NameCensus.

UK surname

Chislett

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly indicating someone from the settlement Chislett in England.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Chislett surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 526, ranked #9,642, down from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Martock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Mendip and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chislett is 616 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.9%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

526

2016, ranked #9,642

Peak year

1999

616 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chislett had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016, ranked #9,642.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 517 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chislett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chislett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chislett 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 264 #8,419
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 392 #9,019
1901 historical 473 #8,395
1911 historical 517 #7,634
1997 modern 561 #8,538
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 616 #8,299
2000 modern 592 #8,497
2001 modern 576 #8,523
2002 modern 578 #8,658
2003 modern 565 #8,665
2004 modern 569 #8,653
2005 modern 573 #8,544
2006 modern 556 #8,744
2007 modern 547 #8,941
2008 modern 545 #9,029
2009 modern 555 #9,103
2010 modern 541 #9,481
2011 modern 542 #9,387
2012 modern 530 #9,445
2013 modern 535 #9,549
2014 modern 539 #9,542
2015 modern 532 #9,567
2016 modern 526 #9,642

Geography

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Where Chisletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Martock and Seavington St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Mendip and Sefton. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Martock Somerset
4 Seavington St Mary Somerset
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 001 Blaenau Gwent
2 Blaenau Gwent 004 Blaenau Gwent
3 Mendip 010 Mendip
4 Blaenau Gwent 007 Blaenau Gwent
5 Sefton 038 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chislett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chislett

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Chislett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chislett is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Chislett

The surname Chislett is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cis(s)el," meaning small pebble or gravel. It is believed to have originated as a toponymic name, referring to someone who lived near a gravelly area.

The earliest known record of the surname Chislett dates back to the 13th century in Oxfordshire, England. In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William de Chiselhampton, suggesting that the name may have originated from the village of Chiselhampton in that county.

During the medieval period, the name was also found in various spellings, such as Chisilhampton, Chiselhampton, and Chisselton, reflecting the local pronunciation and variations in spelling practices at the time.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Chislett, who was born in Worcestershire in 1587. He was a prominent merchant and served as a alderman in the city of Worcester.

In the 17th century, a notable figure with the surname Chislett was William Chislett (1638-1711), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist from Gloucestershire. He funded the construction of several almshouses and contributed to the building of churches in the region.

During the 18th century, the name was carried by Thomas Chislett (1725-1798), a renowned clockmaker from London. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the British aristocracy and can be found in various museums today.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Chislett (1814-1897), a British military officer who served in the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honor in the British Empire, for his bravery in action.

In the 19th century, the surname Chislett was also associated with the English writer and journalist, Emily Chislett (1839-1912). She was a prominent voice in the women's suffrage movement and wrote extensively on social and political issues of the time.

While the surname Chislett is not as common today as it once was, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, carrying with it a history that stretches back centuries and reflects the diverse landscapes and experiences of those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chislett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chislett 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. Somerset leads with 106 Chisletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.40x.

County Total Index
Somerset 106 20.40x
Devon 29 4.31x
Middlesex 29 0.90x
Glamorgan 28 4.98x
Wiltshire 22 7.70x
Oxfordshire 21 10.53x
Lancashire 19 0.50x
Surrey 17 1.08x
Dorset 14 6.61x
Monmouthshire 10 4.28x
Yorkshire 8 0.25x
Hampshire 7 1.06x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.38x
Derbyshire 5 0.99x
Kent 4 0.36x
Lanarkshire 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.41x
Channel Islands 1 1.05x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Martock in Somerset leads with 19 Chisletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 562.13x.

Place Total Index
Martock 19 562.13x
Bensington 14 1102.36x
Seavington St Mary 13 3823.53x
Ystradyfodwg 13 26.36x
Yeovil 10 94.70x
Aberystruth 9 43.75x
East Stonehouse 9 67.98x
Lambeth 9 3.20x
St Marylebone London 9 5.22x
Steeple Langford 9 1551.72x
Stoke Under Hambdon 9 526.32x
Mere 8 246.91x
Deddington 7 324.07x
Liverpool 7 3.01x
Long Sutton 7 721.65x
Rodney Stoke 7 1944.44x
Swansea Town 7 15.19x
Ardwick 6 17.36x
Bathford 6 560.75x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 38.99x
Holdenhurst 6 34.56x
Meare 6 384.62x
Stapleford 6 169.97x
Tormoham 6 21.10x
Alfreton 5 32.55x
Gillingham 5 137.36x
Kimberworth 5 28.15x
Mile End Old Town London 5 7.28x
Newington 5 4.19x
Walcot 5 18.06x
Chiswick 4 22.68x
Clase 4 19.14x
Frome 4 32.18x
Stonehouse East 4 117.30x
Askrigg 3 434.78x
Llanwonno 3 14.85x
Seavington St Michael 3 1200.00x
Shepton Mallet 3 51.46x
Swindon 3 13.54x
Wimborne 3 117.19x
East Harptree 2 273.97x
Hampstead London 2 3.98x
Hulme 2 2.50x
Ilchester 2 266.67x
Lanark 2 23.81x
Lewisham 2 3.40x
Shoreditch London 2 1.43x
Somerton 2 94.34x
South Petherton 2 74.63x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.08x
St Budeaux 2 95.69x
Sunbury 2 51.55x
Taunton St James 2 26.39x
Wigan 2 3.74x
Wimborne Minster 2 58.31x
Battersea 1 0.84x
Bedwellty 1 2.43x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.71x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.29x
Brading 1 11.36x
Bray 1 14.04x
Chatham 1 3.30x
Chewton Mendip 1 116.28x
East Tisbury 1 102.04x
Fordington 1 21.93x
Handsworth 1 3.72x
Hilperton 1 109.89x
Kensington London 1 0.56x
Kinson 1 24.15x
Lee 1 6.25x
Milborne Port 1 48.08x
Nantwich 1 12.08x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.93x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.17x
St Peter Port 1 5.65x
Thorncombe 1 81.97x
Twerton 1 18.66x
Willesden 1 3.29x
Wyke Regis 1 32.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 12
Ann 9
Ellen 8
Emily 7
Jane 6
Emma 5
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Amey 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Marianne 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
C.M. 1
Charlott 1
Elizh. 1
Ella 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Jenny 1
Joanna 1
Katherine 1
Kezia 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
George 14
William 13
Henry 10
James 9
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Alfred 5
Robert 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Cornelius 2
Hercules 2
Peter 2
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Christr. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Emmanuel 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Harry 1
Heart. 1
Hubert 1
Jonathan 1
Leopold 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Oliver 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Richd.A. 1
Simion 1
Solomon 1
Spurce 1
Theodore 1
Thos.R. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Chislett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chislett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Chislett surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chislett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016. That gives Chislett a modern rank of #9,642.

What does the Chislett surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name, possibly indicating someone from the settlement Chislett in England.

What does the Chislett map show?

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