NameCensus.

UK surname

Chatwood

An English surname derived from a place name, meaning "wood or clearing frequented by chats or magpies".

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Chatwood surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, down from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Stockport and Bury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Barnsley and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chatwood is 140 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.4%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

1901

140 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chatwood had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 140 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chatwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chatwood surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chatwood 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 100 #24,045
1901 historical 140 #18,795
1911 historical 105 #22,064
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 94 #28,797
2003 modern 91 #29,121
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 105 #29,916
2014 modern 100 #31,033
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Chatwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Stockport, Bury, Batley and Frodsham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Barnsley, Walsall, Kensington and Chelsea and Trafford. 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 Dawley, Magna Shropshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Bury Lancashire
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Frodsham Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 005 Chichester
2 Barnsley 009 Barnsley
3 Walsall 003 Walsall
4 Kensington and Chelsea 018 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Trafford 002 Trafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chatwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chatwood

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Chatwood is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chatwood is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chatwood

The surname Chatwood is of English origin, derived from a locational name indicating that the original bearer hailed from a place called Chatwood, possibly situated near a wooded area where chats or wildcats were found. The name is thought to have emerged sometime in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire, dated 1365, which mentions a John de Chatwood. The prefix 'de' often indicated a place of origin, suggesting that John was from the area known as Chatwood.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1523, where a Thomas Chatwood is listed. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in the northwest region of England during the Tudor period.

In the 16th century, a variation of the name, 'Chattwood,' is documented in the Visitation of Yorkshire, which recorded the pedigrees of noble families. This spelling variation likely resulted from local dialects and pronunciation differences.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the Chatwood surname. One example is Sir John Chatwood (1573-1641), a prominent English merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London in the early 17th century.

Another historical figure was Elizabeth Chatwood (1658-1722), a Quaker writer and preacher from Cheshire, known for her religious works and advocacy for women's rights within the Society of Friends.

In the 19th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of George Chatwood (1821-1899), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Additionally, Edward Chatwood (1876-1942) was a respected English botanist and plant collector who made significant contributions to the study of flora in the Himalayan region.

The surname Chatwood has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Chatwood Farm in Northamptonshire and Chatwood Lane in Lancashire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its rich history and connections to English localities and individuals have been preserved through historical records and accounts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chatwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chatwood 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. Lancashire leads with 35 Chatwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.36x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 35 3.36x
Shropshire 15 19.78x
Yorkshire 10 1.15x
Cheshire 9 4.64x
Kent 8 2.67x
Staffordshire 8 2.70x
Essex 5 2.89x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dewsbury in Yorkshire leads with 9 Chatwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 100.90x.

Place Total Index
Dewsbury 9 100.90x
Tottington Lower End 9 181.82x
Dawley 8 289.86x
Deptford St Paul 7 30.30x
Haslingden 7 162.41x
Frodsham 6 800.00x
West Ham 5 13.07x
Heaton Norris 4 67.45x
Little Bolton 4 29.87x
Toxteth Park 4 11.34x
Heap 3 54.35x
Shifnal 3 145.63x
Birtle Cum Bamford 2 294.12x
Blymhill 2 1333.33x
Cannock 2 38.68x
Frodsham Lordship 2 606.06x
Ogley Hay 2 322.58x
Oswestry Rural 2 172.41x
Tettenhall 2 110.50x
Blackburn 1 3.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 6.04x
Giggleswick 1 344.83x
Margate St John Baptist 1 18.25x
Stanton Upon Hine Heath 1 500.00x
Tranmere 1 14.04x
Whittington 1 158.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Dedorah 1
Dinah 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
G.H. 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Samuel 6
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
William 4
George 3
James 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Harry 2
A.E. 1
C. 1
Charles 1
Ed. 1
Henry 1
J.S. 1
Joshua 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Rueben 1

FAQ

Chatwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chatwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Chatwood surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chatwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Chatwood a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Chatwood surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name, meaning "wood or clearing frequented by chats or magpies".

What does the Chatwood map show?

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