NameCensus.

UK surname

Chilcott

An English occupational surname possibly derived from "child's cottage" referring to someone working with orphans.

In the 1881 census there were 883 people recorded with the Chilcott surname, ranking it #4,300 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,743, ranked #3,596, up from #4,300 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Bristol and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chilcott is 1,873 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 97.4%.

1881 census count

883

Ranked #4,300

Modern count

1,743

2016, ranked #3,596

Peak year

1999

1,873 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chilcott had 883 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,300 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,743 in 2016, ranked #3,596.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,544 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chilcott surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chilcott surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chilcott 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 620 #4,170
1861 historical 631 #4,244
1881 historical 883 #4,300
1891 historical 1,096 #3,856
1901 historical 1,309 #3,813
1911 historical 1,544 #3,140
1997 modern 1,809 #3,319
1998 modern 1,863 #3,357
1999 modern 1,873 #3,365
2000 modern 1,852 #3,377
2001 modern 1,820 #3,362
2002 modern 1,828 #3,411
2003 modern 1,775 #3,436
2004 modern 1,752 #3,482
2005 modern 1,721 #3,502
2006 modern 1,701 #3,542
2007 modern 1,704 #3,565
2008 modern 1,700 #3,599
2009 modern 1,746 #3,588
2010 modern 1,773 #3,612
2011 modern 1,764 #3,582
2012 modern 1,706 #3,633
2013 modern 1,741 #3,626
2014 modern 1,748 #3,629
2015 modern 1,747 #3,599
2016 modern 1,743 #3,596

Geography

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Where Chilcotts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford, Dulverton, Brompton Regis and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Bristol, West Somerset and Sedgemoor. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset
4 Dulverton, Brompton Regis Devon
5 Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 009 Bridgend
2 Bristol 008 Bristol, City of
3 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
4 West Somerset 004 West Somerset
5 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chilcott

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chilcott

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

Chilcott 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

Chilcott 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 Chilcott is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Chilcott

The surname Chilcott is of English origin, emerging in the southern counties of England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cild" meaning child and "cot" referring to a small dwelling or cottage, suggesting the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a small house or hut.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Childecot" and "Childecote" in Gloucestershire and Somerset. This indicates that the name was already in use in the late 11th century and was likely associated with specific locations or settlements.

In the 13th century, the name was recorded as "Childecote" in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1230, and as "Chyldecote" in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292. These variations in spelling reflect the evolution of the name over time and the regional differences in pronunciation and orthography.

Notable individuals bearing the Chilcott surname include:

1. Thomas Chilcott (1700-1766), an English composer and organist who served as the organist at Bath Abbey for over 50 years.

2. William Chilcott (1826-1896), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Middlesex County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century.

3. Sir Robert Chilcott (1884-1962), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as Ambassador to Norway from 1939 to 1940.

4. John Chilcott (1937-1984), a British art historian and curator who specialized in British Romantic painting and was the Keeper of the British Collection at the Tate Gallery.

5. Bob Chilcott (born 1955), a contemporary British choral composer and conductor, known for his works for children's and amateur choirs.

The Chilcott name has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Chilcott in Somerset and Chilcote in Derbyshire. These locations may have contributed to the development and spread of the surname in different regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chilcott families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chilcott 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 285 Chilcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.37x.

