NameCensus.

UK surname

Chalmers

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "chalmier," meaning a maker of chamois leather.

In the 1881 census there were 7,140 people recorded with the Chalmers surname, ranking it #594 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,583, ranked #770, down from #594 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aberchirder and Whitehills, Doon Valley South and Longside and Rattray.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chalmers is 8,619 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.2%.

1881 census count

7,140

Ranked #594

Modern count

8,583

2016, ranked #770

Peak year

1901

8,619 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chalmers had 7,140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #594 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,583 in 2016, ranked #770.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,619 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Chalmers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chalmers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chalmers 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 4,937 #561
1861 historical 5,340 #522
1881 historical 7,140 #594
1891 historical 7,847 #567
1901 historical 8,619 #615
1911 historical 1,472 #3,274
1997 modern 7,894 #814
1998 modern 8,217 #811
1999 modern 8,294 #808
2000 modern 8,303 #804
2001 modern 8,022 #811
2002 modern 8,286 #802
2003 modern 8,064 #806
2004 modern 8,156 #796
2005 modern 8,089 #792
2006 modern 8,097 #791
2007 modern 8,174 #788
2008 modern 8,271 #784
2009 modern 8,503 #782
2010 modern 8,597 #785
2011 modern 8,428 #794
2012 modern 8,309 #784
2013 modern 8,512 #781
2014 modern 8,592 #778
2015 modern 8,537 #775
2016 modern 8,583 #770

Geography

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Where Chalmers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aberchirder and Whitehills, Doon Valley South, Longside and Rattray, Hilltown and Macduff. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Kirkcaldy Dysart and Abbotshall Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aberchirder and Whitehills Aberdeenshire
2 Doon Valley South East Ayrshire
3 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
4 Hilltown Dundee City
5 Macduff Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chalmers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chalmers

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Chalmers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Chalmers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chalmers 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

Chalmers is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chalmers falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chalmers

The surname Chalmers originated from the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "chalmers," meaning "chambers" or "rooms." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived near or worked in a set of chambers or rooms.

The earliest recorded use of the name Chalmers dates back to the 13th century. In 1296, a man named John de Chalmers swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This entry appears in the Ragman Rolls, a historical record of Scottish landowners and nobles who submitted to English rule during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and charters, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. One notable mention is of a William de Chalmers, who is recorded as holding lands in the parish of Monifieth, Angus, in 1366.

The surname Chalmers has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a Scottish mathematician, philosopher, and Church of Scotland minister. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern economics and was a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir David Chalmers (1530-1592), a Scottish judge and Lord Advocate of Scotland during the reign of King James VI. He played a significant role in the prosecution of the Earl of Bothwell for the murder of Lord Darnley, the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the literary world, George Chalmers (1742-1825) was a Scottish antiquarian and writer. He is best known for his works on Scottish history and poetry, including "Caledonia" and "The Poetic Remains of Some of the Scottish Kings."

During the American Revolutionary War, James Chalmers (1742-1828) was a Scottish-born loyalist who served as a British army officer. He is remembered for his involvement in the Battle of King's Mountain, where he was captured by American forces.

In the realm of science, Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), mentioned earlier, made significant contributions to the field of natural theology and was a proponent of the idea that scientific discoveries strengthened belief in God's existence.

