NameCensus.

UK surname

Chipman

An occupational surname referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Middle English word "chapman."

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Chipman surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 205, ranked #19,250, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, Illogan and Redruth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tamworth and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chipman is 251 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.6%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

205

2016, ranked #19,250

Peak year

1861

251 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chipman had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016, ranked #19,250.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 251 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Chipman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chipman surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chipman 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 251 #9,830
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 220 #13,937
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 215 #14,290
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 203 #17,787
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 200 #18,294
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 217 #18,271
2012 modern 206 #18,837
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 205 #19,250

Geography

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Where Chipmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, Illogan, Redruth, Sutton Coldfield and Bilton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tamworth and Cornwall. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 Illogan Cornwall
3 Redruth Cornwall
4 Sutton Coldfield Warwickshire
5 Bilton Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tamworth 001 Tamworth
2 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
4 Tamworth 004 Tamworth
5 Tamworth 010 Tamworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chipman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chipman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Chipman is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chipman 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chipman

The surname Chipman has its roots in England, originating in the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "chepen" or "chepe," meaning a market or marketplace. This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals involved in trade or commerce within a market town.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Chipman can be traced back to the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were administrative records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. These rolls mentioned individuals with variations of the name, such as "de Chepman" and "atte Chepman."

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, including the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662-1666. These rolls documented households and their associated tax payments, providing valuable insights into the distribution of the Chipman name across different regions of England.

One notable historical figure bearing the Chipman surname was John Chipman (c. 1612-1708), an early English settler who arrived in America in 1630. He played a significant role in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and served as a deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts.

Another prominent individual was Richard Chipman (1677-1765), a British naval officer and cartographer. He is known for his contributions to the mapping of the Caribbean region and the production of detailed nautical charts during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, George Chipman (1818-1893) gained recognition as a prominent Canadian lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and played an influential role in the legal and political spheres of his time.

Mary Chipman (1854-1934), born in England, was a notable educator and advocate for women's rights. She established the Chipman School for Girls in Northampton, Massachusetts, and actively campaigned for equal educational opportunities for women.

Another noteworthy figure was Thomas Chipman (1781-1853), an American lawyer and politician from Vermont. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and played a crucial role in the state's legal and political landscape during the early 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Chipman has been associated with various localities and place names, such as Chipman Hills in Devon, England, and the town of Chipman, New Brunswick, Canada, which was named after the Chipman family who settled in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chipman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chipman 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. Warwickshire leads with 48 Chipmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.10x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 48 13.10x
Cornwall 35 21.27x
Devon 24 7.93x
Leicestershire 10 6.21x
Staffordshire 7 1.43x
Lancashire 6 0.35x
Middlesex 5 0.34x
Cheshire 4 1.25x
Gloucestershire 4 1.40x
Surrey 4 0.56x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.63x
Norfolk 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bilton in Warwickshire leads with 16 Chipmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 1904.76x.

Place Total Index
Bilton 16 1904.76x
Illogan 15 344.04x
Tormoham 15 117.19x
Sutton Coldfield 14 363.64x
Aston 13 12.88x
Gerrans 7 1590.91x
Little Claybrooke 7 2333.33x
Alverdiscott 5 3571.43x
Aldridge 4 425.53x
Enfield 4 41.93x
Gwennap 4 129.03x
Camberwell 3 3.23x
Kingsbury 3 384.62x
Marple 3 136.36x
Sharnford 3 1304.35x
Tetbury 3 185.19x
Bideford 2 61.73x
Horninglow 2 86.58x
Liverpool 2 1.91x
Philleigh 2 1538.46x
Redruth 2 43.01x
Talland 2 512.82x
Walton On Hill 2 21.41x
West Looe 2 465.12x
Ashtead 1 217.39x
Birkenhead 1 3.91x
Camborne 1 14.75x
Darlaston 1 14.75x
Manchester 1 1.29x
Marton 1 526.32x
Plymouth Charles The 1 7.50x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.29x
St Marylebone London 1 1.29x
Stapleton 1 18.48x
Stockton 1 294.12x
Toxteth Park 1 1.71x
Treleachar Bettws 1 151.52x
Wellingham 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 5
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Kathleen 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annetta 1
Annie 1
Bessie 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Eva 1
Francis 1
J. 1
Julia 1
Lillian 1
M.Jane 1
Malvina 1
Margret 1
Pamella 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
James 8
George 7
John 7
Alfred 5
Arthur 3
Charles 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Albert 1
Archie 1
Authur 1
Cyril 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Isaac 1
Jessie 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Nicholas 1
Phillip 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Chipman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chipman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Chipman surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chipman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 205 in 2016. That gives Chipman a modern rank of #19,250.

What does the Chipman surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a merchant or trader, derived from the Middle English word "chapman."

What does the Chipman map show?

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