NameCensus.

UK surname

Chessum

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Chessum surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, down from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Biggleswade and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, South Kesteven and Bedford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chessum is 266 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

1998

266 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chessum had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 260 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chessum surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chessum surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chessum 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 152 #18,163
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 260 #12,561
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 266 #15,053
1999 modern 259 #15,433
2000 modern 252 #15,659
2001 modern 248 #15,606
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 237 #16,191
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 217 #17,349
2007 modern 219 #17,425
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 221 #18,205
2011 modern 207 #18,841
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 208 #19,194
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

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Where Chessums are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Biggleswade, London parishes, Wrestlingworth and Langford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, South Kesteven and Bedford. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Biggleswade Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wrestlingworth Bedfordshire
5 Langford Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 001 Central Bedfordshire
2 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
3 Bedford 004 Bedford
4 Central Bedfordshire 002 Central Bedfordshire
5 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chessum

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chessum

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chessum is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chessum is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Chessum families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chessum 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. Bedfordshire leads with 101 Chessums recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.05x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 101 136.05x
Middlesex 24 1.67x
Cambridgeshire 6 6.61x
Hertfordshire 6 6.07x
Sussex 6 2.48x
Oxfordshire 3 3.39x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Biggleswade in Bedfordshire leads with 34 Chessums recorded in 1881 and an index of 1399.18x.

Place Total Index
Biggleswade 34 1399.18x
Wrestlingworth 32 10000.00x
Sandy 14 1068.70x
Luton 8 62.26x
St Pancras London 8 6.93x
Langford 7 1147.54x
Stoke Newington London 7 62.67x
Hastings Holy Trinity 6 337.08x
Hendon 5 96.90x
Haddenham 4 470.59x
Bicester Market End 3 184.05x
Old Warden 3 1250.00x
Ware 3 106.01x
Guilden Morden 2 416.67x
Southill 2 333.33x
Therfield 2 344.83x
Baldock 1 107.53x
Bedford St Paul 1 19.65x
Edwinstowe 1 217.39x
Enfield 1 10.63x
Hackney London 1 1.24x
Islington London 1 0.72x
Mile End Old Town London 1 3.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Ann 6
Sarah 5
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Annis 1
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizh.Emily 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Melina 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Chessum surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chessum surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Chessum surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chessum surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Chessum a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Chessum map show?

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