County Total Index
Somerset 285 20.37x
Devon 171 9.45x
Middlesex 85 0.98x
Dorset 59 10.34x
Gloucestershire 58 3.40x
Glamorgan 40 2.64x
Surrey 39 0.92x
Hampshire 36 2.02x
Sussex 15 1.02x
Warwickshire 13 0.59x
Cornwall 12 1.22x
Kent 12 0.40x
Oxfordshire 11 2.05x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Wiltshire 10 1.30x
Suffolk 9 0.85x
Monmouthshire 7 1.11x
Channel Islands 3 1.16x
Durham 3 0.12x
Isle of Man 3 1.86x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.36x
Northumberland 2 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.19x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.97x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 45 Chilcotts recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.42x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 45 144.42x
Bedminster 39 29.67x
Bridgewater 32 84.25x
Stringston 29 8529.41x
Stogursey 26 693.33x
Dulverton 24 585.37x
Bristol St James St Paul 16 28.15x
Tormoham 16 20.90x
Williton 15 319.83x
Kilve 14 2121.21x
Cardiff St Mary 13 15.60x
Stoke Damerel 13 10.27x
St Decumans 12 895.52x
Lambeth 11 1.45x
Plymouth Charles The 11 13.80x
Mapledurham 10 793.65x
St George Hanover Square 10 6.53x
Aston 9 1.49x
Bristol St George 9 11.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 5.61x
Llanguick 9 33.20x
Poplar London 9 5.49x
Powerstock 9 368.85x
St Pancras London 9 1.29x
Wembdon 9 217.39x
Margam 8 47.39x
Oakford 8 540.54x
Southampton St Mary 8 7.14x
Bradpole 7 149.89x
Catcott 7 426.83x
Chelsea London 7 2.67x
Clatworthy 7 1044.78x
Clifton 7 8.12x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 16.90x
Kensington London 7 1.45x
Kenwyn 7 27.21x
Penrose 7 777.78x
St Mary Kalendar 7 188.68x
Uffculme 7 129.87x
Bristol St Michael 6 41.07x
Buckland Ripers 6 1304.35x
Cuckfield 6 40.54x
East Stonehouse 6 16.84x
Islington London 6 0.71x
Keymer 6 57.97x
Norwood 6 30.20x
Reigate Foreign 6 13.08x
Ringwood 6 52.63x
Roath 6 8.73x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.43x
Strood 6 35.46x
Wedmore 6 65.93x
Wincanton 6 83.33x
Alverstoke 5 7.75x
Bampton 5 90.25x
Bradninch 5 98.04x
Brushford 5 515.46x
Cannington 5 120.19x
Chard 5 29.50x
Clerkenwell London 5 2.44x
Cranborne 5 72.46x
Exeter St Thomas The 5 27.12x
Huntsham 5 862.07x
Kingston On Thames 5 4.92x
Limehouse London 5 5.24x
Nether Stowey 5 228.31x
Parham 5 375.94x
Tyneham 5 609.76x
Birmingham 4 0.55x
Bramley 4 107.24x
Bristol St Paul In 4 8.81x
Carhampton 4 208.33x
Exeter St Edmund 4 102.56x
Melksham 4 29.96x
Otterhampton 4 563.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 2.87x
Stawley 4 869.57x
Toxteth Park 4 1.15x
Ynysawdre 4 163.93x
Frome 3 8.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 47
Emily 21
Sarah 21
Alice 18
Eliza 18
Ann 15
Annie 13
Ellen 13
Jane 13
Fanny 12
Louisa 11
Emma 9
Charlotte 8
Harriet 8
Harriett 8
Hannah 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Edith 6
Lucy 6
Martha 5
Rose 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Anne 4
Bessie 4
Florence 4
Maria 4
Caroline 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Kate 3
Ruth 3
Sally 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Blanche 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Blance 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizebth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 60
John 45
George 35
James 33
Thomas 26
Charles 25
Henry 18
Alfred 14
Robert 14
Edward 12
Frederick 11
Samuel 9
Edwin 8
Herbert 7
Joseph 7
Albert 6
Francis 6
Frank 6
Sidney 6
Walter 6
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Clement 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Geo. 2
Job 2
Wilfred 2
Will. 2
Bertie 1
Chas.H. 1
Christopher 1
Edwd. 1
F.W. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.F. 1
Geo.J. 1
Gilbert 1
J. 1
Jessie 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Langford 1
Leonard 1
Levi 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Chilcott surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chilcott surname in 1881?

In 1881, 883 people were recorded with the Chilcott surname. That placed it at #4,300 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chilcott surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,743 in 2016. That gives Chilcott a modern rank of #3,596.

What does the Chilcott surname mean?

An English occupational surname possibly derived from "child's cottage" referring to someone working with orphans.

What does the Chilcott map show?

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