NameCensus.

UK surname

Chaplin

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or chaplain.

In the 1881 census there were 4,289 people recorded with the Chaplin surname, ranking it #1,045 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,657, ranked #1,185, down from #1,045 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Foleshill and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Mid Suffolk and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaplin is 6,241 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.9%.

1881 census count

4,289

Ranked #1,045

Modern count

5,657

2016, ranked #1,185

Peak year

1998

6,241 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chaplin had 4,289 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,045 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,657 in 2016, ranked #1,185.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,823 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chaplin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chaplin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chaplin 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 2,720 #1,081
1861 historical 2,575 #1,138
1881 historical 4,289 #1,045
1891 historical 4,684 #995
1901 historical 5,498 #1,015
1911 historical 5,823 #896
1997 modern 6,029 #1,088
1998 modern 6,241 #1,091
1999 modern 6,237 #1,093
2000 modern 6,135 #1,111
2001 modern 5,966 #1,114
2002 modern 6,120 #1,112
2003 modern 5,866 #1,131
2004 modern 5,813 #1,143
2005 modern 5,667 #1,147
2006 modern 5,716 #1,137
2007 modern 5,708 #1,148
2008 modern 5,700 #1,150
2009 modern 5,780 #1,158
2010 modern 5,847 #1,174
2011 modern 5,737 #1,179
2012 modern 5,699 #1,165
2013 modern 5,774 #1,169
2014 modern 5,788 #1,174
2015 modern 5,691 #1,188
2016 modern 5,657 #1,185

Geography

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Where Chaplins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Foleshill, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Mid Suffolk, Tendring and Babergh. 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 Foleshill Warwickshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 019 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Mid Suffolk 012 Mid Suffolk
3 Mid Suffolk 011 Mid Suffolk
4 Tendring 008 Tendring
5 Babergh 004 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chaplin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chaplin

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

Chaplin is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chaplin

The surname Chaplin is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chapelain," meaning "chaplain" or a clergyman who conducted religious services in a private chapel. The name is occupational in nature, referring to individuals who served as chaplains or clergymen.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Chaplin can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where it appears as "Adam le Chapeleyn." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the 13th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Chaplin.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, where it is listed as "Robert Chapelyn." The surname is also mentioned in the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem for Essex in 1392, referring to "John Chapelyn."

One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the surname Chaplin was William Chaplin (c. 1550-1624), an English clergyman who served as the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin, from 1610 until his death in 1624.

Another prominent figure was Hugh Chaplin (1592-1653), an English clergyman and religious writer who authored several works, including "The Use of Holy Scripture" and "The Life of our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

In the 18th century, John Chaplin (1726-1795) was a renowned English engraver and portrait painter who worked for the Royal Family and was appointed Engraver to the Prince of Wales.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Chaplin was Sir Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977), the iconic English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame during the silent film era. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of the film industry.

Another notable individual was Ralph Chaplin (1887-1961), an American writer, social activist, and labor organizer who is best known for his iconic poem "Solidarity Forever," which became an anthem for the labor movement.

The surname Chaplin has been widely distributed across various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Essex, and London, where it has a long and rich history dating back to the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chaplin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaplin 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. Essex leads with 724 Chaplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.75x.

County Total Index
Essex 724 8.75x
Middlesex 625 1.49x
Suffolk 355 6.95x
Warwickshire 308 2.91x
Norfolk 294 4.56x
Surrey 267 1.31x
Leicestershire 170 3.66x
Yorkshire 164 0.39x
Kent 151 1.06x
Somerset 117 1.73x
Lancashire 99 0.20x
Northamptonshire 85 2.16x
Hampshire 75 0.87x
Gloucestershire 74 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 73 1.29x
Sussex 69 0.98x
Derbyshire 59 0.90x
Angus 58 1.49x
Berkshire 49 1.56x
Worcestershire 48 0.88x
Devon 46 0.53x
Staffordshire 39 0.28x
Hertfordshire 37 1.28x
Glamorgan 31 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 30 1.13x
Buckinghamshire 25 0.99x
Lanarkshire 25 0.18x
Durham 23 0.18x
Fife 23 0.93x
Monmouthshire 17 0.56x
Perthshire 15 0.80x
Lincolnshire 12 0.18x
Cheshire 10 0.11x
Wiltshire 10 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 8 0.96x
Northumberland 8 0.13x
Rutland 8 2.60x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.35x
Kincardineshire 6 1.18x
Bedfordshire 5 0.23x
Cornwall 5 0.11x
Dorset 5 0.18x
Herefordshire 5 0.29x
Oxfordshire 5 0.19x
Radnorshire 5 1.48x
Shropshire 5 0.14x
Midlothian 4 0.07x
Royal Navy 3 0.60x
Westmorland 3 0.33x
Channel Islands 2 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.15x
Ayrshire 1 0.03x
Inverness-shire 1 0.08x
Roxburghshire 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. Halstead in Essex leads with 83 Chaplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.01x.

