UK surname
A surname derived from the occupation of a talkative or chatty person.
In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Chatter surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #28,965 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Belchamp, Otton, Trysull and Glemsford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatter is 107 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.5%.
1881 census count
33
Ranked #28,965
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
107 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chatter surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chatter surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 22 | #29,378 |
| 1861 | historical | 107 | #20,008 |
| 1881 | historical | 33 | #28,965 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 19 | #35,991 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 16 | #36,978 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Belchamp, Otton, Trysull, Glemsford, Penkridge, Tiddesley Hay and Horsham, Sullington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belchamp, Otton | Suffolk |
| 2 | Trysull | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Glemsford | Suffolk |
| 4 | Penkridge, Tiddesley Hay | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Horsham, Sullington | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chatter surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chatter, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Chatter surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chatter household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Chatter is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chatter is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chatter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chatter has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period as an occupational name for a chatterbox or someone who talked incessantly. The name is derived from the Old English word "ceateran," which means "to chatter" or "to babble."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chatter surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mention a William Chatter. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, referring to a Margery Chatter.
In the 14th century, the Chatter surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. Records from this period include John Chatter, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327, and Thomas Chatter, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1380.
The surname Chatter is also associated with various place names in England, such as Chatteris in Cambridgeshire and Chatterley in Staffordshire. These place names likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals with the surname Chatter throughout history include:
1. Sir John Chatter (c. 1480-1548), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire during the reign of Henry VIII.
2. Elizabeth Chatter (c. 1560-1620), an English herbalist and midwife renowned for her knowledge of medicinal plants.
3. Thomas Chatter (1590-1668), an English clergyman and author of the influential work "A Treatise on Christian Patience."
4. William Chatter (1625-1702), an English lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1688 to 1702.
5. Mary Chatter (1720-1804), an English philanthropist and advocate for education, known for establishing several schools in her hometown of Bristol.
While the Chatter surname has origins in medieval England, it has since spread across the globe, with variations in spelling and pronunciation arising in different regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatter surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 12 Chatters recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 12 | 10.72x |
| Lancashire | 5 | 1.27x |
| Suffolk | 5 | 12.38x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.21x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 4.78x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 4.99x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 7.46x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.88x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.30x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trysull in Staffordshire leads with 6 Chatters recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Trysull | 6 | 10000.00x |
| Aldeburgh | 5 | 2083.33x |
| Aston | 4 | 17.37x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 21.70x |
| West Bromwich | 4 | 62.40x |
| West Derby | 4 | 34.75x |
| Biddulph | 1 | 158.73x |
| Eglwys Rhos | 1 | 588.24x |
| Hawkhurst | 1 | 285.71x |
| Langley Marish | 1 | 400.00x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 54.95x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 17.30x |
| Walton On Hill | 1 | 46.95x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chatter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chatter surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chatter households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Ag Labr | 2 |
| Boatman | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Dom Servt Housemaid | 1 |
| Gas Manager | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Labourer At Forge | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Rivett Lad (Iron) | 1 |
| Shop Assistant Book Seller | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Chatter surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Chatter a modern rank of #36,998.
A surname derived from the occupation of a talkative or chatty person.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chatter bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.