NameCensus.

UK surname

Chater

A surname derived from the Old French word 'chater' meaning to chatter or babble.

In the 1881 census there were 916 people recorded with the Chater surname, ranking it #4,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,198, ranked #4,968, down from #4,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Dudley and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chater is 1,325 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.8%.

1881 census count

916

Ranked #4,185

Modern count

1,198

2016, ranked #4,968

Peak year

1998

1,325 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chater had 916 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,198 in 2016, ranked #4,968.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,322 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chater surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chater surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chater 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 661 #3,924
1861 historical 726 #3,748
1881 historical 916 #4,185
1891 historical 1,019 #4,084
1901 historical 1,199 #4,108
1911 historical 1,322 #3,608
1997 modern 1,310 #4,375
1998 modern 1,325 #4,477
1999 modern 1,323 #4,531
2000 modern 1,305 #4,561
2001 modern 1,269 #4,579
2002 modern 1,292 #4,602
2003 modern 1,283 #4,529
2004 modern 1,282 #4,543
2005 modern 1,217 #4,701
2006 modern 1,207 #4,746
2007 modern 1,227 #4,732
2008 modern 1,260 #4,639
2009 modern 1,266 #4,728
2010 modern 1,264 #4,830
2011 modern 1,261 #4,785
2012 modern 1,202 #4,908
2013 modern 1,213 #4,939
2014 modern 1,227 #4,925
2015 modern 1,209 #4,939
2016 modern 1,198 #4,968

Geography

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Where Chaters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, London parishes, Gateshead and Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Dudley and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 035 Sandwell
2 Sandwell 025 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 029 Sandwell
4 Dudley 018 Dudley
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 007 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chater

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chater

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chater 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

Chater is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chater falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chater

The surname Chater is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "chateor," which means "to warm" or "to heat." This name has its roots in the 13th century and was initially an occupational surname given to those who worked as stokers or kiln operators, responsible for maintaining the heat and temperature of furnaces or ovens.

The earliest recorded instances of the Chater surname can be traced back to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Chateur." This record lists individuals bearing this name in various counties across England, including Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Huntingdonshire.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Chateor," "Chatur," and "Chatour," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that time. One notable mention can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1315, where a certain Richard Chatur is listed as a resident.

During the 16th century, the surname evolved to its modern spelling of "Chater," as evidenced by records in the Parish Registers of St. Michael's Church in Lichfield, Staffordshire, where a marriage between William Chater and Agnes Smyth was recorded in 1564.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Chater surname. One of the earliest was John Chater (c. 1400-1472), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as a Justice of the Common Pleas during the reign of Henry VI.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Chater (1540-1617), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1594 until his death. He was known for his involvement in the Hampton Court Conference of 1604, where the translation of the King James Bible was commissioned.

In the 18th century, Daniel Chater (1725-1796) was a renowned English horticulturist and nurseryman. He established the Chater Nursery in Cambridgeshire, which became famous for its collection of tulips and other bulbs.

Moving into the 19th century, Francis Chater (1801-1868) was a notable English farmer and breeder of livestock. He is credited with developing the Chater breed of pigs, which was highly regarded for its quality meat.

Finally, in the 20th century, Arthur Chater (1920-2005) was a British artist and sculptor known for his abstract works in metal and stone. His sculptures can be found in public spaces across the United Kingdom.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chater families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chater 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. Warwickshire leads with 120 Chaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 120 5.31x
Northumberland 114 8.55x
Middlesex 111 1.24x
Northamptonshire 102 12.10x
Surrey 51 1.17x
Staffordshire 47 1.55x
Durham 41 1.54x
Worcestershire 41 3.50x
Leicestershire 40 4.02x
Kent 39 1.28x
Essex 31 1.75x
Buckinghamshire 27 4.98x
Nottinghamshire 18 1.49x
Cambridgeshire 17 2.99x
Devon 13 0.70x
Sussex 13 0.86x
Hertfordshire 12 1.94x
Suffolk 12 1.10x
Lincolnshire 11 0.77x
Yorkshire 11 0.12x
Oxfordshire 8 1.45x
Cheshire 6 0.30x
Derbyshire 6 0.43x
Lancashire 6 0.06x
Bedfordshire 4 0.86x
Pembrokeshire 4 1.40x
Gloucestershire 3 0.17x
Royal Navy 3 2.81x
Hampshire 2 0.11x
Midlothian 2 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 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. Chirton in Northumberland leads with 34 Chaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.62x.

