NameCensus.

UK surname

Chamberlin

An occupational surname referring to a chamberlain, an official in charge of managing a household or royal chambers.

In the 1881 census there were 1,002 people recorded with the Chamberlin surname, ranking it #3,897 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 534, ranked #9,515, down from #3,897 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Tirley with Haw. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, South Norfolk and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chamberlin is 1,065 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.7%.

1881 census count

1,002

Ranked #3,897

Modern count

534

2016, ranked #9,515

Peak year

1861

1,065 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chamberlin had 1,002 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,897 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016, ranked #9,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,065 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chamberlin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chamberlin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chamberlin 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 985 #2,835
1861 historical 1,065 #2,639
1881 historical 1,002 #3,897
1891 historical 840 #4,853
1901 historical 801 #5,641
1911 historical 640 #6,517
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 538 #9,073
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 548 #8,976
2001 modern 538 #8,950
2002 modern 551 #8,973
2003 modern 538 #8,988
2004 modern 540 #8,978
2005 modern 506 #9,367
2006 modern 522 #9,183
2007 modern 531 #9,131
2008 modern 518 #9,388
2009 modern 525 #9,501
2010 modern 548 #9,392
2011 modern 544 #9,358
2012 modern 545 #9,230
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 544 #9,476
2015 modern 538 #9,489
2016 modern 534 #9,515

Geography

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Where Chamberlins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Tirley with Haw, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, South Norfolk and Kensington and Chelsea. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Tirley with Haw Gloucestershire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
2 South Norfolk 015 South Norfolk
3 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
4 South Norfolk 001 South Norfolk
5 Kensington and Chelsea 017 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chamberlin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chamberlin

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Chamberlin is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chamberlin is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chamberlin falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chamberlin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chamberlin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chamberlin

The surname Chamberlin is believed to have originated in England and France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chambrelain" or "chamberlain," which referred to an officer in charge of a medieval household or the private chambers of a noble or monarch.

In England, the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chamberlin date back to the late 12th century. The name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1198, where it is spelled "Chaumberlain." This spelling variation was common in early records due to variations in pronunciation and regional dialects.

The Chamberlin surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The name is recorded as "Camerarius," which was the Latin equivalent of "chamberlain."

One of the earliest known individuals with the Chamberlin surname was Sir Robert Chamberlin, who served as the Lord Chamberlain of England during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Chamberlin, who fought alongside King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

The surname Chamberlin is also associated with several place names in England, such as Chamberlin's Farm in Hertfordshire and Chamberlin's Hill in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the Chamberlin surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Other notable individuals with the Chamberlin surname include:

1. John Chamberlin (c. 1553-1596), an English poet and playwright during the Elizabethan era. 2. Robert Chamberlin (1607-1689), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Wilts. 3. James Chamberlin (1774-1858), an American surveyor and engineer who helped lay out the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. 4. Thomas Chamberlin (1843-1928), an American geologist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of glaciers and the formation of the Earth's crust. 5. Joseph Chamberlin (1898-1975), an American actor and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows during the mid-20th century.

Overall, the surname Chamberlin has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England and France, where it was associated with individuals who served in important household and administrative roles. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by notable figures in various fields, from literature and religion to science and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chamberlin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chamberlin 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. Norfolk leads with 202 Chamberlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.52x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 202 13.52x
Leicestershire 125 11.60x
Middlesex 97 1.00x
Surrey 73 1.54x
Nottinghamshire 65 4.96x
Lincolnshire 59 3.80x
Suffolk 40 3.38x
Northamptonshire 35 3.83x
Gloucestershire 31 1.63x
Warwickshire 30 1.22x
Lancashire 26 0.23x
Berkshire 23 3.15x
Hampshire 22 1.10x
Rutland 16 22.43x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.44x
Derbyshire 12 0.79x
Oxfordshire 10 1.67x
Sussex 10 0.61x
Essex 9 0.47x
Kent 9 0.27x
Bedfordshire 8 1.59x
Devon 8 0.40x
Durham 8 0.28x
Worcestershire 8 0.63x
Yorkshire 8 0.08x
Cornwall 7 0.64x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.63x
Hertfordshire 5 0.75x
Staffordshire 5 0.15x
Wiltshire 5 0.58x
Cheshire 4 0.19x
Herefordshire 4 1.00x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.51x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Flintshire 1 0.38x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Isle of Man 1 0.55x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.45x
Royal Navy 1 0.86x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

