NameCensus.

UK surname

Channer

A surname derived from the Old French term "chanur", meaning a maker of candles.

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Channer surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 562, ranked #9,130, up from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ashfield, Wakefield and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Channer is 575 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 298.6%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

562

2016, ranked #9,130

Peak year

2010

575 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Channer had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016, ranked #9,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 289 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Channer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Channer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Channer 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 185 #15,803
1901 historical 289 #11,944
1911 historical 265 #12,422
1997 modern 476 #9,665
1998 modern 491 #9,737
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 536 #9,133
2001 modern 509 #9,323
2002 modern 515 #9,443
2003 modern 498 #9,512
2004 modern 524 #9,198
2005 modern 507 #9,351
2006 modern 519 #9,223
2007 modern 529 #9,160
2008 modern 528 #9,248
2009 modern 562 #9,013
2010 modern 575 #9,052
2011 modern 561 #9,118
2012 modern 541 #9,294
2013 modern 551 #9,320
2014 modern 553 #9,343
2015 modern 549 #9,324
2016 modern 562 #9,130

Geography

Back to top

Where Channers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Lambeth and Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ashfield, Wakefield, Forest of Dean and Ashford. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Chesham (incl. Chartridge, Billington & Latimers with Waterside Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ashfield 010 Ashfield
2 Ashfield 012 Ashfield
3 Wakefield 040 Wakefield
4 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
5 Ashford 010 Ashford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Channer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Channer

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Channer 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

Channer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Channer falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Channer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Channer

The surname Channer originates from England, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ceonan," which means "to gape" or "to yawn." This surname likely emerged as a descriptive name for someone who had a habit of gaping or yawning excessively.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings such as Chaner, Chanour, and Chanor, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling during that era. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex from 1190, where it is listed as "Richard Chaner."

The Channer surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was William Channer, a 14th-century English cleric who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset. Another prominent bearer of this surname was John Channer, a 16th-century English politician who held the position of Member of Parliament for Marlborough in 1554.

In the 17th century, the Channer family established a presence in the county of Somerset. Records from this period mention Thomas Channer, a landowner and gentleman who lived in the village of Ansford near Somerton. His son, also named Thomas Channer, was born in 1635 and became a respected figure in the local community.

Moving forward to the 18th century, Joseph Channer, born in 1712, was a notable figure in the field of agriculture. He authored several influential works on farming practices and played a significant role in the advancement of agricultural techniques during that time.

Another individual of note was Robert Channer, born in 1784, who served as a captain in the British Royal Navy. He distinguished himself in several naval engagements during the Napoleonic Wars and received commendations for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout its history, the Channer surname has been associated with various locations across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. Some of the place names that may have influenced the surname's spelling include Channer's Hill in Somerset and Channer's Knap in Wiltshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Channer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Channer 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 34 Channers recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.61x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 34 40.61x
Kent 26 5.50x
Surrey 22 3.26x
Middlesex 20 1.44x
Hertfordshire 18 18.85x
Nottinghamshire 8 4.29x
Staffordshire 7 1.50x
Lancashire 2 0.12x
Sussex 2 0.86x
Oxfordshire 1 1.17x
Royal Navy 1 6.06x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chesham in Buckinghamshire leads with 23 Channers recorded in 1881 and an index of 744.34x.

Place Total Index
Chesham 23 744.34x
Blidworth Haywood 8 4000.00x
Maidstone 8 56.82x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 14.12x
West Malling 7 660.38x
Wycombe 7 112.18x
Lambeth 6 4.97x
Rickmansworth 6 228.14x
Hammersmith London 5 14.65x
Watford 5 67.57x
Battersea 4 7.85x
Bengeo 4 360.36x
Camberwell 4 4.52x
Hythe St Leonard 4 239.52x
Penge 4 45.20x
Ratcliffe London 4 52.29x
Hackney London 3 3.86x
Lewisham 3 11.90x
Amersham 2 168.07x
Berkhampstead 2 93.02x
Clerkenwell London 2 6.12x
East Broughton 2 425.53x
Harefield 2 281.69x
Hayes 2 141.84x
Bermondsey 1 2.43x
Beverley St Martin 1 43.67x
Bovingdon 1 200.00x
Chatham 1 7.69x
Chenies 1 555.56x
Crayford 1 48.54x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.74x
East Malling 1 88.50x
Goring 1 204.08x
Hamsey 1 384.62x
Hoggeston 1 1250.00x
Hove 1 9.76x
Kensington London 1 1.30x
Newington 1 1.95x
Royal Navy 1 7.09x
Streatham 1 9.73x
Sutton 1 20.49x
Tottenham 1 4.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Alice 5
Elizabeth 5
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Emily 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Ceilia 1
Dennis 1
Dora 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Happy 1
Julia 1
Kezia 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lois 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Ruth 1
Thursa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 5
George 5
John 5
Harry 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Isaac 3
Joseph 3
William 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Austin 1
Benj. 1
Bernard 1
Charley 1
Edgar 1
Faulkner 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Francis 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Jesse 1
Martin 1
Oliver 1
Osborn 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Channer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Channer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Channer surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Channer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 562 in 2016. That gives Channer a modern rank of #9,130.

What does the Channer surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French term "chanur", meaning a maker of candles.

What does the Channer map show?

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