NameCensus.

UK surname

Charter

An English occupational surname originally referring to a professional copyist or record keeper.

In the 1881 census there were 580 people recorded with the Charter surname, ranking it #6,010 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 423, ranked #11,344, down from #6,010 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Charter is 658 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.1%.

1881 census count

580

Ranked #6,010

Modern count

423

2016, ranked #11,344

Peak year

1911

658 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Charter had 580 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,010 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 423 in 2016, ranked #11,344.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 658 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Charter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Charter surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Charter 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 411 #5,901
1861 historical 570 #4,616
1881 historical 580 #6,010
1891 historical 612 #6,284
1901 historical 649 #6,648
1911 historical 658 #6,384
1997 modern 479 #9,615
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 510 #9,517
2000 modern 514 #9,424
2001 modern 487 #9,656
2002 modern 493 #9,728
2003 modern 480 #9,782
2004 modern 468 #10,005
2005 modern 451 #10,197
2006 modern 450 #10,237
2007 modern 449 #10,350
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 477 #10,410
2011 modern 464 #10,524
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 435 #11,131
2014 modern 440 #11,107
2015 modern 428 #11,276
2016 modern 423 #11,344

Geography

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Where Charters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict, St Mary Islington, Arrington and Bassingbourn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Mid Suffolk. 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 3
2 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Arrington Cambridgeshire
5 Bassingbourn Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 019 South Cambridgeshire
2 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
3 Huntingdonshire 016 Huntingdonshire
4 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
5 Huntingdonshire 007 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Charter

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Charter

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Charter is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Charter 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

Charter falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Charter

The surname Charter has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chartre," which means a charter or deed. The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who was involved in the drafting or recording of legal documents, such as charters and deeds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Robertus Chartarius is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

The surname Charter is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Chartere." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as surnames were often written as they were pronounced.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Charter was Robert Charter, a cleric and scholar who served as the Chancellor of Oxford University from 1248 to 1252. He is known for his contributions to the development of the university's statutes and regulations.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname was Sir Thomas Charter (1490-1568), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Moving into the 17th century, we find John Charter (1614-1668), a clergyman and author who was born in Somersetshire. He wrote several theological works, including "The Scripture Doctrine of Predestination" and "A Treatise on Baptismal and Spiritual Regeneration."

In the 18th century, Samuel Charter (1723-1796) was a notable English painter and engraver. He was particularly known for his mezzotint engravings, which were widely admired for their rich tonal qualities.

Another individual of note was Thomas Charter (1756-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was awarded several honors for his distinguished service.

Throughout its history, the surname Charter has maintained its connection to the legal and literary professions, reflecting its origins as an occupational surname. While the name has spread across various regions, it remains an enduring part of the English surname tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Charter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Charter 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 130 Charters recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.34x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 130 36.34x
Yorkshire 84 1.50x
Middlesex 74 1.31x
Lancashire 40 0.60x
Huntingdonshire 39 34.78x
Surrey 29 1.05x
Hertfordshire 28 7.19x
Hampshire 27 2.33x
Cumberland 19 3.91x
Bedfordshire 13 4.45x
Essex 13 1.17x
Durham 11 0.65x
Kent 10 0.52x
Northumberland 10 1.19x
Berkshire 6 1.42x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.79x
Staffordshire 6 0.31x
Derbyshire 5 0.57x
Devon 5 0.43x
Shropshire 5 1.02x
Sussex 5 0.53x
Gloucestershire 4 0.36x
Northamptonshire 3 0.56x
Oxfordshire 2 0.57x
Ayrshire 1 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arrington in Cambridgeshire leads with 28 Charters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5957.45x.

Place Total Index
Arrington 28 5957.45x
Islington London 27 4.93x
St Andrewthe Less 23 56.28x
Bassingbourn 19 361.22x
Hackney London 16 5.05x
Somersham 16 588.24x
Hilton 15 2205.88x
Steeple Morden 15 789.47x
Kensington London 14 4.46x
Potton 13 335.05x
Therfield 13 570.18x
Holy Trinity 10 7.43x
Portsea 10 4.41x
Thixendale 10 2040.82x
Nafferton 9 376.57x
Sutton Stoneferry 9 56.21x
Camberwell 8 2.22x
Lambeth 8 1.62x
Manchester 8 2.65x
Chesterton 7 63.46x
Colne 7 1093.75x
Longstow 7 1296.30x
Orwell 7 451.61x
Sculcoates 7 7.89x
Aldershot 6 15.47x
Baldock 6 163.93x
Brandesburton 6 408.16x
Brentwood 6 88.24x
Ince Blundell 6 588.24x
Millom 6 40.27x
Norton 6 937.50x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.05x
Padiham 6 37.06x
St Marylebone London 6 1.99x
Cottingham 5 41.46x
Egremont 5 43.14x
Middleton In Teesdale 5 112.87x
Oldham 5 2.31x
Petersfield 5 157.23x
Shrewsbury St Chad 5 29.19x
Wimpole 5 724.64x
Wolverhampton 5 3.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.84x
Elswick 4 5.96x
Litlington 4 305.34x
Melbourn 4 114.61x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 9.18x
Norton In Malton 4 59.00x
Sittingbourne 4 26.28x
Stockton On Tees 4 4.94x
Sutton 4 134.68x
Wokingham 4 41.32x
Alverstoke 3 7.16x
Bourn 3 191.08x
Heaton Norris 3 7.86x
Horsham 3 16.22x
Kirkby Moorside 3 84.27x
Lancaster 3 7.52x
Merton 3 62.24x
Roydon 3 182.93x
Southwark Christchurch 3 11.34x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.01x
Waltham Holy Cross 3 28.79x
Wellingborough 3 11.23x
Blackburn 2 1.12x
Chadderton 2 6.11x
Cockermouth 2 19.53x
Drypool 2 23.34x
Gillingham 2 5.03x
Grantchester 2 89.69x
Hartley Wintney 2 57.47x
Haxby 2 185.19x
Litchurch 2 5.62x
Lower Heyford 2 198.02x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.66x
Ockbrook 2 53.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.21x
Shoreditch London 2 0.82x
Woldingham 2 769.23x
Wyke In Bradford 2 19.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 23
Jane 18
Ann 16
Alice 15
Elizabeth 15
Emily 9
Emma 9
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Eliza 6
Lucy 6
Susan 6
Gertrude 5
Rebecca 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Ellen 4
Esther 4
Florence 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Lizzie 3
Margaret 3
Rachel 3
Selina 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jessie 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Susie 2
Anna 1
Emley 1
Ethel 1
Jemima 1
Jenette 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
John 31
Thomas 27
Charles 24
George 19
James 11
Joseph 11
Robert 9
Walter 8
Arthur 7
Frederick 7
Albert 6
Edward 6
Henry 6
Samuel 5
Herbert 4
Wm. 4
Alexander 3
Richard 3
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Milward 2
Sidney 2
Benjmin 1
Chas. 1
Corneilus 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Duttn 1
Edmund 1
Eliott 1
Ellis 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
J.H.E. 1
J.H.J. 1
Jabez 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Josh. 1
Lionel 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Popp 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Charter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Charter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 580 people were recorded with the Charter surname. That placed it at #6,010 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Charter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 423 in 2016. That gives Charter a modern rank of #11,344.

What does the Charter surname mean?

An English occupational surname originally referring to a professional copyist or record keeper.

What does the Charter map show?

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