NameCensus.

UK surname

Chesser

An occupational surname for someone who played chess or made chessboards.

In the 1881 census there were 110 people recorded with the Chesser surname, ranking it #18,695 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 175, ranked #21,383, down from #18,695 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, Dalton-le-Dale and St Luke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, Reigate and Banstead and Stockethill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chesser is 182 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.1%.

1881 census count

110

Ranked #18,695

Modern count

175

2016, ranked #21,383

Peak year

1998

182 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Chesser had 110 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,695 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016, ranked #21,383.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 151 in 1901.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Map

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Chesser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chesser surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chesser 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 110 #18,695
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 142 #18,487
1997 modern 174 #19,231
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 167 #20,060
2002 modern 160 #21,011
2003 modern 153 #21,406
2004 modern 156 #21,261
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 162 #22,292
2011 modern 157 #22,574
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 178 #21,259
2015 modern 178 #21,149
2016 modern 175 #21,383

Geography

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Where Chessers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, Dalton-le-Dale, St Luke, Tottenham 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 Isle of Wight, Reigate and Banstead, Stockethill, Wellingborough and Haringey. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 Dalton-le-Dale Durham
3 St Luke London (Central Districts)
4 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
2 Reigate and Banstead 002 Reigate and Banstead
3 Stockethill Aberdeen City
4 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
5 Haringey 014 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chesser

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

Historical female names

Elizabeth Ann Margaret Mary Jane Alice Annie Sarah Emily Emma

Historical male names

William James George John Edward Alexander Thomas Henry Frederick Alfred

Recent female names

Margaret Tracey Lisa Janine Ruth Elizabeth Sally Joanne Judith Sharon

Recent male names

David Andrew Brian Edward James John Julian Barry Clive Paul

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chesser

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Chesser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Chesser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Chesser is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chesser 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

Chesser falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chesser 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 Chesser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Chesser

The surname Chesser has its origins in England, first appearing in historical records during the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "chesser," meaning "cheese maker" or "cheese seller." This occupation-based surname likely arose from an individual who was involved in the production or trade of cheese.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1195, where a person named Robert le Chesser is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by the late 12th century.

The Chesser surname is also thought to have connections to various place names in England, such as Cheshire, which was formerly known as "Chessyre" or "Chesshyre." This county is known for its rich dairy industry, further strengthening the association between the name and cheese-making.

During the 13th century, the Chesser name appeared in several medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which listed a Walter le Chesser. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mentioned a John le Chesser, indicating the widespread distribution of the name across different regions of England.

Notable individuals bearing the Chesser surname throughout history include:

1. John Chesser (c. 1524-1587), an English Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. 2. William Chesser (1706-1763), a Scottish merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the development of the tobacco trade between Glasgow and Virginia. 3. Elizabeth Chesser (1800-1873), a philanthropist and social reformer from Scotland, known for her work in improving living conditions for the poor and advocating for educational opportunities for women. 4. William Chesser (1878-1952), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Leicestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century. 5. Robert Chesser (1905-1979), an American ornithologist and evolutionary biologist, known for his research on the genetics and evolution of birds, particularly the House Sparrow.

Over time, various spelling variations of the Chesser surname have emerged, including Chessor, Cheser, and Chessur, reflecting regional dialects and the evolution of the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chesser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chesser 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. Middlesex leads with 33 Chessers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 33 3.08x
Aberdeenshire 18 18.11x
Midlothian 16 11.13x
Angus 7 7.04x
Kent 7 1.91x
Lanarkshire 7 2.02x
Durham 6 1.88x
Northumberland 5 3.13x
Yorkshire 5 0.47x
Lancashire 4 0.31x
Staffordshire 1 0.28x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 18 Chessers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.31x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 18 17.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 27.67x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 53.01x
St Luke London 9 52.30x
Deptford St Paul 7 24.79x
Govan 7 8.16x
Tottenham 6 35.11x
Byker 5 63.37x
Thornaby 5 125.94x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 21.52x
Liff Benvie 4 26.51x
Monkwearmouth 4 130.72x
Windle 4 55.87x
St Vigeans 3 55.87x
Bishopwearmouth 2 7.30x
King Edward 2 173.91x
Caterham 1 43.29x
Fraserburgh 1 35.71x
Harborne 1 8.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Mary 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Agnes 1
E. 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Margt.A. 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 5
Edward 4
George 4
Henry 2
James 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Frederick 1
Richard 1
Sarah 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Chesser households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 14
General Labourer 2
Glass Bottle Maker 2
Potter (Earthen Manf) 2
Bottle Finisher 1
Bottlemaker 1
Brewers Collector 1
Charwoman 1
Dressmaker 1
Errand Boy Grocers 1
Gas Fitter 1
General Servant 1
Genl Lab 1
Ironer 1
Labr Bottleworks 1
Private Scot Gds 1
Screw Maker 1
Soap Maker 1
Veterinary Surgeon & Farrier 1
Yeast Merchent (Brewer) 1

FAQ

Chesser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chesser surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Chesser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 175 in 2016. That gives Chesser a modern rank of #21,383.

What does the Chesser surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who played chess or made chessboards.

What does the Chesser map show?

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