NameCensus.

UK surname

Cheers

A surname derived from the salutation used to express good wishes.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Cheers surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 225, ranked #18,105, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Barrow, Great and Little and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Flintshire and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cheers is 251 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.3%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

225

2016, ranked #18,105

Peak year

1911

251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cheers had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016, ranked #18,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cheers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cheers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cheers 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 138 #13,745
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 251 #12,870
1997 modern 237 #15,809
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 240 #16,186
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 230 #16,730
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 227 #16,730
2006 modern 232 #16,600
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 240 #16,896
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 242 #17,001
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 225 #18,105

Geography

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Where Cheers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Barrow, Great and Little, Liverpool, Tattenhall and Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Flintshire, Wigan and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Barrow, Great and Little Cheshire
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 Tattenhall Cheshire
5 Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
2 Flintshire 015 Flintshire
3 Wigan 018 Wigan
4 Cheshire West and Chester 029 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cheshire West and Chester 002 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cheers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cheers

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Cheers is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cheers is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cheers falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cheers is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cheers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cheers

The surname "CHEERS" is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the Middle English period (c. 1150-1500 CE). The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ciere," meaning "turn" or "time," which later evolved into the Middle English word "cherre" or "cheare."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1191, where a certain "Reginald Cheres" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 12th century.

The surname "CHEERS" may have also been influenced by the Old French word "chiere," meaning "face" or "countenance." This connection could imply that the name was originally given as a descriptive nickname for someone with a cheerful or pleasant demeanor.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across England, often spelled as "Cheres," "Cheris," or "Cheres." For instance, in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a "William Cheres" residing in Oxfordshire.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname continued to evolve, with spellings such as "Cheres," "Cheres," and "Cheers" becoming more common. Notable historical figures bearing this surname include John Cheers (c. 1390-1460), a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire during the reign of Henry VI.

In the 16th century, the name "CHEERS" appeared in various parish records and legal documents, often associated with specific locations. For example, the village of Cheers in Somerset, England, is believed to have derived its name from the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname "CHEERS" include William Cheers (c. 1580-1650), a renowned English composer and organist during the Baroque period, and John Cheers (1688-1762), a successful merchant and landowner in Virginia, United States.

As the centuries progressed, the surname spread across various regions of England and beyond, with different branches of the family adopting variations in spelling, such as "Chears," "Cheers," and "Cheres." The name also made its way to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland.

Throughout its history, the surname "CHEERS" has been associated with various professions and social classes, from farmers and tradesmen to scholars and nobility. It has also been carried by numerous individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, such as literature, music, and politics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cheers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cheers 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. Cheshire leads with 83 Cheers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.30x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 83 21.30x
Lancashire 67 3.20x
Gloucestershire 6 1.73x
Middlesex 6 0.34x
Denbighshire 5 7.50x
Flintshire 4 8.43x
Staffordshire 4 0.67x
Devon 2 0.54x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.75x
Wiltshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 20 Cheers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.37x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 20 64.37x
Toxteth Park 17 23.96x
Liverpool 15 11.79x
Barrow 10 2272.73x
Great Boughton 10 746.27x
Tranmere 10 69.83x
Chester St Mary On Hill 5 149.70x
Hopwood 5 182.48x
Kirkdale 5 14.19x
Minera 5 555.56x
Tattenhall 5 757.58x
Everton 4 5.99x
Hope 4 169.49x
Ince In Makerfield 4 41.03x
Kingsley 4 547.95x
Radcliffe 4 39.60x
Tarporley 4 487.80x
Wolverhampton 4 8.73x
Cheltenham 3 11.23x
Pendleton In Salford 3 12.02x
Ratcliffe London 3 30.77x
Tiverton 3 967.74x
West Derby 3 4.89x
Ardwick 2 10.58x
Bentham 2 150.38x
Cheadle 2 26.88x
Chester St Martin 2 322.58x
Prestbury 2 232.56x
Shepperton 2 256.41x
Stockport 2 9.98x
Ashton 1 434.78x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.22x
Castleton 1 4.78x
Cholmondeley 1 588.24x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.00x
Devizes St Mary 1 63.29x
Eddisbury 1 666.67x
Exeter St David 1 31.85x
Formby 1 42.19x
Hackney London 1 1.01x
Hoole 1 68.03x
Reading St Mary 1 9.43x
Saighton 1 454.55x
South Molton 1 49.51x
Stapleton 1 15.22x
Thornton Le Moors 1 666.67x
Wavertree 1 14.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 11
Martha 5
Alice 3
Ann 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alma 1
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
E. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lelitia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margarett 1
Margt. 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Joseph 11
Samuel 11
William 7
Edwin 6
Thomas 6
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
Evan 2
Frank 2
Albert 1
Clifford 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
George 1
Harold 1
Jonathan 1
Jonathon 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Cheers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cheers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Cheers surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cheers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016. That gives Cheers a modern rank of #18,105.

What does the Cheers surname mean?

A surname derived from the salutation used to express good wishes.

What does the Cheers map show?

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