NameCensus.

UK surname

Chittenden

Derived from a place name meaning "farm of Citta's people" in Old English, referring to an early settler.

In the 1881 census there were 755 people recorded with the Chittenden surname, ranking it #4,890 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 956, ranked #6,006, down from #4,890 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ashford and Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochford, Ashford and Swale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chittenden is 1,147 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.6%.

1881 census count

755

Ranked #4,890

Modern count

956

2016, ranked #6,006

Peak year

1911

1,147 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chittenden had 755 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,890 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016, ranked #6,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,147 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chittenden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chittenden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chittenden 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 579 #4,401
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 755 #4,890
1891 historical 855 #4,790
1901 historical 1,025 #4,657
1911 historical 1,147 #4,072
1997 modern 922 #5,862
1998 modern 948 #5,913
1999 modern 941 #5,991
2000 modern 952 #5,916
2001 modern 937 #5,878
2002 modern 939 #5,989
2003 modern 917 #5,991
2004 modern 908 #6,056
2005 modern 891 #6,072
2006 modern 901 #6,035
2007 modern 922 #5,981
2008 modern 917 #6,054
2009 modern 935 #6,065
2010 modern 952 #6,114
2011 modern 952 #6,067
2012 modern 954 #5,952
2013 modern 963 #6,010
2014 modern 975 #5,981
2015 modern 970 #5,957
2016 modern 956 #6,006

Geography

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Where Chittendens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ashford, Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and Willesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochford, Ashford and Swale. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Ashford Kent
3 Hythe St Leonard, Cheriton, Newington, Saltwood, West Hythe, Burmarsh Kent
4 Maidstone, Linton, Loddington Kent
5 Willesborough Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochford 002 Rochford
2 Ashford 006 Ashford
3 Ashford 001 Ashford
4 Ashford 007 Ashford
5 Swale 015 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chittenden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chittenden

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Chittenden 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

Chittenden is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Chittenden falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chittenden

The surname Chittenden has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cyte" and "dun," which together mean "cottage on the hill." This suggests that the name originated from a place name, referring to a location where the earliest bearers of the surname resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "de Chittenden." This form indicates that the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone from the area known as Chittenden.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, including "Chyttyndene" and "Chytyndene," reflecting the evolution of spelling over time. The Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1309 and 1332 contain references to individuals with these variations of the name.

During the Middle Ages, the Chittenden family had a notable presence in Essex and Suffolk counties. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was John de Chittenden, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1376.

The name Chittenden is also associated with several place names in England, such as Chittenden in Kent and Chittenden Farm in Essex. These locations likely derived their names from the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Chittenden. One prominent example is Thomas Chittenden (1730-1797), who served as the first Governor of Vermont and played a crucial role in the formation of the state. Another notable figure was Hiram Chittenden (1858-1917), an American military officer and engineer who oversaw the construction of several significant projects, including the Ballard Locks in Seattle.

Other individuals with the Chittenden surname include:

1. William Chittenden (1794-1853), an American lawyer and politician from New York. 2. Simeon Baldwin Chittenden (1814-1890), an American lawyer and politician from New York. 3. Newton H. Chittenden (1839-1920), an American lawyer and judge from Vermont. 4. Russell H. Chittenden (1856-1943), an American biochemist known for his research on protein metabolism. 5. Hiram Martin Chittenden (1858-1917), an American military officer and engineer mentioned earlier.

The surname Chittenden has a rich history, tracing its roots back to medieval England and reflecting the cultural and linguistic evolution of the English language over centuries. Its association with place names and notable individuals across different fields further highlights the significance of this surname in various contexts throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chittenden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chittenden 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. Kent leads with 510 Chittendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.27x.

County Total Index
Kent 510 20.27x
Middlesex 79 1.07x
Surrey 63 1.75x
Hampshire 30 1.98x
Hertfordshire 23 4.52x
Sussex 20 1.61x
Yorkshire 6 0.08x
Leicestershire 5 0.61x
Oxfordshire 4 0.88x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.67x
Suffolk 3 0.33x
Wiltshire 3 0.46x
Essex 2 0.14x
Somerset 2 0.17x
Herefordshire 1 0.33x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Royal Navy 1 1.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 67 Chittendens recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.39x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 67 89.39x
Willesborough 39 576.07x
Ashford 33 134.69x
Dover St Mary Virgin 19 78.03x
Portsea 19 6.41x
Bermondsey 18 8.20x
Wye 18 461.54x
Camberwell 16 3.40x
Hythe St Leonard 16 179.98x
Boughton Aluph 15 1048.95x
East Malling 14 232.95x
Mile End Old Town London 14 8.92x
Kingsnorth 13 844.16x
Newington 13 4.77x
Cheshunt 11 61.90x
Cranbrook 11 103.19x
Ramsgate 11 26.78x
Woolwich 10 10.76x
Elmsted 9 825.69x
Hinxhill 9 2571.43x
Hampstead London 8 6.97x
Herne 8 71.81x
Lewisham 8 5.96x
Bilsington 7 729.17x
Boxley 7 181.35x
Brighton 7 2.79x
Broxbourne 7 69.51x
Ripple 7 1000.00x
St Mary Virgin In Marsh 7 1428.57x
Staplehurst 7 169.49x
Brabourne 6 317.46x
Chart Sutton 6 344.83x
Eastchurch 6 241.94x
Gravesend 6 28.17x
Hoo 6 179.64x
Kennington 6 320.86x
Saltwood 6 342.86x
St Marylebone London 6 1.52x
West Malling 6 106.01x
Kibworth Beauchamp 5 176.68x
Smeeth 5 318.47x
Stevenage 5 63.45x
Walton On Thames 5 30.30x
Aldershot 4 7.90x
Canterbury St Dunstan 4 92.17x
Chatham 4 5.78x
Chelsea London 4 1.80x
Cobham 4 172.41x
Coulsdon 4 61.26x
Deal 4 18.64x
East Sutton 4 408.16x
Faversham 4 16.67x
Folkestone 4 8.20x
Islington London 4 0.56x
Lee 4 10.95x
Limehouse London 4 4.94x
Mersham 4 219.78x
Newchurch 4 487.80x
Paddington London 4 1.48x
Shoreditch London 4 1.25x
Snodland 4 56.10x
St Gilesin Fields London 4 64.10x
St Peters 4 34.36x
Wateringbury 4 121.58x
West Hythe 4 1142.86x
Westminster St John 4 4.45x
Willesden 4 5.75x
Aiskew 3 142.86x
Battle 3 35.76x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 11.43x
Chartham 3 47.85x
East Guildford 3 652.17x
Hackney London 3 0.73x
Kirtlington 3 165.75x
Lympne 3 211.27x
Minster In Thanet 3 57.25x
Sittingbourne 3 15.10x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 9.40x
St Pancras London 3 0.51x
Playden 2 270.27x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 41
George 30
James 26
Thomas 26
Charles 20
Edward 20
Alfred 18
Henry 16
Arthur 10
Albert 8
Daniel 8
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Ernest 7
Edwin 5
David 4
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Andrew 3
Percy 3
C. 2
Edmund 2
Frank 2
Lathan 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Alfed 1
Ambrose 1
Anslow 1
Byoff 1
Christopher 1
Clifford 1
Douglas 1
Edw.James 1
Edwd. 1
Ether 1
Graham 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Hubert 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Johns 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Chittenden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chittenden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 755 people were recorded with the Chittenden surname. That placed it at #4,890 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chittenden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016. That gives Chittenden a modern rank of #6,006.

What does the Chittenden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "farm of Citta's people" in Old English, referring to an early settler.

What does the Chittenden map show?

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