NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatten

A surname derived from the Middle Dutch word "cat" or "kat," possibly denoting a cat owner or breeder.

In the 1881 census there were 245 people recorded with the Chatten surname, ranking it #11,232 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 464, ranked #10,570, up from #11,232 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Aldeburgh, Dudley and Carlton Rode. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, South Norfolk and Suffolk Coastal.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatten is 557 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.4%.

1881 census count

245

Ranked #11,232

Modern count

464

2016, ranked #10,570

Peak year

1997

557 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatten had 245 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,232 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 464 in 2016, ranked #10,570.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 478 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Chatten surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatten surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chatten 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 245 #11,232
1891 historical 308 #10,886
1901 historical 425 #9,081
1911 historical 478 #8,099
1997 modern 557 #8,579
1998 modern 557 #8,837
1999 modern 534 #9,184
2000 modern 540 #9,084
2001 modern 536 #8,979
2002 modern 539 #9,120
2003 modern 516 #9,275
2004 modern 516 #9,302
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 509 #9,355
2007 modern 492 #9,677
2008 modern 482 #9,913
2009 modern 497 #9,911
2010 modern 508 #9,929
2011 modern 507 #9,854
2012 modern 481 #10,145
2013 modern 482 #10,298
2014 modern 477 #10,444
2015 modern 470 #10,480
2016 modern 464 #10,570

Geography

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Where Chattens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Aldeburgh, Dudley, Carlton Rode, Sudborne and Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, South Norfolk, Suffolk Coastal, Great Yarmouth and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Aldeburgh Suffolk
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Carlton Rode Norfolk
4 Sudborne Suffolk
5 Ilketshall St Lawrence, Bungay St Mary, Bungay Holy Trinity Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 009 South Norfolk
3 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
4 Great Yarmouth 010 Great Yarmouth
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chatten

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chatten

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chatten, 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 Chatten surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Chatten 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Chatten is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Chatten is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chatten falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chatten

The surname CHATTEN originates from England, with its earliest known use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cete," meaning a hut or cottage, suggesting that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived in a small dwelling or a remote area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHATTEN surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1275, where it appears as "Chaten." This document, which was a taxation record, provides valuable insight into the prevalence and geographical distribution of surnames during that period.

In the 14th century, the CHATTEN name appeared in various spellings, such as "Chateyn," "Chatteyn," and "Chateyne," reflecting the fluidity of surname spellings before their standardization. These variations can be found in historical records like the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1315 and the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1362.

The CHATTEN surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One such individual was John Chatten (c. 1570-1652), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Another prominent bearer of this name was Sir William Chatten (1609-1676), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, Thomas Chatten (1620-1688) was a renowned English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King James II. His legal expertise and contributions to the English legal system have been well-documented in historical records.

Another notable figure was Mary Chatten (1792-1859), a British author and poet who gained recognition for her literary works, including a collection of poems titled "Wildflowers" published in 1845.

During the 18th century, the CHATTEN surname appears to have been particularly prevalent in various counties across England, including Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, and Essex, as evidenced by parish records and other historical documents from that period.

While the CHATTEN name has evolved over centuries and has been subject to various spellings, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "cete," reflecting the linguistic roots and historical significance of this surname in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chatten families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatten 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 96 Chattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.13x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 96 26.13x
Suffolk 50 17.18x
Yorkshire 20 0.84x
Middlesex 18 0.75x
Staffordshire 10 1.24x
Cheshire 8 1.52x
Northumberland 8 2.25x
Hertfordshire 7 4.25x
Durham 6 0.84x
Essex 5 1.06x
Northamptonshire 5 2.22x
Hampshire 3 0.61x
Surrey 3 0.26x
Cornwall 2 0.74x
Kent 2 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.66x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brockdish in Norfolk leads with 21 Chattens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5833.33x.

Place Total Index
Brockdish 21 5833.33x
Aldeburgh 19 1104.65x
Carleton Rode 16 2539.68x
Heigham 16 81.14x
Bungay Holy Trinity 14 939.60x
Saxthorpe 13 4814.81x
Tranmere 8 41.26x
Tynemouth 8 42.02x
Wolstanton Knutton 8 162.27x
Wymondham 8 212.77x
Dewsbury 7 28.82x
Therfield 7 729.17x
Islington London 6 2.59x
Blisworth 5 574.71x
Chelsea London 5 6.94x
Stratton St Michael 5 2272.73x
Edmondsley 4 526.32x
Leeds 4 2.99x
Linthorpe 4 28.31x
Tasburgh 4 1111.11x
Woodbridge 4 107.53x
Beccles 3 64.10x
Harwich St Nicholas 3 82.42x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 36.76x
Middlesbrough 3 9.73x
Tharston 3 967.74x
Denver 2 294.12x
Gate Fulford 2 36.17x
Harwick St Nicholas 2 270.27x
Iken 2 740.74x
Kingswinford 2 6.83x
Norwood 2 36.63x
Saxmundham 2 185.19x
St Pancras London 2 1.04x
St Teath 2 122.70x
Buxton 1 217.39x
Camberwell 1 0.66x
Cley Next Sea 1 169.49x
Croydon 1 1.55x
Forncett St Peter 1 200.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.29x
Hilgay 1 72.46x
Hove 1 5.66x
Lakenham 1 19.16x
Lambeth 1 0.48x
Lee 1 8.45x
Leverington 1 100.00x
Lewisham 1 2.30x
Lowestoft 1 7.27x
Lyndhurst 1 74.63x
New Brentford 1 79.37x
Norwich St Stephen 1 29.67x
Orford 1 106.38x
Paddington London 1 1.14x
Poplar London 1 2.22x
Portsmouth 1 8.87x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 1 108.70x
Thrandeston 1 434.78x
Tudhoe 1 16.08x
Westoe 1 2.48x
Yateley 1 107.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 9
Martha 7
Charlotte 6
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 6
Alice 5
Sophia 5
Jane 4
Amelia 3
Anna 3
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Dorothy 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Honor 3
Ann 2
Beatrice 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Mahala 2
Rebecca 2
Rosanna 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Edith 1
Elanor 1
Elizbeth 1
Esther 1
Evengeline 1
Gerty 1
Harriet 1
Harriott 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Phoebe 1
Pleasant 1
Sussanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 14
William 14
Henry 10
Robert 10
Charles 9
George 8
John 8
Samuel 5
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Frederick 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Arthur 1
Barnabas 1
Edward 1
Eliger 1
Fred 1
Joseph 1
Laurance 1
Shadrack 1
Sidney 1
West 1
Wm.Hy.Robt. 1

FAQ

Chatten surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatten surname in 1881?

In 1881, 245 people were recorded with the Chatten surname. That placed it at #11,232 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatten surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 464 in 2016. That gives Chatten a modern rank of #10,570.

What does the Chatten surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle Dutch word "cat" or "kat," possibly denoting a cat owner or breeder.

What does the Chatten map show?

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