UK surname
Derived from Middle English chetet, meaning "small cottage," likely referring to a person who lived in a small house.
In the 1881 census there were 4 people recorded with the Choate surname, ranking it #33,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 76, ranked #33,304, down from #33,288 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Worcester Claines, London parishes and Hendon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Choate is 109 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1800.0%.
1881 census count
4
Ranked #33,288
Modern count
76
2016, ranked #33,304
Peak year
1911
109 bearers
Map years
1
1911 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Choate surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Choate surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 17 | #30,267 |
| 1861 | historical | 9 | #32,724 |
| 1881 | historical | 4 | #33,288 |
| 1891 | historical | 15 | #32,956 |
| 1901 | historical | 53 | #28,271 |
| 1911 | historical | 109 | #21,611 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 75 | #30,668 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 61 | #32,352 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 60 | #32,917 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 67 | #33,840 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 76 | #33,304 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Worcester Claines, London parishes, Hendon, Portsmouth, Portsea and Walton-on-the-Hill. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester Claines | Worcestershire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Hendon | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 5 | Walton-on-the-Hill | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Choate surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Choate, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Choate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Choate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Choate is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Choate is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Choate, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CHOATE has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "cēat," which means a small hut or temporary dwelling. This suggests that the name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a small or temporary shelter.
In the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, there are references to places with similar names, such as Chute in Wiltshire and Chute Forest in Hampshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname CHOATE.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CHOATE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard Chote is mentioned. Another early record is from the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1296, which lists a William Chote.
The spelling of the surname has evolved over time, with variations such as Chote, Chotte, and Choate appearing in different historical records. The modern spelling of CHOATE seems to have been established by the 16th century.
Notable individuals with the surname CHOATE include:
1. Rufus Choate (1799-1859), an American lawyer, orator, and political figure from Massachusetts. 2. Joseph Hodges Choate (1832-1917), an American lawyer and diplomat who served as the ambassador to Great Britain from 1899 to 1905. 3. George Choate (1808-1878), an American politician and jurist who served as a judge in New York. 4. Isaac Bassett Choate (1781-1857), an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts. 5. William Gardner Choate (1830-1920), an American lawyer and businessman from New York.
These individuals, along with many others, have contributed to the history and legacy of the CHOATE surname, which has its roots in the early settlements of England and evolved over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Choate surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 1 Choates recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.36x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Devonport in Devon leads with 1 Choates recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devonport | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Hove | 1 | 344.83x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 555.56x |
| Prittlewell | 1 | 909.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Choate surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Choate surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Choate households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Architect & Surveyor | 1 |
| Boarding House Keeper | 1 |
| Boy 2 Cl | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 4 people were recorded with the Choate surname. That placed it at #33,288 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 76 in 2016. That gives Choate a modern rank of #33,304.
Derived from Middle English chetet, meaning "small cottage," likely referring to a person who lived in a small house.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Choate bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.