NameCensus.

UK surname

Chichester

A habitational surname denoting someone from Chichester, a city in England.

In the 1881 census there were 225 people recorded with the Chichester surname, ranking it #11,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 273, ranked #15,800, down from #11,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sherwill, London parishes and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chichester is 286 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.3%.

1881 census count

225

Ranked #11,931

Modern count

273

2016, ranked #15,800

Peak year

2011

286 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chichester had 225 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016, ranked #15,800.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 263 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Chichester surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chichester surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Chichester 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 134 #16,754
1881 historical 225 #11,931
1891 historical 241 #13,089
1901 historical 243 #13,358
1911 historical 263 #12,473
1997 modern 224 #16,392
1998 modern 234 #16,404
1999 modern 234 #16,506
2000 modern 237 #16,331
2001 modern 236 #16,094
2002 modern 247 #15,941
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 251 #15,590
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 273 #15,113
2009 modern 276 #15,300
2010 modern 281 #15,441
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 279 #15,574
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 272 #15,851
2016 modern 273 #15,800

Geography

Back to top

Where Chichesters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sherwill, London parishes, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford 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 Cardiff and North Dorset. 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 Sherwill Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
5 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 041 Cardiff
2 Cardiff 038 Cardiff
3 Cardiff 045 Cardiff
4 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
5 Cardiff 015 Cardiff

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Chichester

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Chichester

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Chichester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Chichester household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

European Enclaves

Within London, Chichester is most associated with areas classed as European Enclaves, 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

Many residents of these accessible neighbourhoods have wide-ranging non-UK European origins. Typically residing in privately rented flats, many residents live alone and are beyond normal retirement age. There are more students than elsewhere in the Supergroup, some of which live in communal establishments. Household residents are often drawn from different ethnic groups.

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

Chichester 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

Chichester falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chichester is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Chichester

The surname Chichester originated in England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the city of Chichester in West Sussex, which was originally recorded as "Cissanceaster" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "Cissa" (a personal name) and "ceaster" (a Roman fort or town).

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chichester was in 1203, when Richard de Chichester was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex. Another early record dates back to 1273, when Walter de Chichester was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Chichester surname. One of the most prominent was Sir Ralph Chichester (c. 1489-1557), who served as Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1605 to 1616. Another notable figure was Sir Edward Chichester (1568-1648), an English army officer and statesman who played a significant role in the plantation of Ulster in Ireland.

In the ecclesiastical realm, St. Richard of Chichester (c. 1197-1253) was a prominent figure, serving as the Bishop of Chichester from 1245 until his death. He was canonized in 1262 and is the patron saint of Sussex.

Another notable individual was Sir Arthur Chichester (1563-1625), an English soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1604 to 1614. He played a crucial role in the Plantation of Ulster and the establishment of the Protestant Ascendancy in Ireland.

The Chichester surname has also been associated with several place names, such as Chichester in West Sussex, as well as other locations in England, including Chichester in Wiltshire and Chichester in Devon.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Chichester families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chichester 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. Devon leads with 90 Chichesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.44x.

County Total Index
Devon 90 19.44x
Surrey 41 3.78x
Middlesex 28 1.26x
Kent 14 1.84x
Somerset 8 2.23x
Glamorgan 7 1.81x
Sussex 6 1.60x
Wiltshire 6 3.05x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Gloucestershire 4 0.92x
Hampshire 4 0.88x
Channel Islands 2 3.03x
Durham 2 0.30x
Herefordshire 2 2.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.74x
Essex 1 0.23x
Northamptonshire 1 0.48x
Northumberland 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 3.77x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Braunton in Devon leads with 30 Chichesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 1910.83x.

Place Total Index
Braunton 30 1910.83x
Battersea 13 15.88x
St George Hanover Square 10 25.52x
Sherwill 8 2580.65x
Camberwell 7 4.93x
Fremington 7 744.68x
Plumstead 7 27.68x
Bishops Tawton 6 416.67x
Croydon 6 9.98x
Drewsteignton 6 983.61x
Llandaff 6 46.58x
Whitchurch 6 740.74x
Corsham 5 174.22x
Exeter Alphington 5 588.24x
Arlington 4 2222.22x
Cheltenham 4 11.89x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 42.69x
St Marylebone London 4 3.37x
Swimbridge 4 425.53x
Capel 3 294.12x
Chelsea London 3 4.48x
Clovelly 3 500.00x
Kingston 3 416.67x
Millbrook 3 26.13x
Putney 3 29.59x
Richmond 3 19.75x
Twickenham 3 31.45x
West Derby 3 3.89x
Wotton 3 566.04x
Aighton Bailey 2 157.48x
Betley 2 317.46x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 25.28x
Chudleigh 2 136.05x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.81x
Cuckfield 2 52.77x
Folkestone 2 13.59x
Hillingdon 2 28.21x
Ilfracombe 2 41.93x
Kenn 2 277.78x
Ledbury 2 63.90x
Ryton 2 85.84x
Wolborough 2 34.19x
Ashford 1 56.82x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.04x
Broad Clist 1 62.50x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.69x
East Grinstead 1 18.83x
Eastbourne 1 5.80x
Grays Thurrock 1 24.51x
Great Malvern 1 16.50x
Hardingstone 1 50.00x
Hornsey 1 3.56x
Hove 1 6.08x
Hurstbourne Priors 1 322.58x
Ilderton 1 1111.11x
Lambeth 1 0.52x
Marlborough 1 303.03x
Modbury 1 84.75x
Ockley 1 208.33x
Penshurst 1 78.13x
Ramsgate 1 8.07x
Ravenstone 1 357.14x
Royal Navy 1 4.42x
Sandwich St Mary 1 144.93x
St Clement 1 100.00x
St Decumans Williton 1 2500.00x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.84x
St Helier 1 4.66x
Stanmer 1 1000.00x
Tormoham 1 5.10x
Wandsworth 1 4.67x
York Mint Yard St 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 10
Arthur 9
Edward 7
George 6
Robert 6
Charles 5
Henry 5
William 5
Richard 4
Frederick 3
A. 2
Augustus 2
James 2
Walter 2
(Earl 1
Algernon 1
Arlington 1
Aurther 1
Carrol 1
Cecil 1
Claude 1
Clement 1
Cyril 1
Edgar 1
Eduard 1
Ernest 1
Fitzwarren 1
Francis 1
Henery 1
Hugh 1
Ivor 1
Lawrence 1
Levern 1
Lionel 1
Neville 1
Newton 1
Nugent 1
Nutworth 1
Orland 1
Patrick 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Reubin 1
Robt. 1
Stanley 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Whin 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Chichester surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chichester surname in 1881?

In 1881, 225 people were recorded with the Chichester surname. That placed it at #11,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chichester surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 273 in 2016. That gives Chichester a modern rank of #15,800.

What does the Chichester surname mean?

A habitational surname denoting someone from Chichester, a city in England.

What does the Chichester map show?

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