NameCensus.

UK surname

Chinnery

A surname derived from a regional English variant of the word "cinnamon".

In the 1881 census there were 361 people recorded with the Chinnery surname, ranking it #8,579 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 567, ranked #9,065, down from #8,579 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braintree, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Babergh and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chinnery is 692 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

361

Ranked #8,579

Modern count

567

2016, ranked #9,065

Peak year

1911

692 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chinnery had 361 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,579 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 567 in 2016, ranked #9,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 692 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chinnery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chinnery surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chinnery 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 128 #14,474
1861 historical 166 #14,039
1881 historical 361 #8,579
1891 historical 482 #7,652
1901 historical 674 #6,467
1911 historical 692 #6,137
1997 modern 667 #7,524
1998 modern 673 #7,713
1999 modern 661 #7,845
2000 modern 651 #7,929
2001 modern 627 #8,005
2002 modern 620 #8,256
2003 modern 613 #8,191
2004 modern 601 #8,339
2005 modern 560 #8,679
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 556 #8,828
2008 modern 551 #8,951
2009 modern 575 #8,866
2010 modern 585 #8,957
2011 modern 571 #9,002
2012 modern 555 #9,103
2013 modern 582 #8,931
2014 modern 591 #8,913
2015 modern 580 #8,953
2016 modern 567 #9,065

Geography

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Where Chinnerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braintree, London parishes, St Pancras and Ealing, Chiswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Babergh and South Derbyshire. 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 Braintree Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 002 Braintree
2 Babergh 007 Babergh
3 South Derbyshire 008 South Derbyshire
4 Braintree 008 Braintree
5 Braintree 013 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chinnery

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chinnery

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

Chinnery is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chinnery falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chinnery

The surname Chinnery originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cyn," meaning family or kindred, and "æri," meaning a dwelling or habitation. This suggests that the name was likely originally a place name referring to the dwelling or settlement of a particular family or clan.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chinnery surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. This document includes a reference to a person named William Chinnery, providing evidence of the name's existence during the medieval period.

The Chinnery name has also been linked to various place names throughout England, such as Chinnor in Oxfordshire and Chinley in Derbyshire. These locations may have contributed to the surname's evolution and regional variations in spelling over time.

Notable individuals bearing the Chinnery surname include George Chinnery (1774-1852), a renowned English painter who spent much of his career in India and China. His works are highly regarded for their accurate portrayal of everyday life in these regions during the early 19th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Cedric Chinnery (1884-1972), a British diplomat who served as the British Minister to Uruguay from 1935 to 1939. He played a crucial role in facilitating the evacuation of British citizens during the Spanish Civil War.

In the field of literature, Marjorie Chinnery (1897-1973) was a celebrated Australian author known for her novels and short stories depicting life in rural Australia. Her works, such as "The Butter Factory" and "The Paling Fence," provided insightful glimpses into the challenges and experiences of rural communities.

Another notable individual was John Chinnery (1801-1873), a British civil engineer who contributed significantly to the development of early railways in India. He was responsible for the construction of several important railway lines, including the Bombay-Thane line, which was one of the earliest railway projects in the country.

Lastly, Sir Frederick Chinnery (1881-1956) was a prominent British diplomat who served as the British Minister to Switzerland during World War II. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in maintaining neutral relations between Britain and Switzerland during this tumultuous period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chinnery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chinnery 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. Middlesex leads with 114 Chinnerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 114 3.24x
Essex 93 13.38x
Suffolk 29 6.76x
Norfolk 20 3.69x
Surrey 20 1.17x
Kent 15 1.25x
Warwickshire 8 0.90x
Yorkshire 8 0.23x
Durham 7 0.67x
Lancashire 7 0.17x
Northumberland 7 1.34x
Cambridgeshire 6 2.69x
Midlothian 6 1.27x
Angus 4 1.23x
Herefordshire 4 2.77x
Oxfordshire 4 1.84x
Sussex 3 0.51x
Derbyshire 2 0.36x
Bedfordshire 1 0.55x
Berkshire 1 0.38x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Renfrewshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Woodford in Essex leads with 24 Chinnerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.96x.

Place Total Index
Woodford 24 304.96x
Long Melford 20 501.25x
Gestingthorpe 13 1666.67x
St Pancras London 13 4.59x
Belchamp St Paul 11 1294.12x
Bromley London 9 11.62x
Chatham 9 27.23x
Northwold 9 620.69x
Tottenham 9 16.05x
Wanstead 9 73.95x
Birmingham 8 2.70x
Islington London 8 2.34x
New Brentford 8 432.43x
Battersea 7 5.40x
Hackney London 7 3.55x
West Ham 7 4.56x
Barking 6 29.50x
Clerkenwell London 6 7.22x
Glencorse 6 331.49x
Hendon 6 47.36x
Longbenton 6 27.04x
Salford 6 4.88x
Tendring 6 588.24x
Westminster St Margaret 6 35.31x
Dedham 5 236.97x
Fordham 5 347.22x
Lambeth 5 1.63x
Mile End Old Town London 5 6.67x
St George Hanover Square 5 8.06x
St George In East London 5 15.10x
Great Horkesley 4 416.67x
Hampton London 4 69.08x
Idle 4 24.72x
Liff Benvie 4 8.08x
Maldon St Peter 4 112.99x
Mile End New Town London 4 57.47x
Oxford St Giles 4 38.57x
Teddington London 4 50.13x
Wellington 4 540.54x
Bermondsey 3 2.86x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 3 37.27x
Darlington 3 7.42x
Shelfanger 3 731.71x
St Marylebone London 3 1.60x
Westoe 3 5.05x
Belchamp Otten 2 500.00x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.31x
Chiswick 2 10.40x
Claylane 2 26.11x
Dartford 2 16.27x
Fulham London 2 3.92x
Heigham 2 6.88x
Holy Trinity 2 2.38x
Hornsey 2 4.49x
Little Ellingham 2 526.32x
Newmarket St Mary 2 60.79x
Acton 1 4.85x
Alverstoke 1 3.83x
Bradford 1 1.18x
Caterham 1 13.19x
Clapham 1 2.27x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 1 101.01x
Great Livermere 1 303.03x
Greenock Oldor West 1 133.33x
Holkham 1 153.85x
Horley 1 34.72x
Lavenham 1 44.64x
Lewisham 1 1.56x
Linton 1 47.17x
Mountnessing 1 95.24x
Paddington London 1 0.77x
Preston 1 9.64x
Rayleigh 1 62.50x
South Shields 1 10.72x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.41x
Spotland 1 2.15x
Stanningfield 1 312.50x
Watton 1 58.82x
Westgate 1 3.08x
Westminster St James 1 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 14
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Emma 9
Sarah 8
Ada 7
Hannah 6
Susan 6
Ann 5
Ellen 4
Grace 4
Kate 4
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Maud 3
Rose 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Selina 2
Amelia 1
Arabella 1
Augusta 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Emmiline 1
Fanny 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 15
Charles 14
Walter 13
John 10
Thomas 9
Arthur 8
Henry 7
Robert 6
Samuel 5
Joseph 4
Harry 3
James 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Aubery 1
Bertie 1
Caleb 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Franklin 1
Geo. 1
Gerard 1
Herbert 1
Jno.H. 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Morisby 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richd 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Chinnery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chinnery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 361 people were recorded with the Chinnery surname. That placed it at #8,579 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chinnery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 567 in 2016. That gives Chinnery a modern rank of #9,065.

What does the Chinnery surname mean?

A surname derived from a regional English variant of the word "cinnamon".

What does the Chinnery map show?

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