NameCensus.

UK surname

Chisholm

From a Scottish place name meaning "cheese island," referring to a meadow good for grazing cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 4,368 people recorded with the Chisholm surname, ranking it #1,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,069, ranked #1,340, down from #1,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Urquhart and Glenmoriston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Inverness Muirtown, Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh and Inverness Crown and Haugh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chisholm is 5,168 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.0%.

1881 census count

4,368

Ranked #1,026

Modern count

5,069

2016, ranked #1,340

Peak year

2010

5,168 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chisholm had 4,368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,069 in 2016, ranked #1,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,981 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Chisholm surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chisholm surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chisholm 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 3,391 #843
1861 historical 3,197 #899
1881 historical 4,368 #1,026
1891 historical 4,571 #1,027
1901 historical 4,981 #1,134
1911 historical 1,562 #3,104
1997 modern 4,621 #1,416
1998 modern 4,820 #1,406
1999 modern 4,894 #1,399
2000 modern 4,956 #1,379
2001 modern 4,836 #1,380
2002 modern 4,947 #1,375
2003 modern 4,815 #1,377
2004 modern 4,825 #1,368
2005 modern 4,812 #1,357
2006 modern 4,809 #1,358
2007 modern 4,866 #1,357
2008 modern 4,914 #1,352
2009 modern 4,993 #1,363
2010 modern 5,168 #1,347
2011 modern 5,062 #1,351
2012 modern 4,966 #1,347
2013 modern 5,067 #1,344
2014 modern 5,162 #1,332
2015 modern 5,126 #1,327
2016 modern 5,069 #1,340

Geography

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Where Chisholms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Urquhart and Glenmoriston, Glasgow and Inverness and Bona. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Inverness Muirtown, Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh, Inverness Crown and Haugh, Inverness West Rural and Ross and Cromarty Central. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Urquhart and Glenmoriston Inverness
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Inverness and Bona Inverness

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Inverness Muirtown Highland
2 Inverness Ballifeary and Dalneigh Highland
3 Inverness Crown and Haugh Highland
4 Inverness West Rural Highland
5 Ross and Cromarty Central Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chisholm

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chisholm

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Chisholm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Chisholm household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Chisholm is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Chisholm is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chisholm

The surname Chisholm is of Scottish origin, deriving from the lands of Chisholme or Chisholme in the Scottish Borders region. It is believed to have originated in the 12th century as a territorial name. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the records of the Abbey of Kelso in 1159, where it is written as "Cysshome."

The name is thought to derive from the Old English words "cis" meaning "bitch" and "holme" meaning "island" or "river meadow." This suggests that the original lands may have been associated with an island or meadow frequented by bitches or female wolves.

In the 13th century, the Chisholm family gained prominence as landowners and supporters of the Scottish monarchy. They were one of the principal families of Roxburghshire and held significant influence in the Scottish Borders region.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Sir Robert Chisholm (c.1300-1360), a prominent Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence alongside King Robert the Bruce. He was granted lands in Roxburghshire for his loyalty and bravery.

During the 16th century, the Chisholms were involved in various Border feuds and conflicts with neighboring clans, such as the Scotts and the Kerrs. This period saw the rise of several notable Chisholm lairds, including William Chisholm (c.1520-1585), who was known for his involvement in the Raid of the Redeswire in 1575.

In the 17th century, Alexander Chisholm (1590-1658) was a Scottish writer and poet who published works on theology and philosophy. He served as the minister of Coldingham and later became the Bishop of Dunblane.

The 18th century saw the emergence of William Chisholm (1718-1788), a Scottish-American soldier and explorer who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the British Army and later assisted the American colonists in their fight for independence.

Another notable figure was Caroline Chisholm (1808-1877), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She is best known for her efforts in advocating for the welfare of immigrant women and children, particularly in Australia, where she established shelters and employment assistance programs.

The surname Chisholm has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, soldiers, writers, and social reformers. Despite its Scottish origins, the name has spread across the globe, reflecting the migrations and contributions of those who bore it throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chisholm families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chisholm 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. Inverness-shire leads with 889 Chisholms recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.17x.

County Total Index
Inverness-shire 889 70.17x
Midlothian 458 8.06x
Ross-shire 360 30.90x
Lanarkshire 329 2.40x
Durham 244 1.93x
Northumberland 240 3.80x
Roxburghshire 166 21.60x
Berwickshire 137 26.67x
Middlesex 125 0.29x
Aberdeenshire 124 3.16x
Angus 107 2.72x
Argyllshire 76 6.44x
Fife 75 2.99x
Lancashire 73 0.15x
Perthshire 69 3.62x
Morayshire 67 10.16x
Sutherland 66 20.23x
Surrey 65 0.31x
Selkirkshire 56 14.59x
Yorkshire 56 0.13x
Renfrewshire 50 1.52x
Cumberland 46 1.26x
Nairnshire 46 35.52x
Banffshire 42 4.77x
Ayrshire 39 1.23x
Cheshire 34 0.36x
Dumfriesshire 30 3.20x
Gloucestershire 22 0.26x
Dunbartonshire 21 1.84x
Stirlingshire 20 1.28x
Kent 15 0.10x
Sussex 15 0.21x
Wigtownshire 14 2.49x
Hampshire 13 0.15x
Kirkcudbrightshire 13 2.12x
East Lothian 12 2.14x
Glamorgan 12 0.16x
Essex 9 0.11x
Oxfordshire 9 0.34x
Derbyshire 8 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.14x
Buteshire 7 2.72x
Caithness 7 1.21x
Denbighshire 7 0.44x
Worcestershire 7 0.13x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.35x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.22x
Leicestershire 6 0.13x
Staffordshire 6 0.04x
Kincardineshire 5 0.97x
Devon 3 0.03x
Peeblesshire 3 1.50x
Royal Navy 3 0.59x
Suffolk 3 0.06x
Warwickshire 3 0.03x
Anglesey 2 0.27x
Berkshire 2 0.06x
Shetland 2 0.46x
Shropshire 2 0.05x
Somerset 2 0.03x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.29x
Kinross-shire 1 0.93x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Inverness in Inverness-shire leads with 342 Chisholms recorded in 1881 and an index of 107.32x.

