NameCensus.

UK surname

Chilvers

An occupational surname derived from the Old English words "cild" (child) and "hyrde" (herder or guardian).

In the 1881 census there were 1,173 people recorded with the Chilvers surname, ranking it #3,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,007, ranked #3,210, up from #3,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Waveney and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chilvers is 2,232 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.1%.

1881 census count

1,173

Ranked #3,433

Modern count

2,007

2016, ranked #3,210

Peak year

1999

2,232 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chilvers had 1,173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,007 in 2016, ranked #3,210.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,766 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chilvers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chilvers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chilvers 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 600 #4,273
1861 historical 652 #4,116
1881 historical 1,173 #3,433
1891 historical 1,279 #3,380
1901 historical 1,573 #3,278
1911 historical 1,766 #2,780
1997 modern 2,132 #2,896
1998 modern 2,229 #2,889
1999 modern 2,232 #2,904
2000 modern 2,197 #2,928
2001 modern 2,161 #2,914
2002 modern 2,202 #2,917
2003 modern 2,162 #2,910
2004 modern 2,124 #2,954
2005 modern 2,041 #3,023
2006 modern 2,062 #3,002
2007 modern 2,034 #3,077
2008 modern 2,052 #3,080
2009 modern 2,060 #3,135
2010 modern 2,088 #3,163
2011 modern 2,074 #3,145
2012 modern 2,055 #3,117
2013 modern 2,099 #3,112
2014 modern 2,074 #3,164
2015 modern 2,061 #3,152
2016 modern 2,007 #3,210

Geography

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Where Chilvers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Waveney and Mid Suffolk. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Waveney 006 Waveney
3 Mid Suffolk 007 Mid Suffolk
4 Mid Suffolk 010 Mid Suffolk
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 011 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chilvers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chilvers

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Chilvers 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

Chilvers is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chilvers

The surname Chilvers originated in England, and its roots can be traced back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cild" and "hyrde," which together mean "child-herd" or "shepherd of children." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been individuals who worked as caretakers or shepherds responsible for tending to children.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable reference appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a certain Robert Chyldehurde is mentioned as a resident of Oxfordshire. This spelling variation provides insight into the evolution of the name over time.

In the 15th century, the surname was often spelled as "Childehird" or "Childhird," as evidenced by records from the parish registers of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Chilvers was John Chilvers, who lived in Warwickshire during the late 15th century. Historical records indicate that he was a landowner and a prominent figure in his local community.

Another notable figure was Thomas Chilvers, born in 1587 in Leicestershire. He was a scholar and theologian who authored several religious texts, including "A Treatise on the Doctrine of Predestination" (1624).

In the 17th century, the surname gained recognition through the works of Robert Chilvers, a celebrated poet and playwright born in 1638 in Oxfordshire. His works, such as "The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark" (1676), contributed significantly to the literary landscape of the time.

During the 18th century, the name was associated with several prominent individuals, including William Chilvers (1712-1786), a renowned architect who designed numerous churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

In the 19th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of John Chilvers (1828-1901), a renowned explorer and naturalist. He is credited with discovering several new plant and animal species during his expeditions to South America and Africa.

