NameCensus.

UK surname

Chick

An English occupational surname referring to a hatchling or young bird, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "cicen."

In the 1881 census there were 1,602 people recorded with the Chick surname, ranking it #2,663 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,166, ranked #2,985, down from #2,663 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chick is 2,384 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.2%.

1881 census count

1,602

Ranked #2,663

Modern count

2,166

2016, ranked #2,985

Peak year

1999

2,384 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chick had 1,602 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,663 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,166 in 2016, ranked #2,985.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,315 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chick surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chick 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 1,091 #2,575
1861 historical 1,089 #2,578
1881 historical 1,602 #2,663
1891 historical 1,721 #2,638
1901 historical 2,002 #2,662
1911 historical 2,315 #2,195
1997 modern 2,250 #2,757
1998 modern 2,351 #2,756
1999 modern 2,384 #2,739
2000 modern 2,304 #2,801
2001 modern 2,253 #2,801
2002 modern 2,321 #2,786
2003 modern 2,222 #2,841
2004 modern 2,222 #2,841
2005 modern 2,162 #2,875
2006 modern 2,154 #2,885
2007 modern 2,144 #2,920
2008 modern 2,143 #2,953
2009 modern 2,192 #2,956
2010 modern 2,228 #2,983
2011 modern 2,198 #2,975
2012 modern 2,106 #3,037
2013 modern 2,180 #2,991
2014 modern 2,203 #2,978
2015 modern 2,179 #2,982
2016 modern 2,166 #2,985

Geography

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Where Chicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Chard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Chard Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 008 Vale of Glamorgan
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 012 Vale of Glamorgan
3 Bridgend 010 Bridgend
4 The Vale of Glamorgan 004 Vale of Glamorgan
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 013 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chick

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chick is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chick 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

Chick falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chick

The surname Chick has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "cicce," meaning a young chicken or chick. It was likely initially used as a nickname for someone small or young, or perhaps as an occupational name for someone who raised or sold chickens.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1190, which mention a person named Robert Chick. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a William le Chick in Oxfordshire.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Chyke, Cheke, and Chike, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. The name was particularly prevalent in the southern counties of England, including Dorset, Somerset, and Devon.

In the 16th century, the name was associated with several notable individuals. Sir John Cheke (1514-1557) was a renowned scholar, tutor to King Edward VI, and the first Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge. Another prominent figure was Henry Cheke (c. 1548-1586), a Member of Parliament and landowner in Norfolk.

The Chick surname continued to be well-represented in historical records throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. Notable individuals include Sir Francis Chick (1667-1718), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Wallingford, and William Chick (1728-1807), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname was Sir John Chick (1842-1917), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and marine propulsion systems.

Other notable figures with the Chick surname include Thomas Chick (1725-1808), an English farmer and landowner in Wiltshire, and George Chick (1794-1856), a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

The Chick surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Chickwell in Gloucestershire and Chicklade in Wiltshire, further reflecting the name's historical roots and geographical distribution.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chick 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. Somerset leads with 378 Chicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.65x.

