NameCensus.

UK surname

Chevalier

A French occupational surname referring to a knight or horseman, derived from the Old French word "chevalier."

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Chevalier surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 234, ranked #17,572, up from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Westminster and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chevalier is 244 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 105.3%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

234

2016, ranked #17,572

Peak year

2014

244 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chevalier had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016, ranked #17,572.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 183 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Chevalier surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chevalier surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chevalier 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 48 #27,896
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 123 #20,939
1901 historical 183 #15,996
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 197 #18,108
2002 modern 201 #18,236
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 215 #17,384
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 210 #17,904
2008 modern 215 #17,809
2009 modern 224 #17,685
2010 modern 240 #17,230
2011 modern 227 #17,733
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 231 #17,733
2016 modern 234 #17,572

Geography

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Where Chevaliers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Manchester and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Westminster, Camden, Brentwood and South Kesteven. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 011 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Westminster 022 Westminster
3 Camden 004 Camden
4 Brentwood 003 Brentwood
5 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chevalier

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chevalier

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Chevalier surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Chevalier 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chevalier 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

Chevalier 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

Chevalier falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chevalier 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Chevalier

The surname Chevalier originated from the French language, derived from the Old French word "chevalier" meaning "knight" or "horseman". It traces its roots back to the medieval period in France, particularly the 11th to 15th centuries when the feudal system and the code of chivalry were prominent.

During this time, the name Chevalier was often used as a descriptive surname for individuals who served as knights or cavalrymen in the service of nobility or the monarchy. It was a title of honor and respect, signifying the bearer's role as a skilled warrior and member of the knightly class.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chevalier can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Caballarius" and "Cavalarius," reflecting the French origin and Latin influence.

Over the centuries, the Chevalier surname spread across various regions of France, with notable concentrations in Normandy, Brittany, and the Île-de-France region around Paris. It also gained a presence in other parts of Europe, particularly in areas with French cultural and linguistic influence.

Some notable individuals who bore the surname Chevalier throughout history include Michel Chevalier (1806-1879), a French economist and statesman; Maurice Chevalier (1888-1972), a renowned French actor, singer, and entertainer; Jacques Chevalier (1882-1962), a French philosopher and theologian; Étienne Chevalier (c.1410-1474), a prominent French nobleman and treasurer to King Charles VII; and Gabriel Chevalier (1859-1934), a French sculptor known for his works depicting scenes from rural life.

The Chevalier surname has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout France, such as Chevalier-sur-Drac, a commune in the Isère department, and Château-Chevalier, a village in the Dordogne department. These place names often derived from the presence of knightly families or estates in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chevalier families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chevalier 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 68 Chevaliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.89x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 68 3.89x
Channel Islands 66 127.56x
Surrey 12 1.41x
Gloucestershire 7 2.04x
Lancashire 5 0.24x
Renfrewshire 5 3.69x
Essex 4 1.16x
Kent 2 0.34x
Suffolk 2 0.94x
Yorkshire 2 0.12x
Berkshire 1 0.76x
Cheshire 1 0.26x
Devon 1 0.28x
Northumberland 1 0.38x
Oxfordshire 1 0.93x
Shropshire 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 30 Chevaliers recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.15x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 30 178.15x
St Owen 13 955.88x
St Pancras London 12 8.54x
Trinity 11 916.67x
St George Hanover Square 8 26.01x
St John 8 808.08x
Cheltenham 7 26.50x
Islington London 7 4.14x
Kensington London 7 7.21x
St Marylebone London 7 7.51x
Camberwell 5 4.48x
Chelsea London 5 9.50x
Hammersmith London 5 11.63x
Paddington London 4 6.23x
Inverkip 3 94.04x
Putney 3 37.69x
St Anne Soho London 3 30.09x
St Bride London 3 297.03x
Bungay Holy Trinity 2 183.49x
Gorton 2 10.27x
Lambeth 2 1.31x
Ringwould 2 392.16x
St Peter Port 2 20.90x
Toxteth Park 2 2.85x
West Greenock 2 8.23x
West Ham 2 2.63x
Burnley 1 5.73x
Croydon 1 2.12x
East Ham 1 15.63x
Edgware 1 204.08x
Great Little Saughall 1 238.10x
Hackney London 1 1.02x
Jesmond 1 27.32x
Leeds 1 1.02x
Oxford St Thomas 1 19.88x
Shoreditch London 1 1.32x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 16.81x
Southwark Christchurch 1 12.22x
St Luke London 1 3.57x
St Mary 1 166.67x
St Saviour 1 34.97x
Stainbrough 1 312.50x
Stoke Newington London 1 7.35x
Sunbury 1 47.62x
Tiverton 1 15.97x
Whitechapel London 1 5.81x
Willingale Doe 1 400.00x
Winkfield 1 45.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 6
Marie 6
Alice 5
Harriet 5
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Ada 3
Ellen 3
Eugenie 3
Louise 3
Caroline 2
Celia 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Helena 2
Josephine 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Aleda 1
Alexandrine 1
Aline 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Azelome 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Cathe. 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elice 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Helint 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
J.Emelie 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Mabel 1
Marguerite 1
Mathilde 1
Mildred 1
Nancy 1
Ophelia 1
Rachael 1
Rose 1
Sybella 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 8
Charles 6
John 6
Albert 4
George 4
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Francis 3
Benjamin 2
Walter 2
William 2
Angush 1
Antoine 1
Bertram 1
Ernest 1
Eugene 1
Ferdinand 1
Geo. 1
Gustave 1
Hammond 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Jaques 1
Julien 1
Nicolas 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Rone 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Chevalier surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chevalier surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Chevalier surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chevalier surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 234 in 2016. That gives Chevalier a modern rank of #17,572.

What does the Chevalier surname mean?

A French occupational surname referring to a knight or horseman, derived from the Old French word "chevalier."

What does the Chevalier map show?

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