NameCensus.

UK surname

Challinor

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Challinor, Staffordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 1,057 people recorded with the Challinor surname, ranking it #3,725 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,055, ranked #3,145, up from #3,725 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Wolstanton and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Cheshire East and Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Challinor is 2,195 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 94.4%.

1881 census count

1,057

Ranked #3,725

Modern count

2,055

2016, ranked #3,145

Peak year

2010

2,195 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Challinor had 1,057 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,725 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,055 in 2016, ranked #3,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,618 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Challinor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Challinor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Challinor 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 572 #4,447
1861 historical 428 #6,002
1881 historical 1,057 #3,725
1891 historical 1,121 #3,790
1901 historical 1,479 #3,459
1911 historical 1,618 #3,001
1997 modern 1,790 #3,354
1998 modern 2,157 #2,965
1999 modern 2,146 #3,004
2000 modern 2,137 #2,999
2001 modern 2,112 #2,971
2002 modern 2,168 #2,961
2003 modern 2,087 #3,000
2004 modern 2,047 #3,056
2005 modern 2,025 #3,051
2006 modern 2,037 #3,037
2007 modern 2,062 #3,035
2008 modern 2,078 #3,035
2009 modern 2,130 #3,041
2010 modern 2,195 #3,018
2011 modern 2,145 #3,048
2012 modern 2,071 #3,094
2013 modern 2,088 #3,127
2014 modern 2,095 #3,137
2015 modern 2,086 #3,112
2016 modern 2,055 #3,145

Geography

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Where Challinors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Wolstanton, Wednesbury, Bidstone and Pontesbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Cheshire East, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Wednesbury Staffordshire
4 Bidstone Cheshire
5 Pontesbury Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
2 Cheshire East 035 Cheshire East
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 016 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Cheshire East 036 Cheshire East
5 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Challinor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Challinor

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Challinor 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

Challinor is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Challinor 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 Challinor 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 Challinor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Challinor

The surname Challinor is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known use dating back to the late 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cealc" meaning "chalk" and "ofer" meaning "ridge," suggesting that it was initially used to identify someone who lived near a chalk ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from 1327, where a Robert de Chalnoure is listed. The spelling of the name varied in these early records, with other forms such as Chalner and Chalunor also appearing.

The Challinor surname has been linked to several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire. For example, Chaldon Herring in Dorset and Chaldon in Surrey are believed to have derived from the same Old English roots as the surname.

In the 14th century, the Challinor family held lands in the parish of Norbury in Derbyshire. A notable member of the family from this era was Sir Thomas Challinor, who was born in 1346 and served as a knight in the service of King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Challinor surname continued to appear in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One prominent individual from this period was John Challinor, who was born in 1587 and served as the Mayor of Derby in 1642.

In the 18th century, the Challinor family maintained a presence in Derbyshire and Staffordshire, with some members also migrating to other parts of England and even to the American colonies. A notable figure from this time was Robert Challinor, a renowned clockmaker who was born in 1730 and produced intricate timepieces for several English nobility.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many Challinors found employment in various industries, including mining and textile manufacturing. One such individual was William Challinor, who was born in 1812 and became a prominent coal mine owner in Staffordshire.

