NameCensus.

UK surname

Chetwynd

A locational surname derived from a place in Shropshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 301 people recorded with the Chetwynd surname, ranking it #9,694 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 645, ranked #8,231, up from #9,694 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Polesworth, Tamworth and Grendon with Whittington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chetwynd is 684 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.3%.

1881 census count

301

Ranked #9,694

Modern count

645

2016, ranked #8,231

Peak year

1999

684 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chetwynd had 301 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,694 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 645 in 2016, ranked #8,231.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 579 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chetwynd surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chetwynd surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chetwynd 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 301 #9,694
1891 historical 420 #8,528
1901 historical 494 #8,124
1911 historical 579 #7,023
1997 modern 619 #7,977
1998 modern 682 #7,628
1999 modern 684 #7,651
2000 modern 679 #7,671
2001 modern 664 #7,668
2002 modern 658 #7,871
2003 modern 656 #7,787
2004 modern 650 #7,838
2005 modern 634 #7,932
2006 modern 641 #7,893
2007 modern 634 #8,028
2008 modern 643 #7,982
2009 modern 659 #7,989
2010 modern 673 #8,024
2011 modern 654 #8,115
2012 modern 645 #8,120
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 658 #8,175
2015 modern 656 #8,136
2016 modern 645 #8,231

Geography

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Where Chetwynds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Polesworth, Tamworth, Grendon with Whittington, Baddesley Ensor and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire. 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 Polesworth Warwickshire
2 Tamworth Staffordshire
3 Grendon with Whittington Warwickshire
4 Baddesley Ensor Warwickshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
2 North Warwickshire 002 North Warwickshire
3 North Warwickshire 005 North Warwickshire
4 North Warwickshire 001 North Warwickshire
5 North Warwickshire 007 North Warwickshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chetwynd

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chetwynd

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

Chetwynd 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

Chetwynd falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chetwynd

The surname Chetwynd is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "chet" meaning a hut or cottage, and "wind" meaning a winding or winding path. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived near a winding path or cottage.

The Chetwynd family hailed from Shropshire, a county in the West Midlands region of England. The earliest known record of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire, a census-like survey conducted in 1274, which lists a John de Chetewynde as a landowner in the area.

In the 14th century, the Chetwynds were prominent landowners and held the manor of Ingestre in Staffordshire. Sir John de Chetwynd, who lived from around 1320 to 1367, was a notable member of the family and served as a knight in the Hundred Years' War under Edward III.

The Chetwynds continued to hold significant land and influence in Staffordshire and Shropshire throughout the medieval and Tudor periods. Sir Adam Chetwynd (1480-1554) was a prominent figure during the reign of Henry VIII and served as a member of the Privy Council.

In the 17th century, Sir John Chetwynd (1589-1663) was a Royalist supporter during the English Civil War and fought for King Charles I. He was later rewarded with lands and titles for his loyalty.

Other notable Chetwynds include Walter Chetwynd (1633-1692), a noted antiquarian and historian who wrote extensively on the history of Staffordshire, and Viscount William Chetwynd (1700-1767), a British politician and diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Throughout its history, the Chetwynd surname has been associated with various place names in Staffordshire and Shropshire, such as Ingestre, Chetwynd Aston, and Chetwynd End, reflecting the family's longstanding presence in these areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chetwynd families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chetwynd 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. Warwickshire leads with 162 Chetwynds recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.88x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 162 21.88x
Staffordshire 59 5.95x
Sussex 12 2.42x
Cheshire 10 1.54x
Lancashire 8 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.02x
Derbyshire 6 1.31x
Surrey 6 0.42x
Dorset 4 2.08x
Middlesex 4 0.14x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Leicestershire 3 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.13x
Devon 2 0.33x
Hampshire 2 0.33x
Kent 2 0.20x
Worcestershire 2 0.52x
Berkshire 1 0.45x
Hertfordshire 1 0.49x
Midlothian 1 0.25x
Renfrewshire 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Baddesley Ensor in Warwickshire leads with 56 Chetwynds recorded in 1881 and an index of 5894.74x.

Place Total Index
Baddesley Ensor 56 5894.74x
Stoke Upon Trent 34 32.35x
Grendon 29 4603.17x
Polesworth 23 653.41x
Bolehall Glascote 21 668.79x
Atherstone 10 264.55x
Stayley 9 121.46x
Chadderton 8 46.98x
Hucknall Torkard 8 79.76x
Broadwater 7 61.67x
Middleton 7 1489.36x
Dronfield 6 101.87x
Ansley 5 595.24x
Brighton 5 5.01x
Eccleshall 5 132.98x
Walsall Foreign 5 9.77x
Melcombe Regis 4 50.06x
Nuneaton 4 46.62x
Brockton 3 1304.35x
Cannock 3 17.35x
Egham 3 34.17x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.78x
Reigate Foreign 3 19.37x
Edenbridge 2 102.04x
Great Linford 2 444.44x
Kings Norton 2 5.82x
Longdon 2 145.99x
Thorne 2 55.40x
Whittington 2 98.52x
Wilnecote 2 94.34x
Aldershot 1 4.96x
Barlaston 1 120.48x
Burmington 1 555.56x
Burslem 1 3.52x
Chester St Oswald 1 8.52x
Dartmouth Townstall 1 40.16x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.63x
Gate Fulford 1 14.73x
Leamington Priors 1 5.49x
Littleham 1 22.37x
Mancetter 1 46.95x
Merevale 1 526.32x
Mexborough 1 17.33x
Portsmouth 1 7.22x
Royal Navy 1 3.34x
Shustoke 1 151.52x
St Albans St Stephen 1 56.50x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 7.87x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.93x
St Marylebone London 1 0.64x
Stafford St Mary 1 7.13x
Stone 1 7.89x
Tamworth 1 18.87x
Wallingford St Mary Le 1 80.00x
West Greenock 1 2.45x
Westminster St James 1 3.31x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 15
Joseph 15
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Samuel 6
Henry 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
George 4
James 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Eli 2
Fergus 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Levi 2
Shurley 2
Thos. 2
W. 2
Amantus 1
Bertram 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Dick 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ferrand 1
Forester 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
J.Henry 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Oda 1
Percival 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Sidney 1
Thos.H. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Chetwynd surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chetwynd surname in 1881?

In 1881, 301 people were recorded with the Chetwynd surname. That placed it at #9,694 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chetwynd surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 645 in 2016. That gives Chetwynd a modern rank of #8,231.

What does the Chetwynd surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Shropshire, England.

What does the Chetwynd map show?

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