NameCensus.

UK surname

Chantry

An occupational surname referring to someone employed at a chantry chapel.

In the 1881 census there were 429 people recorded with the Chantry surname, ranking it #7,578 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 421, ranked #11,388, down from #7,578 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, London parishes and Boston (incl. Boston allotments). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, South Kesteven and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chantry is 523 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.9%.

1881 census count

429

Ranked #7,578

Modern count

421

2016, ranked #11,388

Peak year

1901

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chantry had 429 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,578 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016, ranked #11,388.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 523 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chantry surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chantry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chantry 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 306 #7,524
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 429 #7,578
1891 historical 426 #8,412
1901 historical 523 #7,790
1911 historical 523 #7,566
1997 modern 472 #9,716
1998 modern 490 #9,749
1999 modern 503 #9,618
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 481 #9,743
2002 modern 475 #10,014
2003 modern 455 #10,201
2004 modern 448 #10,355
2005 modern 442 #10,346
2006 modern 427 #10,683
2007 modern 422 #10,904
2008 modern 422 #10,992
2009 modern 431 #11,070
2010 modern 451 #10,897
2011 modern 423 #11,333
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 413 #11,639
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 415 #11,583
2016 modern 421 #11,388

Geography

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Where Chantrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, London parishes, Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Mansfield Woodhouse and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, South Kesteven, Telford and Wrekin and West Lindsey. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
4 Mansfield Woodhouse Nottinghamshire
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 015 East Lindsey
2 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
3 East Lindsey 011 East Lindsey
4 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
5 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chantry

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chantry

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Chantry is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Chantry is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chantry falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chantry 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 Chantry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chantry

The surname Chantry originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chanterie," which referred to an endowment for priests to sing masses for the souls of the departed. This name is associated with those who lived near or worked at a chantry chapel or college.

The earliest known record of the surname Chantry dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a person named William de la Chantry was listed in Oxfordshire. The name also appeared in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where a John Chauntry was mentioned.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir John Chantry, a 14th-century knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War. He was born in Warwickshire around 1320 and served under Edward III and the Black Prince.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the surname Chantry was Richard Chantry, a wealthy merchant from Bristol who was born around 1450. He was a benefactor of the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe and helped fund the construction of its renowned north porch.

During the Tudor period, a prominent Chantry was Thomas Chantry, a clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Essex from 1541 to 1545. He was born in Cambridgeshire in the late 15th century and played a role in the dissolution of the monasteries under King Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the surname was John Chantry, an English author and poet who was born in Gloucestershire around 1620. He is best known for his work "The Poet's Revenge," a satirical work published in 1662.

Another important figure with the Chantry surname was Sir Francis Chantry, a renowned English sculptor who lived from 1781 to 1841. He was born in Norton, Derbyshire, and is famous for his portrait busts and public monuments, including the statue of George IV in Trafalgar Square, London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chantry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chantry 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. Lincolnshire leads with 128 Chantrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.09x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 128 19.09x
Yorkshire 62 1.49x
Nottinghamshire 59 10.44x
Surrey 36 1.76x
Derbyshire 28 4.26x
Cheshire 26 2.81x
Middlesex 22 0.52x
Lancashire 18 0.36x
Warwickshire 12 1.13x
Staffordshire 8 0.57x
Leicestershire 7 1.51x
Northumberland 7 1.12x
Worcestershire 6 1.10x
Hampshire 4 0.47x
Durham 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Kent 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.16x
Oxfordshire 1 0.39x
Royal Navy 1 2.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 24 Chantrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.49x.

Place Total Index
Newington 24 15.49x
Claylane 11 120.48x
Holy Trinity 11 11.00x
Mansfield Woodhouse 11 292.55x
Spittlegate 11 118.53x
Doncaster 10 32.93x
Edgbaston 10 30.49x
Hucknall Torkard 10 69.74x
Manthorpe Cum Little 10 194.93x
Great Grimsby 9 21.14x
Macclesfield 9 21.87x
Harworth 8 1012.66x
Bethnal Green London 7 3.84x
Bulwell 7 56.96x
Grantham 7 80.09x
Ropsley 7 752.69x
Blacon Cum Crabwall 6 1764.71x
Boston 6 29.48x
Camberwell 6 2.24x
Countesthorpe 6 377.36x
Croft 6 550.46x
Islington London 6 1.48x
Kings Norton 6 12.22x
Ripley 6 73.89x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 4.00x
Warrington 6 10.17x
Airmyn 5 694.44x
Buxton 5 89.93x
Sheffield 5 3.78x
Stainton 5 2777.78x
Sturton Bransby 5 537.63x
Belton 4 147.06x
Blyth 4 449.44x
Branston 4 195.12x
Church Hulme 4 421.05x
Gainsborough 4 25.30x
Harrington 4 2222.22x
Horncastle 4 57.80x
Lambeth 4 1.09x
Leverton 4 470.59x
Morton In Bourn 4 294.12x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 10.73x
Pudsey 4 18.00x
Shoreditch London 4 2.20x
Sprotborough 4 1212.12x
St Luke London 4 5.95x
St Nicholas Lincoln 4 62.40x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 2.76x
Conisbrough 3 76.92x
Goole 3 43.04x
New Malton 3 60.36x
Owmby 3 789.47x
Scarborough 3 7.94x
Southampton St Mary 3 5.55x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 31.81x
West Derby 3 2.06x
Birmingham 2 0.57x
Bollington In 2 24.27x
Byker 2 6.48x
Calverley Cum Farsley 2 16.95x
Hallam 2 476.19x
Hook 2 21.88x
Killamarsh 2 49.02x
Lambley 2 173.91x
Lichfield St Michael 2 45.05x
Mansfield 2 10.22x
Newchurch 2 4.91x
Nottingham St Nicholas 2 25.97x
Ockbrook 2 71.68x
Oldham 2 1.24x
Skendleby 2 512.82x
Spalding 2 15.03x
Sturton 2 263.16x
Sutton In Macclesfield 2 20.81x
Whittington 2 22.00x
Wilsford 2 202.02x
Woodborough 2 156.25x
Cleethorpes 1 25.32x
Hatfield In Thorne 1 38.61x
Stowe With Normanby 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 22
Elizabeth 18
Annie 12
Emma 12
Ann 10
Hannah 9
Ada 6
Eliza 6
Alice 5
Anne 5
Jane 4
Lucy 4
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Kate 3
Rebecca 3
Betsy 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2
Angelina 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Demaras 1
Dorothy 1
Elisabeth 1
Emmeline 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
Margarett 1
Maria 1
Mariah 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Pamelia 1
Rosina 1
Sabina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
George 33
John 27
Joseph 14
James 12
Thomas 12
Robert 10
Samuel 8
Henry 7
Frank 6
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Charles 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Rowland 2
Rueben 2
Absalom 1
Allen 1
Bevan 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Hy.Richd. 1
Jeremia 1
Mark 1
Read 1
Reginald 1
Stanislaw 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wm.Ed. 1

FAQ

Chantry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chantry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 429 people were recorded with the Chantry surname. That placed it at #7,578 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chantry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 421 in 2016. That gives Chantry a modern rank of #11,388.

What does the Chantry surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone employed at a chantry chapel.

What does the Chantry map show?

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