NameCensus.

UK surname

Champ

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a warrior or professional fighter, from the Old French "champ".

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Champ surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 506, ranked #9,905, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Linstead and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Shropshire and Staffordshire Moorlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Champ is 770 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

506

2016, ranked #9,905

Peak year

1911

770 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Champ had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016, ranked #9,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 770 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Champ surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Champ surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Champ 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 534 #4,708
1861 historical 539 #4,868
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 711 #5,528
1901 historical 714 #6,181
1911 historical 770 #5,629
1997 modern 480 #9,602
1998 modern 512 #9,414
1999 modern 515 #9,451
2000 modern 531 #9,194
2001 modern 519 #9,204
2002 modern 507 #9,532
2003 modern 500 #9,481
2004 modern 495 #9,573
2005 modern 484 #9,659
2006 modern 491 #9,600
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 471 #10,091
2009 modern 482 #10,131
2010 modern 491 #10,192
2011 modern 491 #10,094
2012 modern 512 #9,693
2013 modern 522 #9,713
2014 modern 521 #9,788
2015 modern 508 #9,891
2016 modern 506 #9,905

Geography

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Where Champs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Linstead, St Pancras and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Shropshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, Tendring and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 1
2 Linstead Kent
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 005 Swale
2 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 012 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Tendring 009 Tendring
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Champ

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Champ

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Champ 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

Champ is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Champ

The surname Champ is believed to have originated in France during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "champ," which means "field" or "open countryside." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked in a field or rural area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Champ can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name appears as "de Champ," indicating that it likely referred to a person or family from a place called Champ in France.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert de Champ was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England. These rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, and Robert de Champ's inclusion suggests that he held land or property in the region.

During the 14th century, the surname Champ began to appear in various spellings, such as "Champe," "Champes," and "Champys." This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Champ in its modern spelling can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, England, where a baptism of a child named John Champ was recorded in 1598.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Champ include:

1. Sir Franke Champ (1560-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wootton Bassett in 1604 and 1614.

2. Richard Champ (1675-1728), an English architect and sculptor who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Paul's Church in Covent Garden.

3. William Champ (1709-1781), a Scottish minister and writer who published several religious works in the 18th century.

4. Marie-Anne Champ (1767-1832), a French painter known for her portraits and historical scenes.

5. John Champ (1785-1858), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

While the surname Champ has been present in various parts of Europe for centuries, its origins can be traced back to the rural areas of medieval France, where it likely referred to someone living or working in the open countryside.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Champ families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Champ 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. Kent leads with 129 Champs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.

County Total Index
Kent 129 6.20x
Middlesex 114 1.87x
Berkshire 70 15.30x
Surrey 51 1.72x
Staffordshire 39 1.90x
Dorset 35 8.75x
Hampshire 29 2.32x
Oxfordshire 29 7.70x
Essex 23 1.91x
Devon 20 1.58x
Sussex 11 1.07x
Wiltshire 10 1.85x
Buckinghamshire 9 2.44x
Warwickshire 9 0.59x
Cheshire 8 0.59x
Somerset 8 0.82x
Lancashire 7 0.10x
Gloucestershire 5 0.42x
Hertfordshire 3 0.71x
Suffolk 3 0.40x
Yorkshire 3 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.52x
Flintshire 2 1.22x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 2.75x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lynsted in Kent leads with 30 Champs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1115.24x.

Place Total Index
Lynsted 30 1115.24x
Greenwich 22 22.67x
Newcastle Under Lyme 20 54.93x
East Hendred 18 1058.82x
Hackney London 17 4.97x
Portsea 17 6.94x
East Lulworth 16 2105.26x
Chelsea London 15 8.17x
Lambeth 11 2.07x
Sittingbourne 11 66.95x
Camberwell 9 2.31x
Caversham 9 119.52x
Islington London 9 1.52x
Teynham 9 240.00x
Bow London 8 10.31x
Pangbourn 8 519.48x
St Martin In Fields 8 21.92x
St Marylebone London 8 2.46x
St Pancras London 8 1.63x
Stadhampton 8 1025.64x
Birmingham 7 1.37x
Colyton 7 143.74x
Congleton 7 30.11x
Deptford St Paul 7 4.36x
East Harptree 7 507.25x
Saffron Walden 7 55.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 5.71x
Sturry 7 284.55x
Walthamstow 7 16.16x
Wolstanton Chesterton 7 66.54x
Battersea 6 2.67x
Bradpole 6 182.93x
Broadwater 6 25.45x
Kingsdown In Milton 6 3750.00x
Lewknor 6 545.45x
Osmington 6 750.00x
Reading St Giles 6 13.36x
Reading St Mary 6 16.37x
St Luke London 6 6.14x
Faversham 5 25.20x
Kensington London 5 1.48x
Maidstone 5 8.07x
Milton In Milton 5 56.56x
Penge 5 12.84x
Prittlewell 5 29.98x
Rotherhithe 5 6.64x
Seaton 5 102.25x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 18.94x
St George Hanover Square 5 4.65x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 2.29x
Upton Cum Chalvey 5 34.04x
Westbury On Trym 5 12.34x
Westminster St Margaret 5 17.00x
Axminster 4 67.23x
Bobbing 4 408.16x
Brighton 4 1.93x
Bromley 4 12.62x
Canterbury St Mary 4 28.65x
Chelmsford 4 19.37x
Downton 4 56.66x
Hungerford 4 64.62x
Rodbourne Cheney 4 96.15x
Westminster St John 4 5.39x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 4 180.18x
Abingdon St Helen 3 22.42x
Aldworth 3 526.32x
Ashley 3 178.57x
Boldre 3 66.96x
Burslem 3 5.09x
Charlton 3 566.04x
Hammersmith London 3 2.00x
Long Wittenham 3 256.41x
Paddington London 3 1.34x
Rickmansworth 3 25.93x
Stonehouse East 3 46.58x
Wantage 3 41.10x
Bucklebury 2 84.03x
Cowley 2 17.02x
Dorking 2 10.03x
Langley Marish 2 44.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 26
Eliza 17
Alice 15
Annie 13
Ann 12
Emily 12
Emma 11
Ellen 9
Louisa 9
Edith 8
Ada 6
Amy 6
Florence 6
Lucy 6
Jane 5
Amelia 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Minnie 4
Agnes 3
Anna 3
Jessie 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Augusta 2
Catherine 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Elenor 2
Elisabeth 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
S. 2
Adelaide 1
Elizth. 1
Emmie 1
June 1
Lizzie 1
Winefride 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
George 25
Henry 23
Charles 18
James 18
John 18
Thomas 14
Frederick 12
Joseph 9
Arthur 8
Alfred 7
Edward 7
Francis 6
Stephen 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Ernest 5
Lewis 5
Richard 5
Philip 4
Geo. 3
Robert 3
Augustus 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Ambrose 1
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Bertram 1
Bob 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Giles 1
Hugh 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
Israel 1
Josiah 1
Levi 1
Nortan 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Champ surname: questions and answers

How common was the Champ surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Champ surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Champ surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016. That gives Champ a modern rank of #9,905.

What does the Champ surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a warrior or professional fighter, from the Old French "champ".

What does the Champ map show?

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