Place Total Index
Chirton 34 112.62x
Dudley 29 20.38x
Kensington London 27 5.42x
Kettering 27 79.18x
Tipton 23 24.82x
Tynemouth 20 28.00x
Aston 18 2.89x
Bishopwearmouth 17 7.43x
Olney 15 200.27x
Birmingham 14 1.86x
Kingsthorpe 14 149.41x
Long Itchington 14 395.48x
Nottingham St Mary 14 4.48x
Islington London 13 1.50x
Northampton St Giles 13 40.47x
Gateshead 12 6.01x
North Shields 12 45.08x
Great Bowden 11 121.68x
Paddington London 11 3.34x
Rowley Regis 11 13.04x
Westgate 11 13.32x
Alkborough 10 819.67x
Camberwell 10 1.75x
Battersea 9 2.73x
Rugby 9 29.43x
Wallsend 9 21.28x
Welton 9 600.00x
Chelsea London 8 2.96x
Hallaton 8 363.64x
Napton On Hill 8 294.12x
St Pancras London 8 1.11x
Whitley 8 185.61x
Wolverhampton 8 3.44x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 21.94x
Harpole 7 274.51x
Lambeth 7 0.90x
Lutterworth 7 115.51x
Monkseaton 7 466.67x
St Andrewthe Less 7 10.79x
St Marythe Less 7 202.90x
West Ham 7 1.79x
Westminster St John 7 6.41x
Brighton 6 1.97x
Chatham 6 7.13x
Dunchurch 6 194.17x
Eltham 6 33.48x
Leamington 6 40.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 6 4.17x
Rotherhithe 6 5.42x
Soothill 6 18.70x
Westoe 6 3.97x
Aldeburgh 5 77.40x
Beckenham 5 12.51x
Blackawton 5 153.85x
Blisworth 5 153.85x
Elmdon 5 265.96x
Grandborough 5 378.79x
Leicester St Mary 5 6.23x
Leyton Low 5 13.90x
Margaretting 5 310.56x
North Mimms 5 128.53x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.17x
Streatham 5 7.52x
Tonbridge 5 4.53x
Watford 5 10.44x
West Bromwich 5 2.89x
Wolston 5 675.68x
Worcester Blockhouse 5 77.76x
Alfreton 4 9.38x
Claines 4 12.45x
Daventry 4 33.53x
Edgbaston 4 5.71x
Hastings St Mary 4 10.64x
Leicester St Margaret 4 1.65x
Southam 4 72.86x
St George Martyr London 4 22.03x
St James Dukes Place 4 209.42x
Tenby St Mary In 4 27.59x
Willesden 4 4.73x
Wolston Marston 4 236.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Sarah 36
Elizabeth 34
Jane 19
Emma 17
Ann 16
Annie 16
Eliza 15
Ellen 11
Margaret 11
Hannah 10
Harriet 9
Alice 8
Ada 7
Charlotte 7
Martha 7
Caroline 6
Emily 6
Louisa 6
Edith 5
Florence 5
Isabella 5
Lucy 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Maria 4
Amy 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Harriett 3
Henrietta 3
Kate 3
Margery 3
Matilda 3
Phoebe 3
Rebecca 3
Sophia 3
Susannah 3
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Helen 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
May 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
S.A. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 58
William 53
Thomas 35
George 29
James 25
Charles 21
Henry 21
Edward 17
Joseph 17
Samuel 17
Alfred 14
Robert 11
Arthur 9
Frederick 7
Francis 6
Richard 6
Daniel 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
David 4
Ernest 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Benjamin 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Isaachar 2
Mathew 2
Ralph 2
Richd. 2
Wm. 2
Alex 1
Andrew 1
Archbold 1
Carus 1
Cecil 1
Cyril 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.D. 1
Hornby 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jas.Dougils 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Jonathan 1

FAQ

Chater surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chater surname in 1881?

In 1881, 916 people were recorded with the Chater surname. That placed it at #4,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chater surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,198 in 2016. That gives Chater a modern rank of #4,968.

What does the Chater surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word 'chater' meaning to chatter or babble.

What does the Chater map show?

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