Throughout history, the Challinor surname has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, politicians, artists, and businessmen. While the name may have evolved in its spelling over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the chalk ridges and hills of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Challinor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Challinor 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. Staffordshire leads with 384 Challinors recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.05x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 384 11.05x
Cheshire 309 13.60x
Lancashire 192 1.57x
Shropshire 91 10.23x
Yorkshire 23 0.23x
Denbighshire 12 3.09x
Derbyshire 12 0.74x
Lincolnshire 7 0.43x
Flintshire 5 1.81x
Merionethshire 4 2.12x
Montgomeryshire 4 1.70x
Warwickshire 4 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.14x
Durham 1 0.03x
Essex 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.82x
Westmorland 1 0.44x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 115 Challinors recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.22x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 115 31.22x
Wolstanton 55 52.13x
Macclesfield 54 53.48x
Monks Coppenhall 29 33.83x
Pontesbury 25 231.27x
Middlewich 21 449.68x
Newcastle Under Lyme 20 32.54x
Toxteth Park 20 4.84x
West Bromwich 20 10.06x
Audley 17 49.46x
Chester St Oswald 15 36.46x
Congleton 15 38.22x
Drayton In Hales 15 81.83x
Over 15 64.96x
Stone 14 31.51x
Wednesbury 14 16.13x
Blatchinworth 13 46.75x
Everton 13 3.34x
Great Bolton 13 8.04x
Oldham 13 3.30x
Wellington 13 26.02x
Whitchurch 13 75.36x
Beeston 12 1016.95x
Salford 12 3.34x
Sheriff Hales 12 338.03x
Stafford St Mary 12 24.41x
Birkenhead 11 6.07x
Burslem 11 11.05x
Leek Lowe 11 23.80x
Tarvin 11 743.24x
Utkinton 11 601.09x
Audlem 10 186.92x
Barrow 10 392.16x
Eccleshall 10 75.93x
Manchester 10 1.82x
Broughton In Salford 9 8.06x
Buerton In Nantwich 9 542.17x
Cheadle 8 47.96x
Farnworth 8 10.93x
Little Bolton 8 5.10x
Stockport 8 6.84x
Sutton 8 19.53x
Dilhorne 7 121.11x
Madeley 7 80.83x
Salt Enson 7 463.58x
Tattenhall 7 181.35x
Westhoughton 7 21.48x
Aldford 6 333.33x
Allington 6 206.90x
Bootle Cum Linacre 6 6.19x
Chester St Bridget 6 154.24x
Clifton 6 65.50x
Ecclesfield 6 8.02x
Liverpool 6 0.81x
Marton In Whitegate 6 244.90x
Milwich 6 310.88x
Norton In Moors 6 32.63x
Old Withington 6 292.68x
Oswestry Rural 6 44.05x
Sandbach 6 30.96x
Worsley 6 7.97x
Castleford 5 13.46x
Cheslyn Hay 5 78.86x
Chester St John Baptist 5 12.25x
Hawarden 5 23.01x
Lichfield St Mary 5 49.90x
North Meols 5 4.18x
Preston 5 1.53x
St Botolph Lincoln 5 42.27x
Stapenhill 5 20.85x
Trentham 5 16.92x
West Derby 5 1.40x
Birmingham 4 0.46x
Calveley 4 408.16x
Cheetham 4 4.39x
Chester St Peter St 4 163.93x
Llanddwywe Isgraig 4 421.05x
Lymm 4 24.23x
Newtown 4 26.53x
Prees 4 36.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Sarah 54
Elizabeth 50
Ann 37
Hannah 19
Emma 14
Harriet 13
Alice 12
Annie 12
Jane 12
Ellen 11
Catherine 10
Fanny 10
Margaret 10
Martha 10
Eliza 9
Charlotte 7
Emily 7
Frances 7
Louisa 7
Ada 5
Clara 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Caroline 4
Rebecca 4
Susan 4
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Helen 3
Lettice 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Minnie 2
Prudence 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Allice 1
Barbara 1
Cicely 1
Dan 1
Dinah 1
E. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 71
John 66
Thomas 53
George 36
James 36
Joseph 30
Samuel 30
Charles 18
Edward 15
Henry 14
Alfred 10
Arthur 10
Harry 9
Richard 9
Herbert 7
Isaac 7
Robert 7
Frederick 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Ralph 5
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Saml. 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Adam 2
Cedric 2
Ebenezer 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Horace 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Leonard 2
Phillip 2
Solomon 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Clifford 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Gerald 1
Gerrard 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1

FAQ

Challinor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Challinor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,057 people were recorded with the Challinor surname. That placed it at #3,725 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Challinor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,055 in 2016. That gives Challinor a modern rank of #3,145.

What does the Challinor surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Challinor, Staffordshire.

What does the Challinor map show?

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