NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatt

A surname derived from the French word "chat" meaning cat.

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Chatt surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 216, ranked #18,613, down from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Scarborough and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatt is 365 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.0%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

216

2016, ranked #18,613

Peak year

1911

365 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatt had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016, ranked #18,613.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Chatt surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatt surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Chatt 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 248 #12,849
1901 historical 316 #11,242
1911 historical 365 #9,955
1997 modern 272 #14,451
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 281 #14,578
2000 modern 283 #14,488
2001 modern 269 #14,776
2002 modern 270 #15,010
2003 modern 259 #15,254
2004 modern 244 #15,948
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 247 #15,860
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 246 #16,247
2009 modern 259 #16,013
2010 modern 256 #16,523
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 253 #16,377
2013 modern 246 #16,979
2014 modern 237 #17,528
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 216 #18,613

Geography

Back to top

Where Chatts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Gateshead, Worplesdon , Ash and Gainford (Barnard Castle, Marwood), Staindrop (Langley Dale), Middleton-in-Teesdale (Egglestone). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Scarborough, Broadland and Bexley. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Worplesdon , Ash Surrey
5 Gainford (Barnard Castle, Marwood), Staindrop (Langley Dale), Middleton-in-Teesdale (Egglestone) Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 010 County Durham
2 Scarborough 007 Scarborough
3 County Durham 049 County Durham
4 Broadland 011 Broadland
5 Bexley 026 Bexley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Chatt

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Chatt

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Chatt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Chatt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chatt 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

Chatt is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chatt falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chatt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Chatt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Chatt

The surname CHATT has its origins in England, tracing back to the early 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ceat," which means a small hut or cottage. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived in a small dwelling or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CHATT can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records from the time of King Edward I. The entry mentions a William Chatt from Oxfordshire.

In the later part of the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Chatte, Chett, and Chet, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. Some historical documents from Norfolk and Suffolk also reference individuals with the surname CHATT or similar spellings.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the name CHATT. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Chatteris in Cambridgeshire and Chatham in Kent.

One notable individual bearing the name CHATT was Sir Walter Chatt, who lived in the late 16th century and served as a Member of Parliament for East Grinstead in 1589. Another prominent figure was Richard Chatt, born in 1630, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor from London.

Moving forward, the name CHATT appeared in various records throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Chatt (1794-1867), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

Another historical figure was William Chatt (1854-1928), a British businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the town of Croydon in Surrey. He founded the Chatt Trust, which supported education and other charitable causes in the area.

While the name CHATT is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history dating back several centuries and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, inventors, and philanthropists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Chatt families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatt 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. Durham leads with 106 Chatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.41x.

County Total Index
Durham 106 20.41x
Surrey 27 3.17x
Northumberland 23 8.85x
Middlesex 11 0.63x
Hampshire 9 2.51x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Cumberland 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 16 Chatts recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.14x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 16 41.14x
Kyo 13 530.61x
Frimley 12 495.87x
Barnard Castle 11 428.02x
Bishopwearmouth 11 24.67x
Isleworth 11 141.75x
Hawley 9 1343.28x
Westoe 9 30.56x
Byers Green 8 544.22x
Hexham 8 199.01x
Allendale 7 290.46x
Hambledon 7 777.78x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 26.67x
Thursley 6 983.61x
Conside Knitsley 5 123.76x
Elvet 5 133.33x
Middlestone 5 480.77x
Iveston 4 167.36x
Medomsley 4 165.29x
Muggleswick 3 600.00x
Wolsingham 3 63.42x
Benfieldside 2 58.48x
Elswick 2 9.65x
Middlesbrough 2 8.88x
Wallsend 2 24.27x
Westgate 2 12.43x
Battersea 1 1.56x
Framwellgate 1 32.47x
Hayton 1 117.65x
Lambeth 1 0.66x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 1 256.41x
Tynemouth 1 7.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Jane 9
Mary 9
Margaret 5
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Rosina 2
Amelia 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Dorah 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Emelas 1
Emma 1
Kate 1
Lavina 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Meggie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Joseph 17
George 11
William 11
John 10
Thomas 10
Robert 6
James 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Caleb 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Teasdale 2
Whitfield 2
Alfred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Horrice 1
Leonard 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Septimus 1
Ulrick 1

FAQ

Chatt surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatt surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Chatt surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatt surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 216 in 2016. That gives Chatt a modern rank of #18,613.

What does the Chatt surname mean?

A surname derived from the French word "chat" meaning cat.

What does the Chatt map show?

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