NameCensus.

UK surname

Chave

A surname derived from the Italian word for "key".

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Chave surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 298, ranked #14,801, down from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Tiverton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chave is 324 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.8%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

298

2016, ranked #14,801

Peak year

2000

324 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chave had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016, ranked #14,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chave 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 168 #11,873
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 273 #12,409
1911 historical 297 #11,524
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 309 #13,697
2000 modern 324 #13,243
2001 modern 316 #13,258
2002 modern 320 #13,414
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 303 #13,812
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 286 #14,322
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 303 #14,626
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 300 #14,505
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 304 #14,703
2015 modern 299 #14,796
2016 modern 298 #14,801

Geography

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Where Chaves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Tiverton, London parishes, Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Mid Devon, Exeter, Sedgemoor and Torbay. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Tiverton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Tavistock. Whitechurch, St Peter Tavy Devon
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
2 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
3 Exeter 005 Exeter
4 Sedgemoor 005 Sedgemoor
5 Torbay 013 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chave

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

Chave 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chave

The surname Chave is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chavir," which means "to stumble or fall." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone who was clumsy or accident-prone.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chave can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Chavey." This entry is from Oxfordshire, indicating that the name was present in that region during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "Chayve" and "Cheve," in records from Somerset and Wiltshire. These variations in spelling were common during that time, as standardized spelling conventions were not yet established.

The Chave surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Chave Copse in Wiltshire and Chave Wood in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from early bearers of the surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

One notable individual with the Chave surname was John Chave (c. 1545-1616), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset. His work, "The Praise of the Asse," published in 1595, was a satirical work that criticized the vices and follies of his time.

Another significant figure was Sir Henry Chave (1615-1692), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Exeter in the 17th century. He played a role in the events leading up to the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

In the 18th century, Thomas Chave (1730-1802) was a notable English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings, including the Guildhall in Bath and the Royal Crescent in the same city.

The Chave surname also has connections to the arts, with John Chave (1863-1939), an English painter and illustrator known for his watercolor landscapes and portraits of rural life in the West Country.

Finally, Edouard Chave (1881-1966) was a French winemaker and businessman who played a significant role in the revitalization of the Hermitage wine region in the Rhône Valley of France, helping to establish its reputation for producing high-quality wines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chave 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. Devon leads with 104 Chaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.18x.

County Total Index
Devon 104 23.18x
Somerset 32 9.22x
Middlesex 18 0.83x
Surrey 14 1.33x
Glamorgan 12 3.20x
Monmouthshire 11 7.06x
Hampshire 9 2.04x
Herefordshire 8 9.05x
Gloucestershire 5 1.18x
Sussex 4 1.10x
Berkshire 2 1.24x
Cheshire 1 0.21x
Lancashire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halberton in Devon leads with 19 Chaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 1809.52x.

Place Total Index
Halberton 19 1809.52x
Tiverton 15 194.05x
Huntsham 12 8571.43x
Islington London 11 5.26x
Exeter Heavitree 10 298.51x
Washfield 10 3448.28x
Llandyfodwg 9 422.54x
Holmer 8 503.14x
Tormoham 8 42.13x
Wandsworth 8 38.55x
Brushford 7 2916.67x
Englishcombe 7 1794.87x
St Woollos 7 40.25x
Exeter St Mary Arches 6 1428.57x
Paignton 6 175.95x
Williton 6 517.24x
Newington 5 6.28x
South Stoneham 5 52.19x
Paddington London 4 5.05x
West Hoathly 4 350.88x
Ashchurch 3 612.24x
Bedwas 3 265.49x
Cardiff St Mary 3 14.51x
Carisbrooke 3 48.94x
Tavistock 3 58.71x
Willand 3 1200.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 14.18x
Carhampton 2 416.67x
Clewer 2 30.17x
Langford Budville 2 740.74x
Morebath 2 606.06x
Sampford Peverell 2 416.67x
Taunton St Mary 2 31.40x
Uplowman 2 689.66x
Wellington 2 42.55x
Abergavenny 1 17.12x
Ashcombe 1 666.67x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 4.92x
Chittlehampton 1 90.09x
Chorley In Macclesfield 1 68.97x
Dulverton 1 98.04x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.73x
Exminster 1 62.11x
Hordle 1 129.87x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
Lambeth 1 0.53x
North Cadbury 1 151.52x
Pinhoe 1 250.00x
Skilgate 1 625.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.58x
Teddington London 1 20.49x
Timberscombe 1 344.83x
Uffculme 1 74.63x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Chave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Chave surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 298 in 2016. That gives Chave a modern rank of #14,801.

What does the Chave surname mean?

A surname derived from the Italian word for "key".

What does the Chave map show?

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