These examples demonstrate the rich history and diversity of individuals who have borne the surname Chilvers throughout the centuries, spanning various professions and areas of influence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chilvers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chilvers 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. Norfolk leads with 424 Chilvers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.06x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 424 24.06x
Suffolk 271 19.41x
Yorkshire 137 1.21x
Middlesex 96 0.84x
Surrey 62 1.11x
Essex 61 2.70x
Kent 23 0.59x
Durham 15 0.44x
Hampshire 14 0.60x
Hertfordshire 12 1.52x
Devon 9 0.38x
Lancashire 8 0.06x
Lincolnshire 8 0.44x
Gloucestershire 6 0.27x
Sussex 6 0.31x
Northumberland 5 0.29x
Staffordshire 4 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.19x
Royal Navy 3 2.20x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.28x
Leicestershire 2 0.16x
Midlothian 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 27 Chilvers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.94x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 27 40.94x
Gorleston 26 73.30x
Snettisham 24 491.80x
Middleton 22 637.68x
West Ham 21 4.20x
Great Yarmouth 20 13.70x
Halesworth 19 191.92x
Badingham 18 681.82x
Dickleburgh 18 553.85x
Heigham 18 19.03x
Kingston On Thames 17 12.67x
Leeds 17 2.65x
Castle Acre 16 305.34x
Pakefield 16 461.10x
Beccles 15 66.76x
Norwich St Saviour 15 242.72x
Mile End Old Town London 14 5.74x
Upsall In Guisbrough 14 2592.59x
Hackney London 13 2.02x
Leiston 13 135.56x
Cransford 12 1666.67x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 12 22.68x
Mickfield 12 1200.00x
Outwell 12 350.88x
Ashill 11 428.02x
Barnsley 11 9.39x
Battersea 11 2.61x
Docking 11 198.56x
Kirkley 11 94.18x
Rendlesham 11 791.37x
Stratfieldsaye 11 488.89x
Bethnal Green London 10 2.01x
Bishop Stortford 10 37.89x
Burnham Westgate 9 236.84x
Horsforth 9 36.14x
Igborough 9 1232.88x
Kelsale 9 231.96x
Shoreditch London 9 1.81x
Stalham 9 267.06x
Westminster St John 9 6.45x
Wymondham 9 49.94x
Chelmsford 8 20.61x
Grimston 8 179.78x
Islington London 8 0.72x
Marham 8 271.19x
North Lynn 8 2222.22x
St Pancras London 8 0.87x
Bungay Holy Trinity 7 97.77x
Bunwell 7 207.10x
Carleton Rode 7 230.26x
Croydon 7 2.26x
Minster In Sheppey 7 10.80x
Nether Hallam 7 4.56x
Norwich St Augustine 7 98.45x
Raveningham 7 744.68x
Sledmere Cum Croom 7 353.54x
Stoke 7 26.57x
Brighton 6 1.54x
Brockdish 6 352.94x
Colchester St James 6 65.43x
Deptford St Paul 6 1.99x
Epping 6 65.29x
Eyke 6 402.68x
Great Dunmow 6 50.89x
Harpurhey 6 31.78x
Herringfleet 6 652.17x
Holy Trinity 6 2.20x
Kempsford 6 184.05x
Lakenham 6 23.96x
Lofthouse 6 35.38x
Middlesbrough 6 4.06x
Shottesham All Sts 6 402.68x
Stoke Damerel 6 3.59x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 18.46x
Watlington 6 246.91x
Wilsden 6 51.46x
Brantingham 5 462.96x
Gateshead 5 1.96x
Great Linstead 5 1041.67x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 3.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Elizabeth 49
Sarah 40
Ellen 22
Alice 20
Hannah 20
Ann 18
Emma 18
Eliza 16
Harriet 16
Charlotte 15
Maria 14
Annie 13
Jane 13
Edith 11
Emily 11
Anna 10
Louisa 9
Florence 8
Lucy 8
Martha 8
Susan 8
Lydia 7
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Rose 5
Susannah 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Laura 4
Anne 3
Gertrude 3
Kate 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Dora 2
Eleanor 2
Elizab. 2
Lily 2
Lizzie 2
Louise 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Winifred 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 73
John 54
George 52
James 42
Robert 36
Charles 35
Henry 25
Edward 19
Thomas 19
Frederick 16
Harry 16
Joseph 16
Arthur 14
Samuel 14
Albert 13
Walter 10
Alfred 9
Herbert 8
Ernest 6
Fredk. 6
Richard 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Robt. 4
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Willm. 3
Allan 2
Ambrose 2
Chas. 2
Esau 2
Frederic 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Jonas 2
Louis 2
Nathaniel 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Sidney 2
Amos 1
Cyril 1
Enoch 1
Epharaim 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1

FAQ

Chilvers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chilvers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,173 people were recorded with the Chilvers surname. That placed it at #3,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chilvers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,007 in 2016. That gives Chilvers a modern rank of #3,210.

What does the Chilvers surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English words "cild" (child) and "hyrde" (herder or guardian).

What does the Chilvers map show?

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