NameCensus.

UK surname

Challoner

An English surname derived from the medieval occupation of chandler, meaning candle-maker or dealer.

In the 1881 census there were 728 people recorded with the Challoner surname, ranking it #5,015 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,038, ranked #5,614, down from #5,015 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gresford, Cound and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Calderdale and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Challoner is 1,118 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.6%.

1881 census count

728

Ranked #5,015

Modern count

1,038

2016, ranked #5,614

Peak year

1999

1,118 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Challoner had 728 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,015 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,038 in 2016, ranked #5,614.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 973 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Challoner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Challoner surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Challoner 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 283 #7,996
1861 historical 341 #7,479
1881 historical 728 #5,015
1891 historical 782 #5,134
1901 historical 967 #4,870
1911 historical 973 #4,646
1997 modern 1,054 #5,258
1998 modern 1,105 #5,239
1999 modern 1,118 #5,226
2000 modern 1,075 #5,361
2001 modern 1,053 #5,358
2002 modern 1,075 #5,368
2003 modern 1,057 #5,355
2004 modern 1,067 #5,317
2005 modern 1,043 #5,362
2006 modern 1,067 #5,259
2007 modern 1,073 #5,286
2008 modern 1,087 #5,273
2009 modern 1,103 #5,308
2010 modern 1,080 #5,517
2011 modern 1,070 #5,499
2012 modern 1,058 #5,458
2013 modern 1,070 #5,512
2014 modern 1,071 #5,537
2015 modern 1,041 #5,617
2016 modern 1,038 #5,614

Geography

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Where Challoners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gresford, Cound, London parishes, Lytham and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Calderdale, Wrexham and Caerphilly. 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 Gresford Denbighshire
2 Cound Shropshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lytham Lancashire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 015 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Calderdale 008 Calderdale
3 Wrexham 003 Wrexham
4 Wrexham 005 Wrexham
5 Caerphilly 001 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Challoner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Challoner

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Challoner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Challoner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Challoner 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

Challoner is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Challoner

The surname Challoner originated in England during the late medieval period. It derives from the Old French word "chaloner," which referred to a maker or seller of woolen blankets known as "chalons." The name is thought to have arisen as an occupational surname for those involved in this trade.

The earliest recorded instances of the Challoner surname date back to the late 13th century. In 1292, a Richard le Chaloner was mentioned in tax records from Oxfordshire. A few decades later, in 1327, a John Chaloner was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

Throughout the following centuries, the name appeared in various historical records across England. Notable examples include Robert Challoner, a mercer (textile trader) from London who was born around 1490. In 1535, a John Challoner was listed among the Guild of Weavers in Coventry.

The Challoner surname has been associated with several notable individuals over the centuries. One of the most prominent was Richard Challoner (1691-1781), a Catholic bishop and scholar who was a leading figure in the English Catholic revival of the 18th century. He is renowned for his revised edition of the Douay-Rheims Bible, which became a standard among English-speaking Catholics.

Another noteworthy Challoner was Thomas Challoner (1595-1669), an English royalist who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He served as a colonel in the Royalist army and was later appointed as the Governor of Portsmouth.

In the realm of literature, Neville Challoner (1915-1998) was a British author and playwright known for his works on history and biography. He wrote extensively about English monarchs, including biographies of Queen Elizabeth I and King Charles II.

The Challoner surname has also been associated with places in England, such as Challoner's Bawn, a historic site in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, named after a prominent landowner from the Challoner family in the 17th century.

While the Challoner name has its roots in the textile trade, it has since been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, including clergy, military figures, authors, and landowners.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Challoner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Challoner 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. Lancashire leads with 137 Challoners recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 137 1.61x
Cheshire 96 6.08x
Staffordshire 81 3.36x
Shropshire 67 10.85x
Northumberland 56 5.26x
Yorkshire 38 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 33 3.42x
Denbighshire 30 11.11x
Derbyshire 28 2.50x
Middlesex 28 0.39x
Leicestershire 22 2.78x
Surrey 16 0.46x
Flintshire 13 6.76x
Warwickshire 11 0.61x
Kent 8 0.33x
Monmouthshire 8 1.55x
Sussex 8 0.66x
Northamptonshire 7 1.04x
Worcestershire 7 0.75x
Channel Islands 6 2.83x
Gloucestershire 6 0.43x
Ayrshire 5 0.93x
Berkshire 5 0.93x
Cornwall 5 0.62x
Lincolnshire 3 0.26x
Devon 2 0.13x
Herefordshire 2 0.68x
Durham 1 0.05x
Essex 1 0.07x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Radnorshire 1 1.73x
Renfrewshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Morpeth in Northumberland leads with 29 Challoners recorded in 1881 and an index of 231.81x.

