NameCensus.

UK surname

Chirgwin

A variant of the Cornish surname Churchwarden or Churchwarden.

In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Chirgwin surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, down from #19,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, Paul and Madron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Richmond upon Thames and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chirgwin is 153 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.1%.

1881 census count

103

Ranked #19,410

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

1851

153 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chirgwin had 103 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Chirgwin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chirgwin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Chirgwin 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 103 #19,410
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 146 #18,335
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 144 #22,501
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 148 #22,000
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 136 #23,708
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

Back to top

Where Chirgwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, Paul, Madron, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Sancreed. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Richmond upon Thames, Flintshire and Swindon. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 Paul Cornwall
3 Madron Cornwall
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Sancreed Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 051 Cornwall
2 Richmond upon Thames 015 Richmond upon Thames
3 Flintshire 016 Flintshire
4 Swindon 024 Swindon
5 Cornwall 047 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Chirgwin

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Chirgwin

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Chirgwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Chirgwin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Chirgwin 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

Chirgwin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Chirgwin

The surname Chirgwin has its roots in Cornwall, one of the Celtic nations located in the southwestern peninsula of Great Britain. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 6th to 10th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Cornish words "chyrghyn" or "chyrgwyn," which translate to "a sanctuary" or "a place of refuge."

Historically, Cornwall was a region known for its rugged landscapes, secluded coves, and remote settlements, providing sanctuary for those seeking shelter or refuge. It is plausible that the Chirgwin surname may have initially referred to individuals or families who lived in or near such sanctuaries or places of refuge.

The earliest recorded instances of the Chirgwin surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various Cornish records and documents. For example, a certain Robertus Chyrgwyn was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall in 1284, suggesting the name's presence in the region during that period.

One notable mention of the Chirgwin name can be found in the Cornish Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where a Johannes Chyrgwyn is recorded as a taxpayer. This historical document provides valuable insights into the distribution and prominence of surnames in Cornwall during the 14th century.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the surname has undergone various transformations, including variations such as Chyrgwyn, Chyrgwyn, Churgwyn, and Chirgwin. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times.

Several individuals with the Chirgwin surname have left their mark in history. One example is William Chirgwin (1580-1642), a notable Cornish scholar and clergyman who served as the Vicar of St. Just-in-Penwith. Another prominent figure was John Chirgwin (1710-1792), a Cornish-born merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the development of the mining industry in Cornwall.

Other notable Chirgwins include Thomas Chirgwin (1692-1761), a Cornish minister and author, and Richard Chirgwin (1809-1888), a Cornish mining engineer who made significant contributions to the development of mining techniques in the region.

Additionally, the Chirgwin surname has been associated with various place names in Cornwall, such as Chirgwin Farm, Chirgwin Hill, and Chirgwin Moor, further reinforcing its deep-rooted connections to the local geography and landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Chirgwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chirgwin 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. Cornwall leads with 80 Chirgwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.67x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 80 69.67x
Lanarkshire 8 2.44x
Flintshire 5 18.34x
Lancashire 5 0.42x
Devon 2 0.95x
Middlesex 2 0.20x
Wiltshire 2 2.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paul in Cornwall leads with 27 Chirgwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1291.87x.

Place Total Index
Paul 27 1291.87x
Madron Penzance 21 502.39x
St Just In Penwith 15 672.65x
Sancreed 10 3030.30x
Govan 8 9.86x
Mold 5 202.43x
Windle 5 73.86x
Feock 2 277.78x
Islington London 2 2.03x
St Levan 2 952.38x
Swindon 2 28.74x
Camborne 1 21.14x
Liskeard 1 52.08x
Madron 1 107.53x
Plymouth Charles The 1 10.75x
Stoke 1 117.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 5
Grace 4
Jane 3
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Minnie 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Bessy 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Honor 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Maude 1
Nellie 1
Nelly 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Edwin 4
John 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Charles 2
Nicholas 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
George 1
James 1
Josephus 1
Martin 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1

FAQ

Chirgwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chirgwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Chirgwin surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chirgwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Chirgwin a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Chirgwin surname mean?

A variant of the Cornish surname Churchwarden or Churchwarden.

What does the Chirgwin map show?

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