NameCensus.

UK surname

Chaplain

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or minister attached to a chapel or institution.

In the 1881 census there were 216 people recorded with the Chaplain surname, ranking it #12,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 255, ranked #16,576, down from #12,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rutherglen, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tamworth, Newcastle upon Tyne and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaplain is 274 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.1%.

1881 census count

216

Ranked #12,222

Modern count

255

2016, ranked #16,576

Peak year

1901

274 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chaplain had 216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016, ranked #16,576.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 274 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Chaplain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chaplain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chaplain 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 213 #9,934
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 216 #12,222
1891 historical 227 #13,629
1901 historical 274 #12,370
1911 historical 225 #13,874
1997 modern 239 #15,718
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 247 #15,864
2001 modern 244 #15,753
2002 modern 256 #15,565
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 245 #15,857
2006 modern 240 #16,177
2007 modern 248 #15,994
2008 modern 248 #16,163
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 251 #16,749
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 255 #16,296
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 255 #16,564
2016 modern 255 #16,576

Geography

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Where Chaplains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rutherglen, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tamworth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Westwood South and Medway. 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 Rutherglen Lanark
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tamworth 010 Tamworth
2 Newcastle upon Tyne 001 Newcastle upon Tyne
3 Nottingham 014 Nottingham
4 Westwood South South Lanarkshire
5 Medway 024 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chaplain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chaplain

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chaplain, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Chaplain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Chaplain household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chaplain 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

Chaplain 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

Chaplain falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chaplain

The surname Chaplain has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chapelain," which in turn comes from the Late Latin "cappellanus," meaning "custodian of the cape or chapel." This refers to the cleric who was responsible for the maintenance and care of the chapel and its relics in a nobleman's household or a religious institution.

The earliest recorded instances of the Chaplain surname can be found in various historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable example is the appearance of the name in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1195, where a certain Roger le Chapeleyn is mentioned.

In the Domesday Book, a landmark survey of landholdings in England conducted in 1086, there are references to individuals with similar occupational titles such as "capellanus" and "presbyter capelle," indicating the presence of chaplains and chapel priests at that time.

The Chaplain surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire, where many families bearing this name were recorded in medieval times. Some variations in spelling include Chapelyn, Chapeleyn, and Chaplyn.

One notable individual with the Chaplain surname was John Chaplain (c. 1500 - c. 1570), an English scholar and translator who was educated at the University of Cambridge. He is known for his translations of various works, including Cicero's "De Officiis" and Galen's medical treatises.

Another prominent figure was William Chaplain (c. 1540 - 1621), an English clergyman and author who served as the chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I. He wrote several religious works and was involved in the translation of the King James Bible.

In the 17th century, Edward Chaplain (1616 - 1674) was an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Chichester and later the Bishop of Norwich. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and was known for his writings on religious controversies of the time.

Moving to the 18th century, Robert Chaplain (1728 - 1799) was a Scottish physician and author who made significant contributions to the field of medicine. He published several works on various medical topics, including a treatise on the diseases of the human body.

Lastly, John Chaplain (1792 - 1868) was a British artist and engraver who was particularly known for his landscapes and architectural scenes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions during his lifetime.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chaplain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaplain 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. Angus leads with 19 Chaplains recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.69x.

County Total Index
Angus 19 9.69x
Warwickshire 19 3.56x
Norfolk 17 5.22x
Surrey 16 1.55x
Middlesex 13 0.61x
Yorkshire 13 0.62x
Staffordshire 11 1.54x
Nottinghamshire 10 3.51x
Berkshire 8 5.04x
Fife 8 6.39x
Durham 7 1.11x
Hertfordshire 7 4.80x
Lanarkshire 7 1.02x
Suffolk 7 2.72x
Argyllshire 6 10.18x
Buckinghamshire 6 4.69x
Devon 5 1.13x
Lancashire 5 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.24x
Kent 3 0.42x
Kincardineshire 3 11.64x
Monmouthshire 3 1.96x
Perthshire 3 3.16x
Wiltshire 3 1.60x
Glamorgan 2 0.54x
Hampshire 2 0.46x
Northamptonshire 2 1.00x
Somerset 2 0.59x
Cheshire 1 0.21x
Derbyshire 1 0.30x
Essex 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.24x
Herefordshire 1 1.15x
Leicestershire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 3.97x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 18 Chaplains recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.59x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 18 24.59x
Birmingham 11 6.18x
Gateshead 7 14.85x
Hertford St John 7 322.58x
Hunslet 7 21.41x
Inverkeithing 7 370.37x
Rotherhithe 7 26.77x
Castle Church 6 139.86x
Dunoon Kilmun 6 130.72x
Govan 6 3.54x
Lavendon 6 1052.63x
Ashmanhaugh 5 4166.67x
Great Yarmouth 5 18.55x
Kenilworth 5 166.11x
St Pancras London 5 2.93x
Wandsworth 5 24.55x
Barking 4 300.75x
Bestwood Park 4 800.00x
Dalton In Furness 4 41.28x
Heigham 4 22.90x
Ide 4 833.33x
Nottingham St Mary 4 5.42x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 72.07x
Wokingham 4 110.19x
Banchory Ternan 3 134.53x
Greenwich 3 8.90x
Mere 3 140.85x
Trevethin 3 20.76x
Bermondsey 2 3.17x
Bulwell 2 32.26x
Hackney London 2 1.69x
Hammersmith London 2 3.84x
Handsworth 2 11.36x
Lowestoft 2 16.42x
Northampton All Sts 2 29.59x
Norwich St Peter 2 93.46x
Whittlesey St Mary St 2 42.74x
Williton 2 175.44x
Bingley 1 7.49x
Blairgowrie 1 26.60x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 7.23x
Bromley London 1 2.15x
Burntisland 1 28.57x
Burton Extra 1 24.39x
Capel St Mary 1 243.90x
Catherington 1 104.17x
Clunie 1 238.10x
Derby St Werburgh 1 5.23x
Easthampstead 1 117.65x
Ellingham 1 400.00x
Everton 1 1.25x
Forfar 1 9.42x
Hinckley 1 17.95x
Hockley 1 222.22x
Hurst 1 48.08x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Kington 1 46.51x
Knutsford Nether 1 35.46x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Leeds 1 0.84x
Lethendy 1 909.09x
Lichfield St Mary 1 48.54x
Little Wilbraham 1 333.33x
Penarth 1 27.78x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.95x
Roath 1 5.97x
Royal Navy 1 4.64x
Rutherglen 1 9.96x
Ryton On Dunsmore 1 303.03x
Sandhurst 1 32.47x
Sonning 1 57.14x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.35x
St Faith Winchester 1 49.51x
St George Bloomsbury 1 8.24x
St Mary Woolnoth London 1 1000.00x
Titteworth 1 90.91x
Whitnash 1 322.58x
Wootton Wawen 1 59.52x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Chaplain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chaplain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 216 people were recorded with the Chaplain surname. That placed it at #12,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chaplain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 255 in 2016. That gives Chaplain a modern rank of #16,576.

What does the Chaplain surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or minister attached to a chapel or institution.

What does the Chaplain map show?

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