NameCensus.

UK surname

Chequer

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Chequer surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Lambeth and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chequer is 142 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.9%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

1999

142 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chequer had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 130 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Chequer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chequer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chequer 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 51 #27,498
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 107 #22,967
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 130 #19,504
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 132 #23,394
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 130 #23,785
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 102 #27,689
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 103 #28,519
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 105 #29,287
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 112 #28,809
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Chequers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Lambeth, Havant and Stroud. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cliffe Pypard, Broadhinton Wiltshire
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 005 Swindon
2 Lambeth 031 Lambeth
3 Havant 013 Havant
4 Swindon 010 Swindon
5 Stroud 014 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chequer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chequer

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chequer is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chequer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chequer falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chequer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Chequer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chequer 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. Wiltshire leads with 41 Chequers recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.20x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 41 43.20x
Surrey 26 4.97x
Lancashire 13 1.02x
Kent 10 2.73x
Middlesex 7 0.65x
Hampshire 5 2.27x
Lanarkshire 5 1.44x
Warwickshire 3 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 13 Chequers recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.80x.

Place Total Index
Newington 13 32.80x
Swindon 12 163.04x
Croydon 11 37.90x
Plumstead 10 81.97x
Brinkworth 9 2093.02x
Cliffe Pypard 9 3214.29x
Spotland 7 49.44x
Wootton Bassett 6 722.89x
Droxford 5 595.24x
Rutherglen 5 98.23x
Bury 4 27.51x
St Martin In Fields 4 62.31x
Aston 3 4.03x
Kingston On Thames 2 15.92x
Tottenham 2 11.70x
Wardleworth 2 27.47x
Broad Hinton 1 500.00x
Calne 1 51.28x
Ealing 1 10.43x
Langley Burrell 1 256.41x
Preshute 1 172.41x
West Overton 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Sarah 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Ellenor 1
Emelia 1
Emmiline 1
Ethell 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Jenet 1
Joanna 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Rhoda 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Chequer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chequer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 110 people were recorded with the Chequer surname. That placed it at #18,695 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chequer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Chequer a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Chequer map show?

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