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 36 Chamberlins recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.70x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 36 13.70x
Isham 27 2125.98x
Lakenham 25 117.76x
Nottingham St Mary 21 6.20x
Great Yarmouth 18 14.55x
Norwich St Michael At 18 207.61x
Radford 17 25.55x
Aylsham 16 179.98x
Camberwell 16 2.58x
Lowestoft 15 26.83x
Newington 15 4.18x
Knapton 13 1238.10x
Gorleston 12 39.91x
Lambeth 12 1.42x
Tirley 12 750.00x
Birmingham 11 1.35x
Hinckley 11 43.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 5.57x
Hoveton St John 10 1020.41x
Gilmorton 9 420.56x
Ratcliffe London 9 16.77x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 50.08x
Aston 8 1.19x
Bassingbourn 8 88.50x
Bottesford 8 180.59x
Hackney London 8 1.47x
Halesworth 8 95.35x
Islington London 8 0.85x
Lutterworth 8 121.77x
Norwich St Julian 8 127.19x
Ruddington 8 91.12x
Shotton 8 111.89x
Stoke Newington London 8 10.57x
Tottenham 8 5.17x
Wymondham 8 52.36x
Eaton St Andrew 7 168.67x
Faldingworth 7 744.68x
Godalming 7 23.49x
Hambleton 7 864.20x
Kensington London 7 1.30x
Nettleham 7 219.44x
Ringwood 7 54.95x
St Bride London 7 123.89x
Whissendine 7 288.07x
Brighton 6 1.82x
Bromley London 6 2.81x
Carshalton 6 33.11x
Ealing 6 6.91x
Great Bowden 6 61.22x
Holwell 6 674.16x
Mulbarton 6 348.84x
Paddington London 6 1.68x
Southill 6 147.06x
St Nicholas Lincoln 6 40.40x
Thatcham 6 53.38x
West Derby 6 1.78x
Wisbech St Peter 6 19.44x
Wroxham 6 476.19x
Bardney 5 107.99x
Caversham 5 41.67x
Colney 5 1562.50x
Elvaston 5 267.38x
Long Eaton 5 24.90x
North Elmham 5 137.74x
Norwich St Gregory 5 190.84x
Norwich St Stephen 5 36.47x
Preston 5 1.62x
St Austell 5 13.30x
St John Winchester 5 119.62x
Sutton St Mary 5 34.04x
Tunstead 5 357.14x
Whitchurch 5 79.11x
Belgrave 4 16.45x
Clapham 4 3.29x
Erpingham 4 330.58x
Great Grimsby 4 4.06x
Minster In Sheppey 4 7.28x
Scalford 4 175.44x
St Martin In Fields 4 6.88x
Willoughby Waterless 4 380.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 52
William 49
James 32
George 31
Charles 27
Thomas 26
Henry 22
Arthur 18
Alfred 13
Robert 13
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Albert 9
Joseph 9
Edwin 8
Ernest 7
Walter 7
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Benjamin 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Edgar 3
Frank 3
Horace 3
Jarvis 3
Martin 3
Percy 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Jas. 2
Mathew 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Arches 1
Carles 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Earnet 1
Eli 1
Florance 1
Isaac 1
J.D. 1
Jabez 1

FAQ

Chamberlin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chamberlin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,002 people were recorded with the Chamberlin surname. That placed it at #3,897 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chamberlin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 534 in 2016. That gives Chamberlin a modern rank of #9,515.

What does the Chamberlin surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a chamberlain, an official in charge of managing a household or royal chambers.

What does the Chamberlin map show?

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