NameCensus.

UK surname

Chisman

An English surname derived from "Chistian", referring to a person's name or origin.

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Chisman surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Poole St James and Arne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Gardenstown and King Edward and Darlington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chisman is 216 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

1911

216 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chisman had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 216 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chisman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chisman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chisman 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 174 #11,590
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 207 #14,546
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 173 #19,821
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 179 #19,215
2002 modern 186 #19,150
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 181 #19,363
2005 modern 173 #19,851
2006 modern 173 #19,995
2007 modern 175 #20,090
2008 modern 166 #20,966
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 178 #20,809
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 168 #21,914
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 168 #21,971
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

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Where Chismans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Poole St James, Arne, Middlesborough and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Gardenstown and King Edward, Darlington, Bournemouth 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 Darlington Durham
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Arne Dorset
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Gardenstown and King Edward Aberdeenshire
3 Darlington 009 Darlington
4 Bournemouth 019 Bournemouth
5 Cornwall 037 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chisman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chisman

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Chisman is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chisman 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

Chisman falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chisman

The surname Chisman has its roots in England, where it originated during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "chys," meaning "cheese," suggesting that the name may have initially referred to a person involved in the production or trade of cheese.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chisman can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This ancient document mentions a certain "Chiseman" as a landowner in the county of Gloucestershire.

By the 13th century, the name had spread to various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as "Chesman," "Chysman," and "Cheesemannes" appearing in various medieval records and chronicles. One notable individual bearing this surname was John Chysman, a merchant from Bristol who lived during the late 14th century and was involved in the thriving wool trade of the time.

During the Tudor period, the name Chisman gained prominence with the rise of a family of that name in the county of Essex. Sir John Chisman (c. 1515-1581) was a prominent lawyer and member of Parliament who served as a judge during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His son, Thomas Chisman (1557-1624), followed in his father's footsteps and became a respected legal scholar.

As the centuries progressed, the Chisman surname continued to be associated with various professions and social standings. In the 18th century, a notable figure was William Chisman (1705-1788), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire who played a significant role in the local community.

Another individual of note was Sir George Chisman (1824-1901), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Crimean War and later served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station. He was knighted for his military service in 1873.

Throughout its history, the Chisman surname has also been connected to various place names in England, such as Chismanbury in Wiltshire and Chismantown in Kent, further emphasizing the deep roots of this name in the country's history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chisman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chisman 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. Dorset leads with 39 Chismans recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.57x.

County Total Index
Dorset 39 31.57x
Yorkshire 32 1.72x
Durham 31 5.54x
Hampshire 26 6.74x
Surrey 20 2.18x
Middlesex 18 0.96x
Wiltshire 12 7.21x
Berkshire 7 4.95x
Lancashire 3 0.13x
Somerset 2 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.84x
Kent 1 0.16x
Northumberland 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Chismans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.58x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 6.58x
Poole St James 11 237.07x
Lambeth 10 6.09x
Southampton St Mary 9 37.10x
Middlesbrough 8 32.94x
Milton Abbas 8 1311.48x
Stockton On Tees 8 29.63x
Chaddleworth 7 2592.59x
Durham St Nicholas 7 507.25x
Ringwood 7 283.40x
Arne 6 7500.00x
Battersea 6 8.66x
Kirkleatham 6 238.10x
East Thickley 5 438.60x
Wimborne 5 333.33x
Darlington 4 18.50x
Linthorpe 4 35.94x
St Pancras London 4 2.64x
Wareham St Martin 4 851.06x
Borrowby In 3 1428.57x
Crossgate 3 122.45x
Croydon 3 5.89x
Portsea 3 3.97x
Upavon 3 967.74x
Alderbury 2 256.41x
Alverstoke 2 14.32x
Codford St Mary 2 909.09x
Codford St Peter 2 952.38x
Haughton Le Skerne 2 434.78x
Kimpton 2 1111.11x
Radipole 2 235.29x
Sandford Orcas 2 1250.00x
Wakefield 2 13.97x
Winfrith Newburgh 2 322.58x
Ashford 1 67.11x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 5.75x
Barnard Castle 1 36.10x
Beckenham 1 11.90x
Bishopstoke 1 101.01x
Bradford 1 2.21x
Christchurch 1 11.95x
Eccleshill 1 22.03x
Fifield Bavant 1 2500.00x
Fisherton Anger 1 32.47x
Guisbrough 1 24.51x
Holdenhurst 1 9.88x
Kirby Fleetham 1 277.78x
Leeds 1 0.95x
Manchester 1 1.00x
Manningham 1 4.35x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 6.89x
Paddington London 1 1.44x
Parkstone 1 69.44x
Penge 1 8.31x
Pudsey 1 10.03x
Sheffield 1 1.68x
St Botolph Cambridge 1 322.58x
Stranton 1 5.31x
Swindon 1 7.75x
Walton On Hill 1 8.26x
Whittingham 1 102.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Mary 8
Maria 6
Ann 5
Eleanor 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Ellen 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Anne 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Olive 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Bithiah 1
Charlotte 1
Daisy 1
Doreen 1
Dorothy 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Georgina 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Leah 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 12
James 10
Thomas 7
Albert 4
Richard 4
Charles 3
Frank 3
George 3
Robert 3
Harry 2
Robt. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Arther 1
Arthur 1
Clifford 1
Cyress 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Freeland 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Levi 1
Lyel 1

FAQ

Chisman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chisman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Chisman surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chisman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Chisman a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Chisman surname mean?

An English surname derived from "Chistian", referring to a person's name or origin.

What does the Chisman map show?

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