UK surname
Derived from a Middle English topographic term referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Chill surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Greenwich and St George in the East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chill is 160 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.7%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
160 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chill surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chill surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 160 | #14,468 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 56 | #29,638 |
| 1901 | historical | 33 | #30,384 |
| 1911 | historical | 52 | #27,620 |
| 1997 | modern | 13 | #36,672 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 15 | #36,425 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 15 | #36,415 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 23 | #36,424 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Greenwich, St George in the East, Stone and Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Greenwich | London (South Districts) |
| 3 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Stone | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Houghton-le-Spring (West Rainton), Pittington (Pittington) | Durham |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chill surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Chill, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Chill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Chill is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chill is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chill traces its origins to the Old English word "cill" or "cyll," meaning a source or spring. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a spring or well.
The earliest known record of the name Chill dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chille" in the county of Somerset, England. This entry likely refers to a place name derived from the Old English word.
In the 12th century, the surname Chill is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, in the spelling "Chille." This suggests that the name was established in the southwestern region of England during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Chill, a landowner in Dorset, England, who lived in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was William Chill, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who was recorded in the 14th century.
In the 16th century, the surname Chill appeared in various spellings, such as "Chille," "Chylle," and "Chyll," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.
During the 17th century, the surname Chill is documented in various parish records across England, with concentrations in counties like Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Dorset, further reinforcing its regional roots.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Chill (1595-1672), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, the surname Chill is recorded in the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a family by the name of Chill resided.
Another prominent figure was John Chill (1720-1789), a renowned English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Foundling Hospital and the Register House in Edinburgh.
Throughout the 19th century, the surname Chill continued to be associated with various individuals, including James Chill (1818-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist in Birmingham, England.
Overall, the surname Chill has a long and rich history, rooted in the Old English language and concentrated primarily in the southwestern regions of England, with various notable bearers across different periods and professions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chill surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Staffordshire leads with 9 Chills recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.13x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 9 | 10.13x |
| Derbyshire | 7 | 16.99x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 8.73x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.64x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 5.67x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.56x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.94x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 2.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walsall Foreign in Staffordshire leads with 9 Chills recorded in 1881 and an index of 196.08x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Walsall Foreign | 9 | 196.08x |
| Stanton Newhall | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Dudley | 3 | 71.77x |
| Ardwick | 2 | 70.92x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 14.09x |
| Mortlake | 2 | 350.88x |
| Cowpen | 1 | 111.11x |
| Crich | 1 | 370.37x |
| Westbury On Severn East | 1 | 85.47x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chill surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Chill households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| (...) ... Filer | 1 |
| Bridle Stitcher | 1 |
| Clergymans Daur | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Harness Maker (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Housemaid Unemployed | 1 |
| Malleable Iron Caster | 1 |
| Nail Maker | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Shoeing Smith | 1 |
| Shoeing Smith Wife | 1 |
| Well Sinker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Chill surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Chill a modern rank of #36,254.
Derived from a Middle English topographic term referring to someone who lived near a spring or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chill bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.