NameCensus.

UK surname

Chase

An occupational surname referring to a skilled huntsman or one who assisted in the hunt.

In the 1881 census there were 1,668 people recorded with the Chase surname, ranking it #2,578 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,703, ranked #2,485, up from #2,578 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Shropshire and Fareham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chase is 2,759 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.1%.

1881 census count

1,668

Ranked #2,578

Modern count

2,703

2016, ranked #2,485

Peak year

2014

2,759 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chase had 1,668 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,578 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,703 in 2016, ranked #2,485.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,250 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chase surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chase surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chase 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 1,096 #2,566
1861 historical 1,057 #2,656
1881 historical 1,668 #2,578
1891 historical 1,775 #2,573
1901 historical 2,092 #2,562
1911 historical 2,250 #2,250
1997 modern 2,601 #2,444
1998 modern 2,723 #2,432
1999 modern 2,722 #2,451
2000 modern 2,672 #2,479
2001 modern 2,630 #2,466
2002 modern 2,700 #2,455
2003 modern 2,645 #2,452
2004 modern 2,598 #2,486
2005 modern 2,561 #2,488
2006 modern 2,554 #2,496
2007 modern 2,586 #2,487
2008 modern 2,580 #2,517
2009 modern 2,628 #2,530
2010 modern 2,704 #2,518
2011 modern 2,701 #2,488
2012 modern 2,653 #2,490
2013 modern 2,712 #2,486
2014 modern 2,759 #2,473
2015 modern 2,714 #2,477
2016 modern 2,703 #2,485

Geography

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Where Chases are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St Mary Islington and Titchfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Shropshire, Fareham, North Lincolnshire and Newark and Sherwood. 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 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Titchfield Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 007 South Hams
2 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
3 Fareham 006 Fareham
4 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
5 Newark and Sherwood 003 Newark and Sherwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chase

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chase

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Chase is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chase 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

Chase falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chase

The surname CHASE originated in England, emerging during the late 11th century in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest. It is derived from the Old French word "chasser," meaning "to hunt" or "to chase." This occupational surname was likely bestowed upon individuals who worked as hunters or gamekeepers in medieval English society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHASE surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is mentioned in connection with various manors and villages across various counties, including Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records and documents, often associated with landowners and individuals of notable status. One such example is Sir Thomas Chase, a renowned knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crecy during the Hundred Years' War (1346-1353).

The CHASE surname also has connections to place names, as evidenced by the existence of Chase Wood in Worcestershire and Chase Town in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the CHASE surname who once owned or resided in those areas.

In the 16th century, the CHASE surname gained further prominence with the birth of Aquila Chase (1566-1647), an English clergyman and academic who served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1638 to 1644.

Another notable individual with the CHASE surname was Samuel Chase (1741-1811), a prominent American jurist and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He played a crucial role in the early judicial system of the United States, serving as a Supreme Court Justice from 1796 until his death.

The CHASE surname has also produced several distinguished literary figures, including Mary Ellen Chase (1887-1973), an American novelist and essayist known for her works set in rural Maine, and Ilka Chase (1900-1978), a renowned American actress, novelist, and biographer.