Place Total Index
Morpeth 29 231.81x
Gresford Gwersyllt 19 226.73x
Kingsley 19 646.26x
Sutton In Ashfield 19 90.87x
Walsall Foreign 19 15.24x
Alfreton 17 49.99x
Toxteth Park 17 5.92x
Wolverhampton 17 9.16x
Cannock 16 37.99x
Tranmere 16 27.58x
Cound 15 1282.05x
Ecclesfield 14 26.95x
Liverpool 13 2.52x
Manchester 13 3.41x
Hackney London 11 2.74x
Acton Scott 10 1851.85x
Layton With Warbreck 10 32.11x
Levenshulme 10 114.55x
Hulme 9 5.08x
Salford 9 3.61x
Shrewsbury St Mary 9 36.92x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 3.52x
Belgrave 8 44.72x
Llanfoist 8 223.46x
Preston 8 3.52x
St Stephen Coleman Street 8 318.73x
Whitby 8 219.78x
Brighton 7 2.88x
Chester Holy Trinity 7 94.59x
Laxton 7 593.22x
Leicester St Mary 7 10.93x
Newcastle On Tyne St 7 12.69x
Overton 7 344.83x
Atcham 6 594.06x
Birkenhead 6 4.77x
Brinnington 6 40.71x
Charlton Kings 6 61.86x
Frodsham Lordship 6 224.72x
Kidderminster Borough 6 10.98x
Much Wenlock 6 105.26x
Newminster Abbey 6 1395.35x
Pemberton 6 17.74x
Prescot 6 39.11x
St Asaph 6 157.48x
St Brelade 6 110.09x
Accrington 5 6.48x
Camberwell 5 1.09x
Foots Cray 5 107.07x
Kilmarnock 5 7.85x
Lydham 5 1785.71x
Oswaldtwistle 5 16.68x
Pelsall 5 69.64x
Saddleworth 5 9.15x
St Just In Penwith 5 31.83x
Stafford St Mary 5 14.63x
Tettenhall 5 33.88x
Wellesbourne Hastings 5 292.40x
West Moulsey 5 308.64x
Abingdon St Helen 4 25.49x
Bollington In 4 28.47x
Butterworth 4 19.35x
Byker 4 7.61x
Clowne 4 89.89x
Edgmond 4 58.82x
Monks Coppenhall 4 6.72x
Northampton St Giles 4 15.61x
Stapenhill 4 24.01x
Swannington 4 136.52x
Westgate 4 6.07x
Wistow 4 212.77x
Broseley 3 27.32x
Coxlodge 3 37.08x
Everton 3 1.11x
Holbeck 3 6.39x
Kimberworth 3 7.63x
Linthorpe 3 7.10x
Minera 3 81.97x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 18.66x
Tonge 3 16.85x
Wellow 3 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Sarah 31
Elizabeth 27
Emma 16
Ann 15
Annie 14
Hannah 13
Jane 13
Eliza 12
Ellen 12
Margaret 12
Alice 9
Ada 8
Agnes 8
Emily 8
Martha 8
Catherine 6
Edith 5
Fanny 5
Maria 5
Florence 4
Matilda 4
Ethel 3
Lydia 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Dorothy 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jemima 2
Kate 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
Elizth.E. 1
Elleanor 1
Elzh. 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 46
John 43
Thomas 42
Edward 25
Samuel 19
George 17
Charles 13
Joseph 12
Robert 11
James 9
Richard 9
Henry 8
Arthur 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Matthew 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Bromley 2
Fred 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Arnold 1
Charlie 1
Clark 1
Clement 1
Cornelious 1
David 1
E... 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Ezekiel 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Jane 1
Joh. 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
Mary 1

FAQ

Challoner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Challoner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 728 people were recorded with the Challoner surname. That placed it at #5,015 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Challoner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,038 in 2016. That gives Challoner a modern rank of #5,614.

What does the Challoner surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval occupation of chandler, meaning candle-maker or dealer.

What does the Challoner map show?

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