County Total Index
Somerset 378 14.65x
Middlesex 281 1.75x
Dorset 156 14.83x
Devon 143 4.29x
Surrey 141 1.81x
Hampshire 109 3.32x
Glamorgan 86 3.08x
Gloucestershire 73 2.32x
Kent 38 0.69x
Channel Islands 37 7.79x
Warwickshire 30 0.74x
Lancashire 25 0.13x
Northamptonshire 22 1.46x
Monmouthshire 15 1.29x
Wiltshire 14 0.99x
Essex 12 0.38x
Staffordshire 12 0.22x
Cheshire 10 0.28x
Lincolnshire 9 0.35x
Argyllshire 7 1.57x
Worcestershire 7 0.33x
Sussex 6 0.22x
Yorkshire 5 0.03x
Leicestershire 4 0.23x
Durham 3 0.06x
Herefordshire 3 0.46x
Oxfordshire 3 0.30x
Royal Navy 3 1.57x
Berkshire 2 0.17x
Cumberland 2 0.14x
Flintshire 2 0.46x
Shropshire 2 0.14x
Buteshire 1 1.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 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. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 44 Chicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.83x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 44 2.83x
Chard 40 128.00x
Hackney London 39 4.34x
Weymouth 38 190.67x
Ilminster 36 199.78x
Newington 36 6.08x
Kensington London 29 3.25x
Kingstone 29 2320.00x
Portsea 27 4.19x
North Petherton 26 124.94x
Cheltenham 23 9.48x
Cullompton 21 144.13x
Lambeth 21 1.50x
Walton 20 677.97x
Ystradyfodwg 20 8.17x
Ealing 19 13.27x
St Pancras London 19 1.47x
Bedminster 18 7.43x
Chale 18 481.28x
St Marylebone London 18 2.10x
Camberwell 17 1.66x
Radipole 16 220.39x
Ryde 16 22.67x
Axminster 15 95.91x
Cardiff St Mary 15 9.76x
Chardstock 15 205.76x
Whitwell 15 386.60x
Wyke Regis 15 99.40x
Birmingham 14 1.04x
Cudworth 14 1818.18x
Llanwonno 14 13.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 4.34x
Bristol St James St Paul 13 12.40x
St Peter Port 13 14.80x
West Chinnock 13 567.69x
Bridgewater 12 17.13x
Chelsea London 12 2.48x
Clifton 12 7.55x
Taunton St James 12 31.90x
Wembdon 12 157.27x
Northampton All Sts 11 21.51x
Taunton St Mary 11 23.23x
Wimbledon 11 12.55x
Crewkerne 10 36.50x
Deptford St Paul 10 2.37x
Melcombe Regis 10 22.94x
Paddington London 10 1.70x
St Helier 10 6.47x
Winsham 10 212.31x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.29x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 9 212.26x
Colyton 9 70.26x
Fontmell Magna 9 224.44x
Musbury 9 308.22x
St Woollos 9 6.96x
Chester St Mary On Hill 8 26.36x
Dowlish Wake 8 423.28x
Penge 8 7.81x
Shoreditch London 8 1.15x
St Sampson 8 37.38x
West Ham 8 1.15x
Yeovil 8 15.26x
Aston 7 0.63x
Barwick 7 270.27x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 4.63x
Burstock 7 673.08x
Cardiff St John 7 7.68x
Chiswick 7 7.99x
Cotleigh 7 744.68x
Dinnington 7 786.52x
Knapdale South 7 45.66x
Lewisham 7 2.40x
Lympston 7 117.45x
Membury 7 197.74x
Poplar London 7 2.31x
Southampton St Mary 7 3.39x
Warwick St Nicholas 7 23.62x
West Dowlish 7 2692.31x
Wombourn 7 69.72x
Hammersmith London 6 1.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 104
Sarah 64
Elizabeth 60
Ellen 30
Jane 30
Emma 29
Eliza 28
Ann 26
Emily 25
Alice 21
Florence 19
Susan 18
Annie 16
Caroline 16
Lucy 14
Ada 11
Charlotte 11
Hannah 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 11
Anne 10
Edith 10
Fanny 10
Margaret 9
Maria 9
Rose 9
Harriett 8
Agnes 7
Clara 7
Martha 6
Amelia 5
Amy 5
Bessie 5
Eleanor 5
Eva 5
Julia 5
Kate 5
Minnie 5
Elizth. 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Laura 4
Matilda 4
Rosa 4
Anna 3
Esther 3
Louise 3
Maud 3
Phoebe 3
Ruth 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 102
John 87
George 56
Charles 52
James 52
Thomas 46
Henry 36
Alfred 30
Robert 29
Joseph 22
Samuel 21
Walter 20
Frederick 19
Edward 17
Albert 12
Richard 12
Arthur 11
Francis 11
Herbert 10
Frank 7
Harry 7
Tom 7
Edwin 6
Fred 6
Ernest 5
Percy 4
Sidney 4
Benjamin 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Amos 2
Cornelius 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Geo 2
Hugh 2
Levi 2
Philip 2
Simeon 2
Solomon 2
Wm 2
Zachariah 2
Zechariah 2
Charlie 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ely 1

FAQ

Chick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,602 people were recorded with the Chick surname. That placed it at #2,663 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,166 in 2016. That gives Chick a modern rank of #2,985.

What does the Chick surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a hatchling or young bird, derived from the Anglo-Saxon word "cicen."

What does the Chick map show?

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