NameCensus.

UK surname

Chima

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "God's power".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wokingham, Redbridge and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chima is 524 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

500

2016, ranked #9,983

Peak year

2010

524 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 500 in 2016, ranked #9,983.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Chima surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chima surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chima 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
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1891 historical 9 #33,451
1997 modern 295 #13,680
1998 modern 308 #13,661
1999 modern 332 #13,075
2000 modern 338 #12,877
2001 modern 330 #12,893
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 397 #11,316
2004 modern 397 #11,345
2005 modern 441 #10,368
2006 modern 461 #10,054
2007 modern 478 #9,891
2008 modern 484 #9,877
2009 modern 502 #9,818
2010 modern 524 #9,711
2011 modern 511 #9,792
2012 modern 510 #9,722
2013 modern 516 #9,783
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 515 #9,807
2016 modern 500 #9,983

Geography

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Where Chimas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wokingham, Redbridge, Wolverhampton and Reading. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wokingham 006 Wokingham
2 Redbridge 030 Redbridge
3 Wolverhampton 030 Wolverhampton
4 Redbridge 006 Redbridge
5 Reading 014 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chima

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chima

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Chima surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Chima household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Chima is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chima 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

Chima falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chima is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Chima

The surname Chima has its origins in Italy, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Italian word "chioma," which means "head of hair" or "tuft of hair." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a distinctive hairstyle or a particularly abundant head of hair.

In the early records, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Chioma, Chiome, and Chiomaio, reflecting the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation. One of the earliest documented instances of the name can be found in the "Codice Diplomatico Longobardo," a collection of legal documents from the Lombard period in Italy, dating back to the 8th century.

During the Renaissance period, the Chima family gained prominence in the city of Florence, where they were known for their involvement in the textile trade. In the 14th century, Matteo Chima, a successful merchant and banker, was recorded as a prominent figure in the city's economic and political affairs.

Another notable individual bearing this surname was Giovanni Battista Chima, a renowned painter from the 16th century. Born in the town of Bassano del Grappa in 1518, he was known for his portraiture and religious works, many of which can still be found in churches and galleries across Northern Italy.

In the 18th century, the Chima family expanded their influence to other parts of Europe. Pietro Chima, born in 1712, was a prominent architect who worked on several notable buildings in Vienna, including the Hofburg Imperial Palace.

Moving into the 19th century, Vincenzo Chima (1803-1879) was an Italian botanist and professor at the University of Naples. He made significant contributions to the study of plant taxonomy and published several influential works on the flora of Southern Italy.

Throughout its history, the surname Chima has been associated with various professions and fields, from commerce and art to academia and architecture. While its origins can be traced back to medieval Italy, the name has since spread across different regions and countries, carrying with it the rich cultural heritage of its Italian roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Chima surname: questions and answers

How common is the Chima surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 500 in 2016. That gives Chima a modern rank of #9,983.

What does the Chima surname mean?

A surname of Nigerian origin meaning "God's power".

What does the Chima map show?

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