NameCensus.

UK surname

Chesham

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Chesham surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biggleswade, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Wirral and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chesham is 271 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.6%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

1911

271 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chesham had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 271 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chesham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chesham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chesham 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 196 #15,163
1901 historical 263 #12,717
1911 historical 271 #12,237
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 188 #18,931
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 164 #20,609
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 158 #21,229
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 162 #22,101
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Cheshams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biggleswade, London parishes, St Pancras, Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints and Dunstable. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Wirral, Wiltshire and West Lindsey. 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 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire
5 Dunstable Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 003 Barnsley
2 Wirral 028 Wirral
3 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
4 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey
5 West Lindsey 006 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chesham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chesham

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

Chesham is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chesham falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chesham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Chesham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chesham 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 57 Cheshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.34x.

County Total Index
Essex 57 15.34x
Bedfordshire 42 43.09x
Middlesex 31 1.65x
Hertfordshire 16 12.33x
Surrey 10 1.09x
Lancashire 8 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 8 3.15x
Kent 7 1.09x
Yorkshire 7 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.52x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.76x
Norfolk 1 0.35x
Northamptonshire 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clavering in Essex leads with 45 Cheshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 6716.42x.

Place Total Index
Clavering 45 6716.42x
St Pancras London 17 11.22x
Caddington 15 1048.95x
Luton 11 65.20x
Sandy 9 523.26x
Newington 8 11.50x
Nottingham St Mary 8 12.19x
Newport 7 1076.92x
Stanstead St Margaret 7 11666.67x
Bury 6 23.51x
Eyworth 6 5454.55x
Middlesbrough 5 20.58x
Hitchin 4 68.26x
Waltham Holy Cross 4 115.27x
Barrington 3 750.00x
Bow London 3 12.52x
Clerkenwell London 3 6.75x
Eltham 3 79.79x
Graveley 3 1250.00x
Bermondsey 2 3.57x
Chesham 2 47.73x
Finchley 2 27.70x
Hunslet 2 6.88x
Plumstead 2 9.34x
Ulverston 2 30.72x
Bovingdon 1 147.06x
Campton 1 277.78x
Chelsea London 1 1.76x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.02x
Edmonton 1 6.59x
Elsenham 1 333.33x
Enfield 1 8.10x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.17x
Greenwich 1 3.34x
Hackney London 1 0.95x
Irthlingborough 1 57.47x
South Mimms 1 38.76x
St Marylebone London 1 0.99x
Stanstead Abbots 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 7
Sarah 6
Hannah 5
Martha 4
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Jemima 2
Minnie 2
Bessey 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Biddy 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Evlin 1
Faun 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Katie 1
Lady 1
Laura 1
Lilla 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Nellie 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Risa 1
Rosa 1
Rosalie 1
Ruth 1
Susannah 1
Tridlash 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
George 6
Joseph 6
William 6
Alfred 5
James 5
Samuel 5
Thomas 5
Walter 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
David 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Albert 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Archer 1
Daniel 1
E...geal 1
Elim 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Giles 1
Herrold 1
Josiah 1
Lazurs 1
Philip 1
Rt.Hon.Lord 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1
Vincent 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Chesham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chesham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Chesham surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chesham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Chesham a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Chesham map show?

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