NameCensus.

UK surname

Chaston

An English surname derived from the Old English place name "Chawston" or "Chalveston".

In the 1881 census there were 354 people recorded with the Chaston surname, ranking it #8,701 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 336, ranked #13,583, down from #8,701 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Merton and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Thurrock and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chaston is 453 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.1%.

1881 census count

354

Ranked #8,701

Modern count

336

2016, ranked #13,583

Peak year

1911

453 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chaston had 354 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,701 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016, ranked #13,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 453 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chaston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chaston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chaston 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 354 #8,701
1891 historical 340 #10,062
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 453 #8,460
1997 modern 343 #12,349
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 366 #12,225
2000 modern 368 #12,130
2001 modern 358 #12,181
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 360 #12,152
2004 modern 362 #12,155
2005 modern 348 #12,410
2006 modern 340 #12,722
2007 modern 348 #12,637
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 352 #12,918
2010 modern 354 #13,135
2011 modern 359 #12,856
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 342 #13,396
2016 modern 336 #13,583

Geography

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Where Chastons are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Thurrock, Lewes, Dover and Greenwich. 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 Merton Norfolk
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
2 Thurrock 017 Thurrock
3 Lewes 013 Lewes
4 Dover 010 Dover
5 Greenwich 004 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chaston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chaston

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Chaston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chaston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Chaston 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

Chaston 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chaston

The surname Chaston is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cest" or "cyst," meaning "chest" or "box," and "tun," meaning "town" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a town or village known for its chest-making or storage industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chestone" and "Chestune." These entries likely refer to settlements or manors located in the aforementioned counties, indicating the name's long-standing presence in the region.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "de Chestone," "de Cestona," and "de Chestune," reflecting the common practice of adding the prefix "de" to denote a person's place of origin. This practice was widespread among the Norman nobility and gentry.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Chaston include:

1. Sir John Chaston (c. 1300-1370), a prominent landowner and knight from Staffordshire who served in the Hundred Years' War. 2. Robert Chaston (c. 1450-1520), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor and the Bishop of Lincoln. 3. Elizabeth Chaston (c. 1560-1630), a renowned herbalist and midwife from Shropshire, known for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants. 4. William Chaston (c. 1620-1685), a merchant and landowner from Staffordshire who played a significant role in the English Civil War as a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause. 5. Margaret Chaston (c. 1750-1820), a pioneering educator from Shropshire who established one of the first schools for girls in the region.

Over time, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Cheston, Chestun, Chaston, and Chastin, reflecting regional dialects and scribal variations. Additionally, some branches of the Chaston family migrated to other parts of England, as well as to Wales and Scotland, further diversifying the name's spelling and pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chaston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chaston 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. Norfolk leads with 100 Chastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.78x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 100 18.78x
Suffolk 84 19.91x
Middlesex 43 1.24x
Surrey 38 2.25x
Essex 18 2.63x
Cambridgeshire 12 5.47x
Kent 12 1.02x
Lancashire 12 0.29x
Sussex 9 1.54x
Warwickshire 6 0.69x
Dorset 5 2.20x
Hampshire 5 0.70x
Northumberland 3 0.58x
Somerset 2 0.36x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 2.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 18 Chastons recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.81x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 18 40.81x
Battersea 17 13.34x
Lowestoft 16 80.28x
Islington London 15 4.47x
Beccles 14 206.19x
Lambeth 11 3.64x
Watton 11 658.68x
Keymer 9 218.45x
Merton 9 4500.00x
Wanstead 9 75.19x
Downham 8 343.35x
Golborne 8 149.25x
Middleton 8 1333.33x
Tottington 8 2352.94x
Deptford St Paul 7 7.68x
Belton 6 810.81x
Coventry St Michael 6 21.39x
Loddon 6 437.96x
Mendham 6 674.16x
Newington 6 4.69x
Snape 6 1000.00x
West Ham 6 3.98x
Carbrooke 5 684.93x
Gillingham 5 943.40x
Hampreston 5 303.03x
St George Martyr London 5 71.33x
Toft Monks 5 1063.83x
Willesden 5 15.32x
Barton Turf 4 975.61x
Brundish 4 909.09x
Camberwell 4 1.81x
Chelsea London 4 3.83x
Great Shelford 4 347.83x
New Alresford 4 217.39x
Southwold 4 160.00x
Toxteth Park 4 2.87x
Wrentham 4 341.88x
Aldeby 3 394.74x
Earsham 3 416.67x
Kelsale 3 256.41x
Limehouse London 3 7.89x
Ratcliffe London 3 15.69x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.92x
Trimley St Martin 3 416.67x
Woolwich 3 6.87x
East Harling 2 158.73x
Hatfield Peverel 2 135.14x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 7.49x
Northwold 2 139.86x
Norwich St John 2 416.67x
Norwich St Julian 2 89.29x
Norwich St Michael At 2 64.72x
Norwich St Stephen 2 40.90x
Paddington London 2 1.57x
Stiffkey 2 392.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.61x
Wheatacre All Sts 2 1176.47x
Attleborough 1 37.17x
Bradford 1 1.20x
Canterbury St Mary 1 12.61x
Clevedon 1 17.24x
Friston 1 217.39x
Frostenden 1 217.39x
Haddiscoe 1 212.77x
Heckingham 1 256.41x
Holton 1 185.19x
Isleworth 1 6.49x
Kirkley 1 28.33x
Lewisham 1 1.59x
Marton In Middlesbrough 1 80.00x
New Windsor 1 11.44x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 37.45x
Rockland St Peter 1 333.33x
Royal Navy 1 2.83x
St Lawrence Winchester 1 344.83x
St Matthew Friday Street 1 1666.67x
St Pancras London 1 0.36x
Wangford 1 126.58x
Weston Super Mare 1 7.10x
Worlingham 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Sarah 18
Alice 10
Elizabeth 8
Emma 8
Ann 7
Eliza 7
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Frances 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Ellen 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Emily 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Maryann 2
Rosey 2
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Delilah 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Hermin 1
Isabella 1
Joanna 1
Lily 1
Lizzy 1
Louis 1
Lucy 1
Mariann 1
Marion 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 16
Robert 15
George 14
Charles 10
Edward 8
James 8
Arthur 6
Alfred 5
Harry 5
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Ernest 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Hy. 2
Joseph 2
A. 1
Albort 1
Allen 1
Ben 1
Ben. 1
Benjn. 1
Bertram 1
Carley 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Ernerst 1
Everett 1
H. 1
Hezekiah 1
Jacob 1
Jeremiah 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Morgan 1
Reuben 1
Sam 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Wm.L. 1

FAQ

Chaston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chaston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 354 people were recorded with the Chaston surname. That placed it at #8,701 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chaston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016. That gives Chaston a modern rank of #13,583.

What does the Chaston surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English place name "Chawston" or "Chalveston".

What does the Chaston map show?

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