NameCensus.

UK surname

Chevis

An English surname derived from an Old French nickname meaning "goat herder."

In the 1881 census there were 33 people recorded with the Chevis surname, ranking it #28,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, up from #28,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Alton and Easebourne, Bignor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Winchester and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chevis is 150 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 287.9%.

1881 census count

33

Ranked #28,965

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

1998

150 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chevis had 33 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chevis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chevis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chevis 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 33 #28,965
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 88 #24,270
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 150 #21,665
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 143 #22,457
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 142 #22,573
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 140 #24,569
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 133 #25,729
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Chevis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Alton, Easebourne, Bignor, Chichester St Peter the Great and Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Winchester, Central Bedfordshire, Teignbridge and Boston. 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 Alton Hampshire
3 Easebourne, Bignor Sussex
4 Chichester St Peter the Great Sussex
5 Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 004 Chichester
2 Winchester 005 Winchester
3 Central Bedfordshire 020 Central Bedfordshire
4 Teignbridge 018 Teignbridge
5 Boston 001 Boston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chevis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chevis

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Chevis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chevis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Chevis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chevis 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chevis

The surname Chevis originated in France during the medieval period, likely as a variant spelling of the French word "chevir," meaning "to accomplish" or "to achieve." It is believed to have derived from an earlier Germanic word, reflecting the influence of the Frankish tribes that settled in the region after the fall of the Roman Empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chevis can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname had established a presence in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Chevis appears sporadically in various historical records, including charters, tax rolls, and court documents. Notable individuals from this period include Gervais Chevis, a Norman knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Chevis family settled in the village of Chevington, located in Northumberland, England. This place name is thought to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time, leading to variations such as Chevington and Chivington.

One of the most prominent figures bearing the Chevis surname was Sir John Chevis, a renowned English soldier and statesman who lived during the 14th century. He served as a member of the Privy Council under King Edward III and played a crucial role in the Hundred Years' War against France.

During the Renaissance period, the name Chevis gained further recognition with the birth of Guillaume Chevis (1510-1592), a French philosopher and theologian who made significant contributions to the intellectual discourse of his time.

As the centuries progressed, the Chevis surname spread across Europe, with notable individuals emerging in various fields. In the 18th century, Jacques Chevis (1726-1794) was a celebrated French botanist and naturalist who made groundbreaking discoveries in plant taxonomy.

Moving into the 19th century, Louis Chevis (1819-1885) was a renowned French architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings, including the Palais Garnier in Paris.

Throughout history, the surname Chevis has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, ranging from military leaders and statesmen to scholars and artists, reflecting the rich tapestry of human achievement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chevis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chevis 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. Sussex leads with 11 Chevis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.28x.

County Total Index
Sussex 11 20.28x
Middlesex 8 2.49x
Hampshire 5 7.58x
Essex 4 6.30x
Hertfordshire 2 9.02x
Kent 1 0.91x
Leicestershire 1 2.80x
Surrey 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chichester St Pancras in Sussex leads with 5 Chevis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3125.00x.

Place Total Index
Chichester St Pancras 5 3125.00x
Andover 4 645.16x
Chelsea London 4 41.28x
Loughton 4 1290.32x
Midhurst 3 1666.67x
Stedham 3 5000.00x
Berkhampstead 2 400.00x
Westminster St James 2 60.42x
Croydon 1 11.49x
Herriard 1 2500.00x
Ightham 1 714.29x
Paddington London 1 8.45x
St Marylebone London 1 5.82x
Staunton Harold 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Amy 2
Ada 1
Caroline 1
Elizth.Florence 1
Elizth.Susanna 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 2
Charles 2
James 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Ernest 1
George 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
John 1
Thomas 1
William 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 Chevis households.

FAQ

Chevis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chevis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 33 people were recorded with the Chevis surname. That placed it at #28,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chevis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Chevis a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Chevis surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old French nickname meaning "goat herder."

What does the Chevis map show?

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