The surname Chalmers has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Lowlands, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. Over the centuries, it has been associated with notable figures in various fields, including law, literature, military, and science. The name's origins and its connections to Scottish history and culture continue to be studied and celebrated by historians and genealogists alike.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chalmers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chalmers 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. Lanarkshire leads with 1,390 Chalmers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.18x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 1,390 6.18x
Angus 826 12.82x
Aberdeenshire 770 11.96x
Midlothian 487 5.23x
Fife 440 10.69x
Stirlingshire 303 11.81x
Perthshire 299 9.58x
Renfrewshire 299 5.55x
Ayrshire 274 5.26x
Banffshire 196 13.59x
Orkney 184 24.05x
Middlesex 174 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 152 8.13x
Lancashire 123 0.15x
Hampshire 98 0.69x
Surrey 86 0.25x
Dumfriesshire 82 5.34x
West Lothian 79 7.54x
Kincardineshire 58 6.85x
Yorkshire 56 0.08x
Wigtownshire 50 5.41x
Kent 45 0.19x
Essex 44 0.32x
Morayshire 44 4.07x
East Lothian 42 4.56x
Berwickshire 41 4.87x
Durham 39 0.19x
Clackmannanshire 33 5.75x
Kinross-shire 31 17.63x
Cheshire 29 0.19x
Roxburghshire 28 2.22x
Northumberland 26 0.25x
Cumberland 25 0.42x
Warwickshire 23 0.13x
Kirkcudbrightshire 22 2.19x
Peeblesshire 19 5.81x
Argyllshire 18 0.93x
Sussex 18 0.15x
Caithness 17 1.79x
Selkirkshire 16 2.54x
Northamptonshire 13 0.20x
Gloucestershire 12 0.09x
Ross-shire 12 0.63x
Buteshire 10 2.37x
Somerset 10 0.09x
Inverness-shire 9 0.43x
Staffordshire 8 0.03x
Lincolnshire 7 0.06x
Shropshire 7 0.12x
Dorset 6 0.13x
Glamorgan 6 0.05x
Royal Navy 6 0.72x
Denbighshire 5 0.19x
Westmorland 5 0.33x
Wiltshire 4 0.07x
Leicestershire 3 0.04x
Norfolk 3 0.03x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.05x
Devon 2 0.01x
Hertfordshire 2 0.04x
Sutherland 2 0.37x
Anglesey 1 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.03x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Derbyshire 1 0.01x
Isle of Man 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.01x
Suffolk 1 0.01x
Worcestershire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 377 Chalmers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.67x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 377 15.67x
Barony 361 6.34x
Govan 283 5.09x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 247 6.59x
Glasgow 221 5.53x
Liff Benvie 168 17.18x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 151 12.53x
Aberdeen Old Machar 140 10.41x
Stronsay Eday 108 215.83x
Dunfermline 85 13.43x
Falkirk 78 12.99x
Abbotshall 75 48.76x
West Greenock 73 7.55x
Cambusnethan 70 14.01x
Portsea 66 2.36x
Hamilton 64 10.20x
Old Monkland 64 7.17x
Kirkcaldy 59 28.90x
South Leith 54 5.15x
Abbey 52 6.32x
Old Kilpatrick 51 23.09x
Perth East Church 48 16.31x
Carluke 45 22.04x
Fyvie 45 42.82x
Stirling 45 13.92x
East Greenock 42 8.25x
Gamrie 42 26.08x
Markinch 41 29.34x
New Monkland 41 6.17x
Peterhead 39 11.45x
Monifieth 37 16.26x
Denny 36 26.39x
Auchtergaven 34 64.98x
Banff 34 27.14x
Cumbernauld 33 32.22x
Kilsyth 33 20.18x
West Ham 33 1.09x
Carnwath 32 23.01x
St Ninians 32 12.59x
Stewarton 32 31.07x
Bothwell 31 5.08x
Islington London 31 0.46x
New Deer 31 26.59x
Fraserburgh 30 16.55x
Blantyre 29 12.39x
Lambeth 29 0.48x
St Vigeans 29 8.34x
Kinghorn 28 32.04x
Montrose 28 7.17x
Kirkwall St Ola 27 23.56x
Fetteresso 26 19.59x
Monquhitter 25 37.49x
Old Deer 25 20.48x
Marnoch 24 30.98x
Polmont 24 25.34x
Aberdour 23 45.32x
Cruden 23 27.73x
Dalmellington 23 15.03x
Rathven 23 8.49x
Ardrossan 22 12.21x
Dunning 22 56.38x
Kensington London 22 0.57x
Kirkintilloch 22 8.67x
Perth West Church 22 14.85x
Rutherglen 22 6.67x
Annan 21 15.92x
Huntly 21 20.04x
Inverkip 21 16.53x
Whitburn 21 13.88x
Dumfries 20 13.20x
Evie Rendall 20 61.92x
Neilston 20 7.39x
Shotts 20 7.43x
Strichen 20 35.73x
Alvah 19 58.48x
Birmingham 19 0.33x
Lanark 19 10.50x
North Leith 19 4.41x
Burntisland 18 15.64x
Kilmarnock 18 2.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 58
William 49
John 46
George 33
Thomas 31
David 20
Alexander 17
Charles 17
Andrew 15
Robert 13
Alfred 12
Henry 12
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Frederick 5
Alex 4
Edward 4
Albert 3
Archibald 3
Francis 3
Patrick 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Anthony 2
Daniel 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Adolphus 1
Alexande 1
Benjamen 1
C. 1
Campbell 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Estyn 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.V. 1
Howard 1
Hy. 1
J.G. 1
Kenneth 1
Mackenzie 1
Matthew 1
Ym.B. 1

FAQ

Chalmers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chalmers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,140 people were recorded with the Chalmers surname. That placed it at #594 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chalmers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,583 in 2016. That gives Chalmers a modern rank of #770.

What does the Chalmers surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "chalmier," meaning a maker of chamois leather.

What does the Chalmers map show?

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