UK surname
A surname referring to an individual who worked in or lived in a chamber or room.
In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Chamber surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #12,122 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chamber is 1,271 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 61.6%.
1881 census count
219
Ranked #12,122
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1861
1,271 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chamber surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chamber surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 473 | #5,259 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,271 | #2,247 |
| 1881 | historical | 219 | #12,122 |
| 1891 | historical | 888 | #4,636 |
| 1901 | historical | 254 | #13,005 |
| 1911 | historical | 338 | #10,521 |
| 1997 | modern | 45 | #33,168 |
| 1998 | modern | 48 | #33,111 |
| 1999 | modern | 57 | #32,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 57 | #32,417 |
| 2001 | modern | 52 | #32,764 |
| 2002 | modern | 49 | #33,377 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 65 | #32,743 |
| 2007 | modern | 65 | #33,045 |
| 2008 | modern | 70 | #32,856 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 71 | #33,392 |
| 2012 | modern | 81 | #32,796 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chamber surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chamber, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Chamber surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chamber household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Chamber is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chamber is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chamber, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chamber originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chambre," meaning "room" or "chamber," which in turn comes from the Latin "camera," meaning "vaulted room."
The name likely referred to someone who lived or worked in a chamber, possibly a servant or attendant in a noble household. It could also have been an occupational name for someone who made or repaired chambers or rooms, such as a carpenter or builder.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a Walter le Chambere. The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Chamber, but it does include the name of a place called "Chambres" in Somerset.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Chaumber, Chaumbre, and Chawmbre, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. An example is John Chaumbre, who is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Chamber (c. 1410-1492), a English knight and landowner who served as a member of parliament and was appointed to several important positions under King Henry VI and King Edward IV.
Another significant figure was John Chamber (c. 1546-1604), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of University College, Oxford, and was a renowned scholar of Greek literature.
In the 17th century, we find Samuel Chamber (1629-1676), an English historian and physician who wrote several works on the history of England and France.
During the 18th century, Sir Robert Chambers (1737-1803), a British lawyer and judge, gained prominence as the Chief Justice of Bengal and a member of the Supreme Council of India.
In the 19th century, the name was borne by Sir William Chambers (1726-1796), a renowned Scottish architect who designed many prominent buildings in London, including Somerset House.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chamber surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 50 Chambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 50 | 2.37x |
| Yorkshire | 27 | 1.29x |
| Surrey | 24 | 2.34x |
| Staffordshire | 18 | 2.53x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 0.52x |
| Warwickshire | 13 | 2.45x |
| Durham | 10 | 1.60x |
| Derbyshire | 9 | 2.73x |
| Worcestershire | 8 | 2.91x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.21x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 1.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 1.48x |
| Sussex | 5 | 1.41x |
| Devon | 4 | 0.91x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.56x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1.06x |
| Ayrshire | 2 | 1.27x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.48x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 1.01x |
| Wigtownshire | 2 | 7.15x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.75x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.55x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.31x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 3.98x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 9 Chambers recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.80x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chamber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 18 |
| Elizabeth | 10 |
| Eliza | 7 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Hannah | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Rebecca | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amie | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Bridget | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Elisth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Melinda | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rachael | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| Tersa | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chamber surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 14 |
| George | 11 |
| Henry | 11 |
| John | 9 |
| Thomas | 8 |
| Charles | 4 |
| James | 4 |
| Richard | 3 |
| Robert | 3 |
| Willm. | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Allan | 2 |
| Arthur | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Nathan | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Wm. | 2 |
| Alan | 1 |
| Bertram | 1 |
| Edgar | 1 |
| Edmund | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Fredk.R. | 1 |
| Honeyman | 1 |
| Horace | 1 |
| Joel | 1 |
| Joseph | 1 |
| Joy | 1 |
| Leonard | 1 |
| Peter | 1 |
| Robt. | 1 |
| Sidney | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Will. | 1 |
| Willie | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chamber households.
FAQ
In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Chamber surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Chamber a modern rank of #32,726.
A surname referring to an individual who worked in or lived in a chamber or room.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chamber bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.