there are records of the name in other historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1204, which mention a Robert de Chalecroft.

One notable figure with the Chalcraft surname was John Chalcraft, who lived in the late 16th century and was a prominent landowner in the village of Crich in Derbyshire. Another individual of note was Thomas Chalcraft, a farmer and miller born in 1675 in the village of Litton, Derbyshire. His descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

In the 18th century, a branch of the Chalcraft family migrated to the county of Staffordshire, where they established themselves as potters and ceramicists. One such individual was Samuel Chalcraft (1724-1801), who owned a successful pottery business in the town of Burslem.

Another notable figure was William Chalcraft (1795-1865), a prominent architect and surveyor from Derbyshire, who was responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region.

During the 19th century, some members of the Chalcraft family emigrated to North America and other parts of the British Empire, contributing to the spread of the surname across the globe. However, the highest concentration of individuals with this surname remained in the English Midlands, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chalcraft families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chalcraft 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. Surrey leads with 95 Chalcrafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.68x.

County Total Index
Surrey 95 6.68x
Hampshire 72 12.04x
Sussex 58 11.79x
Kent 36 3.62x
Middlesex 16 0.55x
Glamorgan 5 0.98x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.27x
Durham 4 0.46x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Essex 3 0.52x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Godalming in Surrey leads with 27 Chalcrafts recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.68x.

Place Total Index
Godalming 27 301.68x
Steyning 23 1377.25x
Alton 14 310.42x
Portsea 14 11.95x
Petworth 11 374.15x
Wilmington 11 791.37x
Acton 9 52.63x
Brighton 9 9.07x
Hambledon 9 600.00x
Shalford 8 509.55x
Sundridge 7 421.69x
Deptford St Nicholas 6 75.95x
Dorking 6 62.89x
Headley 6 368.10x
Southampton St Mary 6 15.96x
Woking 6 70.01x
Aldershot 5 24.96x
Byfleet 5 396.83x
Farnham 5 45.25x
Guildford Holy Trinity 5 184.50x
Kingston On Thames 5 14.65x
Knockholt 5 632.91x
Nottingham St Mary 5 4.92x
Roath 5 21.67x
Shoreham 5 352.11x
Warblington 5 210.97x
Bishopwearmouth 4 5.37x
Fareham 4 55.71x
Manningham 4 11.23x
South Stoneham 4 30.84x
Thursley 4 392.16x
Hove 3 13.90x
Odiham 3 114.50x
Rudgwick 3 267.86x
Steep 3 500.00x
Westbourne 3 122.45x
Battersea 2 1.86x
Chelmsford 2 20.24x
Clapham 2 5.49x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.90x
Cocking 2 344.83x
Farlington 2 163.93x
Havant 2 66.01x
Long Ditton 2 86.21x
North Chapel 2 253.16x
St Pancras London 2 0.85x
Camberwell 1 0.54x
Capel 1 74.63x
Carshalton 1 18.38x
Chiddingfold 1 75.19x
Clapham 1 416.67x
Colchester St Mary At 1 49.02x
Ealing 1 3.84x
Elstead 1 147.06x
Ewell 1 33.33x
Great Amwell 1 49.51x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 39.84x
Holy Rood 1 82.64x
Islington London 1 0.35x
New Shoreham 1 33.90x
Northbourne 1 105.26x
Petersfield 1 60.98x
Puttenham 1 227.27x
Shanklin 1 56.18x
Shepperton 1 77.52x
St Faith Winchester 1 35.84x
Tonbridge 1 2.79x
West Moulsey 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 20
William 18
Henry 12
John 12
James 9
Charles 6
Frederick 6
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Lennox 2
Richmond 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Freddy 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Hollis 1
Jasper 1
Jessie 1
Joseph 1
Owen 1
Percival 1
Reignald 1
Thos.W. 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Willm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Chalcraft surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chalcraft surname in 1881?

In 1881, 303 people were recorded with the Chalcraft surname. That placed it at #9,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chalcraft surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 428 in 2016. That gives Chalcraft a modern rank of #11,234.

What does the Chalcraft surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English words "chalker" (chalker or lime-burner) and "craft" (craftsman or skilled worker).

What does the Chalcraft map show?

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