Place Total Index
Inverness 342 107.32x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 224 9.80x
Kilmorack 125 325.44x
Barony 124 3.57x
Kiltarlity 121 389.32x
Govan 94 2.77x
Urquhart Glenmoriston 85 237.23x
Glasgow 73 3.00x
Gairloch 64 95.31x
Urray 47 129.94x
Bishopwearmouth 41 3.78x
Hawick 41 23.84x
Boleskine Abertarff 40 190.39x
South Leith 38 5.94x
Creich 35 107.69x
Dundee 34 2.32x
Lochs 33 35.58x
Nairn 33 42.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 32 4.35x
Fodderty 29 98.41x
Haswell 28 30.95x
Kensington London 27 1.14x
Chirton 25 17.50x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 25 6.63x
St Andrews 25 21.88x
Coldingham 24 51.97x
Forres 23 33.20x
Galashiels 23 16.21x
Kilmallie 23 37.86x
Kirkhill 23 106.93x
Tynemouth 23 6.80x
Croy Dalcross 22 87.79x
Dores 22 130.02x
Kilmore Kilbride 22 29.35x
Selkirk 21 19.42x
Duirinish 20 30.97x
Liverpool 20 0.65x
Glenelg 19 81.62x
Lambeth 19 0.51x
Aberdeen Old Machar 18 2.19x
Caldewgate 18 8.99x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 18 3.29x
North Leith 18 6.84x
Birkenhead 17 2.28x
Dunfermline 17 4.40x
Kelso 17 22.20x
St Pancras London 17 0.50x
Duddingston 16 14.03x
Elgin 16 12.48x
Glenshiel 16 258.48x
Kildonan 16 56.64x
Killearnan 16 104.03x
Lochalsh 16 53.44x
Penshaw 16 42.19x
Perth East Church 16 8.91x
St Vigeans 16 7.54x
Tain 16 36.26x
Edinburgh Canongate 15 10.37x
Fintray 15 100.00x
Peterhead 15 7.22x
Stornoway 15 9.88x
Wilton 15 17.79x
Bracadale 14 101.82x
Huntly 14 21.90x
Islington London 14 0.34x
Sunderland 14 6.28x
Ancroft 13 58.58x
Coldstream 13 34.97x
Dalkeith 13 11.59x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 13 9.67x
Elswick 13 2.58x
Falkirk 13 3.55x
Kirriemuir 13 13.40x
Linton 13 162.50x
Marnoch 13 27.51x
Camberwell 12 0.44x
Kingussie Insh 12 41.29x
Kinnoull 12 23.97x
Rosskeen 12 21.88x
Yetholm 12 79.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Margaret 47
Jane 38
Elizabeth 36
Isabella 31
Ann 21
Catherine 18
Annie 17
Sarah 17
Alice 12
Ellen 12
Agnes 10
Eliza 8
Emma 7
Jessie 7
Maria 7
Janet 6
Martha 5
Christina 4
Frances 4
Grace 4
Harriet 4
Sophia 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Hannah 3
Helen 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Maggie 3
Mgt. 3
Ada 2
Barbara 2
Elenor 2
Eliz. 2
Elizh. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Francis 2
Hellen 2
Johanna 2
Lizzie 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Meggie 2
Minnie 2
Phillis 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 78
William 58
James 38
Robert 37
Thomas 31
George 29
Alexander 24
Edward 10
Charles 9
Arthur 8
Joseph 8
Ralph 8
Henry 7
Walter 7
Daniel 6
Duncan 6
Jno. 6
Samuel 6
Wm. 6
Andrew 5
Donald 5
Francis 5
Frederick 5
David 4
Hugh 4
Peter 4
Stephenson 4
Thos. 4
A. 3
Albert 3
Colin 3
Geo. 3
Philip 3
Richard 3
Adam 2
Archibald 2
Edwin 2
Evan 2
Harold 2
Jacob 2
Kenneth 2
Luke 2
Rbt. 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Edmund 1
Edwan 1
Ernest 1

FAQ

Chisholm surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chisholm surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,368 people were recorded with the Chisholm surname. That placed it at #1,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chisholm surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,069 in 2016. That gives Chisholm a modern rank of #1,340.

What does the Chisholm surname mean?

From a Scottish place name meaning "cheese island," referring to a meadow good for grazing cattle.

What does the Chisholm map show?

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