Throughout its history, the CHASE surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Chace, Chasse, and Chayse, reflecting the fluidity of orthography in earlier centuries. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, reflecting the enduring legacy of those who once pursued the hunt in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chase families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chase 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. Hampshire leads with 292 Chases recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.73x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 292 8.73x
Middlesex 282 1.73x
Norfolk 185 7.37x
Surrey 154 1.94x
Sussex 120 4.36x
Suffolk 76 3.82x
Lancashire 62 0.32x
Essex 53 1.65x
Devon 48 1.41x
Kent 37 0.66x
Staffordshire 37 0.67x
Warwickshire 37 0.90x
Yorkshire 27 0.17x
Shropshire 24 1.70x
Cambridgeshire 23 2.23x
Bedfordshire 21 2.49x
Gloucestershire 21 0.66x
Durham 20 0.41x
Somerset 19 0.72x
Cheshire 18 0.50x
Flintshire 18 4.10x
Berkshire 15 1.22x
Hertfordshire 15 1.33x
Worcestershire 14 0.66x
Lincolnshire 9 0.34x
Derbyshire 7 0.27x
Glamorgan 7 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 5 1.54x
Lanarkshire 4 0.08x
Northumberland 4 0.16x
Northamptonshire 3 0.20x
Oxfordshire 3 0.30x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.58x
Channel Islands 2 0.41x
Midlothian 2 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.09x
Brecknockshire 1 0.31x
Monmouthshire 1 0.08x
Renfrewshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 110 Chases recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.78x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 110 16.78x
Great Yarmouth 39 18.76x
Titchfield 37 146.77x
Lambeth 36 2.53x
Bethnal Green London 34 4.80x
Islington London 33 2.09x
St Pancras London 29 2.21x
Dartmouth St Saviour 27 278.35x
Bermondsey 25 5.15x
St Marylebone London 24 2.75x
Camberwell 21 2.01x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 21 27.88x
Paddington London 21 3.50x
Alverstoke 20 16.52x
Croxton 19 1104.65x
Leiston 18 131.87x
Hackney London 17 1.86x
Hanmer 16 471.98x
Hornsey 16 7.75x
Up Marden 16 855.62x
Edgbaston 15 11.75x
Chadderton 14 14.79x
Fernhurst 13 213.46x
West Bromwich 13 4.12x
Acle 12 234.38x
Bedford St Paul 12 20.70x
Shoreditch London 12 1.70x
Aston 11 0.97x
Battersea 11 1.83x
Halliwell 11 15.61x
Newington 11 1.82x
Beccles 10 31.26x
Brighton 10 1.80x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 9.37x
Bromley London 10 2.79x
Handsworth 10 7.36x
Mettingham 10 492.61x
Neatishead 10 309.60x
Southampton St Mary 10 4.75x
Subdeanery 10 47.89x
Westoe 10 3.63x
Wisbech St Peter 10 19.29x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 9 101.93x
Cheshunt 9 22.89x
Croydon 9 2.04x
Dodbrooke 9 133.53x
Kelvedon 9 104.77x
Milford 9 92.12x
Petersfield 9 97.83x
Sculcoates 9 3.51x
Tottenham 9 3.46x
Welsh Hampton 9 309.28x
Aldeby 8 222.84x
Alton 8 31.73x
Bristol St Paul In 8 9.38x
Great Grimsby 8 4.83x
Hampstead London 8 3.15x
Hoyland Nether 8 20.17x
Kelsale 8 144.93x
Lewisham 8 2.69x
Rumbolds Wyke 8 158.42x
Sco Ruston 8 1600.00x
Shere 8 83.25x
South Fambridge 8 1600.00x
Chichester St Pancras 7 85.16x
Church Gresley 7 17.22x
Clapham 7 3.43x
Dagenham 7 36.52x
Ellesmere 7 28.91x
Habergham Eaves 7 3.95x
Hawkwell 7 466.67x
Hockliffe 7 382.51x
Kings Somborne 7 99.72x
North Lynn 7 1372.55x
St George Hanover Square 7 2.43x
Freshwater 6 39.27x
Hammersmith London 6 1.49x
Kensington London 6 0.66x
Potter Heigham 6 259.74x
West Tofts 6 566.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 110
John 68
George 61
James 54
Henry 44
Thomas 43
Charles 39
Robert 35
Frederick 23
Joseph 21
Alfred 19
Edward 18
Richard 18
Arthur 17
Harry 12
Ernest 11
Walter 11
Frank 10
Herbert 10
Benjamin 9
Samuel 9
Albert 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Fredrick 5
Edwin 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
David 3
Edgar 3
Joshua 3
Matthew 3
Philip 3
Sydney 3
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Cornelivus 2
Frederic 2
Fredk.C. 2
Harold 2
Lionel 2
Mark 2
Phillip 2
Reuben 2
Sherwin 2
Temple 2
Wm. 2
Cecil 1
Drummond 1
Ebenezer 1

FAQ

Chase surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chase surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,668 people were recorded with the Chase surname. That placed it at #2,578 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chase surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,703 in 2016. That gives Chase a modern rank of #2,485.

What does the Chase surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a skilled huntsman or one who assisted in the hunt.

What does the Chase map show?

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