NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatters

A surname referring to a talkative or chatty person.

In the 1881 census there were 192 people recorded with the Chatters surname, ranking it #13,185 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, down from #13,185 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cavendish, London parishes and Mersea, West. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, Babergh and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatters is 312 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.8%.

1881 census count

192

Ranked #13,185

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

1911

312 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatters had 192 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,185 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 312 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chatters surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatters surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chatters 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 192 #13,185
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 288 #11,973
1911 historical 312 #11,130
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 227 #16,754
1999 modern 221 #17,126
2000 modern 223 #16,978
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 227 #16,877
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 183 #19,553
2008 modern 190 #19,246
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 193 #19,880
2011 modern 193 #19,729
2012 modern 201 #19,147
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Chatters' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cavendish, London parishes, Mersea, West, Belchamp, Otton and Glemsford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, Babergh and Fenland. 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 Cavendish Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Mersea, West Essex
4 Belchamp, Otton Suffolk
5 Glemsford Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire
2 Babergh 003 Babergh
3 Babergh 007 Babergh
4 Babergh 006 Babergh
5 Fenland 007 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chatters

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chatters

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Chatters 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

Chatters is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chatters

The surname Chatters is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old English word "ceahtere," which means "chatterer" or "loud talker." This occupation-based surname was likely given to individuals who were known for their talkative or chatty nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named Richard le Cheatere is mentioned. The "le" prefix was commonly used in medieval times to indicate someone's occupation or distinguishing characteristic.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Chateris, Chatyres, and Chaturs, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation during that period. These variations can be found in historical documents like the Hundred Rolls of 1273 and the Subsidy Rolls of 1327.

The name Chatters has also been associated with certain place names in England. For instance, there is a village called Chatteris in Cambridgeshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

One notable individual with the surname Chatters was William Chatters, a 16th-century English composer and organist who served at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford. He was born around 1540 and died in 1599.

Another remarkable figure was Sir John Chatters, a 17th-century English politician and landowner. He was born in 1620 and served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire from 1661 to 1679.

In the 18th century, Elizabeth Chatters, born in 1712, was a renowned botanist and naturalist. She made significant contributions to the study of plant life in her local area and was recognized for her extensive knowledge of flora.

Moving into the 19th century, James Chatters, born in 1825, was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the National Gallery.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Samuel Chatters, born in 1890, was a decorated soldier who served in World War I. He received the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his bravery and heroism on the battlefield.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chatters families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatters 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. Essex leads with 115 Chatters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.11x.

County Total Index
Essex 115 31.11x
Suffolk 28 12.27x
Middlesex 14 0.75x
Durham 9 1.62x
Derbyshire 7 2.39x
Staffordshire 6 0.95x
Surrey 6 0.66x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Norfolk 2 0.69x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Leicestershire 1 0.48x
Northumberland 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belchamp Walter in Essex leads with 30 Chatters' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.

Place Total Index
Belchamp Walter 30 7500.00x
Belchamp Otten 27 12857.14x
West Mersea 13 1830.99x
Cavendish 10 1351.35x
Castle Hedingham 8 1194.03x
Glemsford 8 500.00x
Mountnessing 8 1428.57x
Belchamp St Paul 7 1555.56x
Pentlow 7 3684.21x
Stapenhill 7 160.55x
Biddulph 6 168.07x
Darlington 6 27.89x
Sudbury St Gregory 6 327.87x
Camberwell 4 3.34x
Hackney London 4 3.81x
Kensington London 4 3.84x
Paddington London 4 5.81x
Walthamstow 4 30.05x
Maldon St Peter 3 159.57x
Ryton 3 153.06x
Acton 2 540.54x
Attleborough 2 137.93x
Bocking 2 90.09x
Hempstead 2 500.00x
Toppesfield 2 363.64x
Beaumont 1 370.37x
Bury 1 3.94x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 16.42x
Elton 1 13.02x
Hadleigh 1 45.25x
High Low Shitlington 1 1428.57x
Lambeth 1 0.61x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.97x
Mottisfont 1 303.03x
St Pancras London 1 0.66x
Streatham 1 7.19x
Tottenham 1 3.35x
West Ham 1 1.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 9
Mary 7
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Emily 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.J. 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Hepzibah 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Laviana 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Maryann 1
Phillis 1
Rebecca 1
Rosalie 1
Rose 1
Sabina 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 12
William 12
Henry 10
John 8
George 7
Charles 6
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Barnard 1
Eber 1
Edward 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Larkie 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Richd.Henry 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Chatters surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatters surname in 1881?

In 1881, 192 people were recorded with the Chatters surname. That placed it at #13,185 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatters surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Chatters a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Chatters surname mean?

A surname referring to a talkative or chatty person.

What does the Chatters map show?

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