NameCensus.

UK surname

Challans

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Challans surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirby-on-Bain, Lincoln St Botolph and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chesterfield, East Staffordshire and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Challans is 179 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.3%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

1998

179 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Challans had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 169 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Challans surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Challans surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Challans 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 141 #18,718
1911 historical 169 #16,564
1997 modern 175 #19,161
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 160 #20,616
2002 modern 158 #21,178
2003 modern 163 #20,554
2004 modern 165 #20,530
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 163 #20,789
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 145 #23,780
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Challans' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirby-on-Bain, Lincoln St Botolph, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Boston (incl. Boston allotments) and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chesterfield, East Staffordshire, West Lindsey, Doncaster and Blaby. 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 Kirby-on-Bain Lincolnshire
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chesterfield 002 Chesterfield
2 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire
3 West Lindsey 010 West Lindsey
4 Doncaster 037 Doncaster
5 Blaby 003 Blaby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Challans

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Challans

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Challans surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Challans household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Challans is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Challans 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

Challans 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 Challans is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Challans families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Challans 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. Lincolnshire leads with 74 Challans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.66x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 74 37.66x
Nottinghamshire 14 8.45x
Yorkshire 13 1.07x
Derbyshire 12 6.24x
Northamptonshire 5 4.33x
Rutland 5 55.43x
Middlesex 3 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Coleby in Lincolnshire leads with 20 Challans' recorded in 1881 and an index of 11111.11x.

Place Total Index
Coleby 20 11111.11x
Nottingham St Mary 14 32.67x
Leeds 9 13.09x
Boston 8 134.23x
Scarcliff 7 2692.31x
Tumby 6 4000.00x
Boothby Graffoe 5 7142.86x
Litchurch 5 64.60x
Oakham Deanshold 5 1250.00x
Peterborough 5 59.74x
Spilsby 5 806.45x
Holy Trinity 4 13.66x
Spittlegate 4 147.06x
St Martin Lincoln 4 219.78x
St Maryle Wigford 4 261.44x
Aubourn 3 3333.33x
Islington London 3 2.52x
Skirbeck 3 272.73x
Waddington 3 833.33x
North Hyckeham 2 1052.63x
Scopwick 2 1176.47x
Barrowby 1 294.12x
Folkingham 1 416.67x
Heighington 1 322.58x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 36.23x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 163.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 9
Charles 7
William 7
John 6
Richard 5
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
George 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Fountain 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Martin 1
Ruben 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Challans surname: questions and answers

How common was the Challans surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Challans surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Challans surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Challans a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Challans map show?

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