NameCensus.

UK surname

Choat

A variant spelling of the surname Chote, meaning someone who lived by the outer gate of a town.

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Choat surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 231, ranked #17,764, down from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Great and Little Sampford, London parishes and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Barloch and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Choat is 441 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.7%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

231

2016, ranked #17,764

Peak year

1901

441 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Choat had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016, ranked #17,764.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 441 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Choat surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Choat surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Choat 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 288 #7,884
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 441 #8,830
1911 historical 413 #9,082
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 295 #14,029
1999 modern 295 #14,108
2000 modern 274 #14,796
2001 modern 263 #14,999
2002 modern 277 #14,764
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 252 #15,642
2007 modern 261 #15,444
2008 modern 253 #15,941
2009 modern 256 #16,145
2010 modern 262 #16,252
2011 modern 250 #16,637
2012 modern 233 #17,339
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 253 #16,774
2015 modern 242 #17,191
2016 modern 231 #17,764

Geography

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Where Choats are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Great and Little Sampford, London parishes, St John Hackney, Steeple Bumpstead, Birdbrook and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Barloch, Braintree, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Harrow. 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 Great and Little Sampford Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
4 Steeple Bumpstead, Birdbrook Suffolk
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 015 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Barloch East Dunbartonshire
3 Braintree 001 Braintree
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Harrow 017 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Choat

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Choat

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Choat surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Choat household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Choat is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Choat is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Choat 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 Choat is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Choat, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Choat

The surname CHOAT is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "ceafor," meaning "beetle" or "chafer." This term was often used as a nickname for individuals who exhibited characteristics reminiscent of a beetle, such as being small and industrious.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CHOAT can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England following the Norman Conquest. The entry refers to a certain "Ceafor" residing in the county of Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the name began to appear in various historical records with various spellings, including "Chafour," "Chafar," and "Chayfer." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the regional dialects present at the time.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure bearing the name CHOAT was Sir John Chafour (c. 1320-1380), a knight and landowner from Oxfordshire. His name can be found in several charters and legal documents from the period.

Another notable individual was William Chayfer (c. 1450-1520), a wealthy merchant from Bristol who played a significant role in the city's trade with continental Europe. His name appears in various business records and transactions of the time.

During the Tudor period, the CHOAT surname gained further prominence with the birth of Elizabeth Choat (c. 1540-1610), a literary figure known for her poetry and writings on religious subjects. Her works were widely circulated and admired by her contemporaries.

In the 17th century, the name CHOAT was associated with the village of Chawton in Hampshire, which was once known as "Chauton" or "Chawton." This connection suggests that the surname may have derived from a place name, as was common practice during that era.

One of the most renowned figures with the CHOAT surname was Sir Thomas Choat (1670-1745), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Exchange and St. Paul's Cathedral. His legacy continues to influence architectural styles to this day.

As the centuries progressed, the CHOAT surname spread across various regions of England, with families establishing roots in counties such as Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its historical significance remains deeply ingrained in its English heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Choat families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Choat 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. Essex leads with 115 Choats recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.02x.

County Total Index
Essex 115 19.02x
Surrey 66 4.42x
Middlesex 50 1.63x
Suffolk 24 6.43x
Kent 18 1.72x
Norfolk 11 2.34x
Buckinghamshire 6 3.24x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.58x
Lincolnshire 4 0.82x
Morayshire 4 8.41x
Sussex 3 0.58x
Banffshire 2 3.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.95x
Staffordshire 2 0.19x
Devon 1 0.16x
Shropshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kedington in Suffolk leads with 17 Choats recorded in 1881 and an index of 1717.17x.

Place Total Index
Kedington 17 1717.17x
Ridgwell 16 2318.84x
Hackney London 14 8.15x
Camberwell 13 6.64x
Pyrford 13 3611.11x
Byfleet 11 827.07x
Finchingfield 9 476.19x
Steeple Bumpstead 9 810.81x
Chelmsford 8 77.15x
Great Yeldham 8 1269.84x
Mitcham 8 84.84x
West Newton 8 2352.94x
Battersea 7 6.21x
Dartford 7 65.48x
Great Warley 7 510.95x
Aylesbury 6 73.17x
Chiswick 6 35.84x
Shoreditch London 6 4.52x
Clapham 5 13.06x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 5 59.10x
Great Sampford 5 769.23x
Milton In Gravesend 5 31.91x
Stebbing 5 427.35x
West Ham 5 3.75x
Writtle 5 202.43x
Burnham 4 179.37x
Clerkenwell London 4 5.53x
Dovercourt 4 187.79x
Hanwell 4 73.66x
Islington London 4 1.35x
New Spynie 4 233.92x
Sturmere 4 1025.64x
Whitechapel London 4 13.25x
Bermondsey 3 3.29x
Boston 3 20.19x
Braintree 3 55.25x
Lewisham 3 5.38x
South Lynn 3 56.50x
Stoke By Clare 3 652.17x
Thaxted 3 149.25x
Bromley London 2 2.97x
Epping 2 81.30x
Great Bardfield 2 202.02x
Greenwich 2 4.10x
Halesworth 2 75.47x
Hutton 2 425.53x
Rathven 2 16.76x
Sawbridgeworth 2 62.50x
Shalford 2 259.74x
St Pancras London 2 0.81x
Streatham 2 8.80x
Thames Ditton 2 64.52x
Wolverhampton 2 2.52x
Brentwood 1 27.10x
Brighton 1 0.96x
Broadwater 1 8.45x
Chadwell St Mary 1 161.29x
Chatham 1 3.48x
East Ham 1 8.91x
Eastbourne 1 4.21x
Egham 1 10.92x
Great Easton 1 121.95x
Great Wakering 1 74.07x
Halstead 1 14.18x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 1 28.90x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 9.57x
Kelvedon 1 62.11x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 19.01x
Maldon All Sts 1 83.33x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.53x
Newington 1 0.88x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.04x
Rainham 1 75.76x
Rochford 1 56.82x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 38.61x
St Marylebone London 1 0.61x
Swineshead 1 62.11x
Wethersfield 1 65.79x
Woodford 1 14.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 10
Emma 8
Ada 6
Alice 5
Edith 5
Ellen 5
Martha 5
Eliza 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Minnie 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dorea 1
Eide 1
Elizth. 1
Elriza 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florry 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Hepsibeth 1
Jeanette 1
Jesse 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Marianna 1
Matilda 1
Miriam 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 12
James 12
John 11
Charles 9
Henry 8
Thomas 8
Samuel 7
Walter 7
Joseph 6
Harry 5
Edward 4
Frank 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Elijah 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Wm. 2
Ambrose 1
Barry 1
Burnham 1
Charge 1
Cornlius 1
David 1
Ebenener 1
Edgar 1
Fred 1
Hezekiah 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Simeon 1
Wm.E. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Choat surname: questions and answers

How common was the Choat surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Choat surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Choat surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 231 in 2016. That gives Choat a modern rank of #17,764.

What does the Choat surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Chote, meaning someone who lived by the outer gate of a town.

What does the Choat map show?

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