UK surname
A French surname derived from the word "chamberlain" indicating an overseer or governor of a noble household.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Chamberlan surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wellingborough, Lowestoft, Kirkley and West Thurrock, Purfleet. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chamberlan is 226 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.8%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
226 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chamberlan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chamberlan surname density by area, 1891 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 | 86 | #18,820 |
| 1861 | historical | 226 | #10,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 205 | #14,649 |
| 1901 | historical | 78 | #25,500 |
| 1911 | historical | 16 | #31,804 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 3 | #38,318 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 14 | #36,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wellingborough, Lowestoft, Kirkley, West Thurrock, Purfleet, Soham and Manchester. 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 | Wellingborough | Northamptonshire |
| 2 | Lowestoft, Kirkley | Suffolk |
| 3 | West Thurrock, Purfleet | Essex |
| 4 | Soham | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chamberlan 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 Chamberlan, 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 Chamberlan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chamberlan 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, Chamberlan 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 Chamberlan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chamberlan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chamberlan, also spelled Chamberlain, is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "chambrelain," which means "chamber attendant" or "keeper of the chambers."
This surname was initially associated with individuals who served as chamberlains, responsible for managing the household and private chambers of noble or royal families. The earliest recorded instances of this surname can be traced back to the 12th century in various English records and manuscripts.
One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Sir Robert Chamberlan, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1166. Additionally, the Domesday Book, a valuable record compiled in 1086, contains entries related to individuals with the surname Chamberlan or similar spellings.
The surname Chamberlan has been associated with several notable historical figures throughout the centuries. One prominent example is Sir John Chamberlan (c. 1470-1543), an English courtier and diplomat who served as Lord Chamberlain to King Henry VII and King Henry VIII.
Another significant figure was Sir Thomas Chamberlan (c. 1537-1625), an English diplomat and translator who served as the ambassador to France during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He is also known for his translation of the Spanish novel "Don Quixote" into English.
In the 17th century, Edward Chamberlayne (1616-1703) was an English writer and compiler who authored the influential work "Angliæ Notitia, or The Present State of England," which provided valuable insights into the social and political landscape of the time.
Moving forward to the 19th century, Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) was a prominent British politician who served as a cabinet minister and was a key figure in the Liberal Unionist movement. He also played a significant role in the British Empire's colonial affairs.
Another notable individual with the surname Chamberlan was Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940), the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940. He is famously known for his policy of appeasement towards Nazi Germany in the lead-up to World War II.
While the surname Chamberlan has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America and other English-speaking countries, due to migration and colonization.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chamberlan 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 20 Chamberlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 3.02x |
| Leicestershire | 15 | 20.40x |
| Lancashire | 11 | 1.40x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 3.77x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.24x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 4.81x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.79x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 4.02x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.53x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.88x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.98x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 10 Chamberlans recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.77x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester St Margaret | 10 | 55.77x |
| Manchester | 8 | 22.61x |
| Willesden | 6 | 96.00x |
| Halstead | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Aston | 3 | 6.51x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 6.28x |
| Welford | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 6.94x |
| Bow London | 2 | 23.70x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 10.01x |
| Greenwich | 2 | 18.94x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 5.38x |
| Richmond | 2 | 44.15x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 5.65x |
| St Osyth | 2 | 625.00x |
| Toft Next Newton | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Whaplode Drove | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Ashby St Mary | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 5.07x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.57x |
| Dudley | 1 | 9.50x |
| Hinckley | 1 | 57.47x |
| Mortimer | 1 | 416.67x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 4.10x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 25.06x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 26.32x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.56x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chamberlan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chamberlan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Chamberlan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Dyer (C) | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Needlewoman | 2 |
| (Ret) | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Agriculter Labour | 1 |
| At School | 1 |
| Beer Ho Keeper | 1 |
| Beer Ho Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Brass Dresser | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Editor Record Newspaper | 1 |
| Farmer 176 Acres 1 Man 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmer 76 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer Daughter | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Frame Smith | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Laborer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Keeper | 1 |
| Houseworker | 1 |
| Lab (Ag) | 1 |
| Nurse Dom Serv (Temp) | 1 |
| Pensioner | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
| Sailmakers Wife | 1 |
| Stay Stitcher | 1 |
| Tea Cooper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Chamberlan surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Chamberlan a modern rank of #37,501.
A French surname derived from the word "chamberlain" indicating an overseer or governor of a noble household.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chamberlan 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.