Place Total Index
Halstead 83 86.01x
Birmingham 81 2.30x
Aston 73 2.51x
Little Bromley 59 1090.57x
Leicester St Margaret 55 4.85x
Foleshill 54 48.57x
Kensington London 53 2.27x
St Marylebone London 52 2.32x
St Pancras London 41 1.22x
Mile End Old Town London 36 4.04x
West Ham 36 1.97x
Snenton 35 15.77x
Ipswich St Mathew 34 23.77x
Camberwell 33 1.23x
Coventry Holy Trinity 32 10.14x
Hackney London 32 1.36x
Chelsea London 31 2.45x
Paddington London 31 2.01x
Bromley London 29 3.15x
Nottingham St Mary 29 1.98x
Great Coggeshall 28 65.09x
Willesborough 28 72.84x
Bermondsey 27 2.16x
Islington London 27 0.66x
Lambeth 26 0.71x
Inworth 25 272.63x
Mistley 24 108.01x
Tottenham 24 3.60x
Battersea 23 1.49x
Dundee 23 1.59x
Clapham 22 4.20x
Shoreditch London 22 1.21x
Aldham 20 325.20x
Easthampstead 20 118.62x
St George Hanover Square 20 2.71x
Bethnal Green London 19 1.04x
Croydon 19 1.68x
Ipswich St Clement 19 14.64x
Kings Norton 19 3.87x
Norwich St Clement 19 25.44x
Brightlingsea 18 38.08x
Great Yarmouth 18 3.37x
Cheltenham 17 2.68x
Earls Colne 17 74.50x
Great Bentley 17 129.47x
Kegworth 17 55.05x
Lawford 17 141.08x
Leeds 17 0.73x
Newton 17 264.39x
Exhall 16 99.88x
Newington 16 1.03x
Norwich St Paul 16 41.48x
Portsea 16 0.95x
Woolwich 16 3.03x
Springfield 15 41.38x
St Luke London 15 2.23x
Bedminster 14 2.21x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 14 1.81x
Hammersmith London 14 1.36x
Heigham 14 4.05x
Ipswich St Margaret 14 8.08x
Little Harrowden 14 117.85x
Norwich St James 14 27.70x
Poplar London 14 1.77x
Whittington 14 15.42x
Broadwater 13 8.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 1.65x
Coddenham 13 111.21x
Derby St Peter 13 6.22x
Stisted 13 121.61x
Waltham Holy Cross 13 16.81x
Wandsworth 13 3.22x
Warwick St Nicholas 13 16.77x
Wimbledon 13 5.67x
Yeovil 13 9.48x
Harrow On The Hill 12 14.33x
Newton 12 3.13x
Northampton St Giles 12 7.99x
Penarth 12 16.83x
Southampton St Mary 12 2.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 242
Elizabeth 136
Sarah 135
Ellen 86
Emma 81
Eliza 75
Alice 63
Ann 59
Emily 56
Jane 53
Annie 49
Harriet 44
Hannah 42
Maria 41
Louisa 31
Martha 31
Ada 28
Charlotte 28
Florence 27
Kate 27
Caroline 24
Edith 24
Harriett 19
Margaret 19
Amelia 18
Fanny 18
Frances 18
Gertrude 17
Rebecca 17
Anne 16
Clara 16
Lucy 16
Susan 15
Susannah 15
Agnes 14
Matilda 14
Rose 14
Rosa 13
Catherine 12
Amy 11
Anna 11
Eleanor 11
Jessie 11
Minnie 11
Ethel 10
Isabella 10
Laura 10
Sophia 10
Esther 9
Lydia 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 260
John 173
George 143
Charles 123
James 118
Henry 102
Thomas 94
Joseph 72
Arthur 69
Frederick 58
Alfred 53
Edward 52
Robert 47
Walter 41
Albert 31
Samuel 29
Ernest 27
Frank 27
Richard 24
Harry 23
Herbert 22
Wm. 17
David 15
Francis 14
Sidney 9
Benjamin 8
Earnest 8
Edwin 8
Fred 8
Jabez 8
Jesse 8
Thos. 8
Frederic 7
Lewis 7
Philip 7
Fredk. 6
Geo. 6
Isaac 6
Percy 6
Willie 6
Edgar 5
Horace 5
Saml. 5
Bertie 4
Fredrick 4
Jonathan 4
Tom 4
W. 4
Allan 3
Louis 3

FAQ

Chaplin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chaplin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,289 people were recorded with the Chaplin surname. That placed it at #1,045 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chaplin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,657 in 2016. That gives Chaplin a modern rank of #1,185.

What does the Chaplin surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or chaplain.

What does the Chaplin map show?

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