NameCensus.

UK surname

Chris

A Greek surname derived from the word "Christos" meaning "anointed one" or "Christ".

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Chris surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Tunbridge Wells and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chris is 190 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18900.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

2016

190 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chris had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 39 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Chris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chris surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chris 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 39 #29,099
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 14 #33,037
1901 historical 7 #33,435
1911 historical 10 #32,609
1997 modern 23 #35,484
1998 modern 30 #34,833
1999 modern 35 #34,418
2000 modern 27 #35,188
2001 modern 25 #35,248
2002 modern 31 #34,866
2003 modern 41 #34,113
2004 modern 44 #34,053
2005 modern 57 #33,178
2006 modern 59 #33,330
2007 modern 69 #32,662
2008 modern 75 #32,373
2009 modern 78 #32,471
2010 modern 88 #31,875
2011 modern 93 #31,169
2012 modern 124 #26,432
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 158 #23,022
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Chris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Tunbridge Wells, Wiltshire, Bexley and Haringey. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 023 Camden
2 Tunbridge Wells 010 Tunbridge Wells
3 Wiltshire 047 Wiltshire
4 Bexley 016 Bexley
5 Haringey 005 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chris

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chris

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Chris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Chris household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Chris is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Chris 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

Chris falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Chris 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Chris

The surname Chris has its origins in the Greek language and culture, tracing back to around the 5th century BC. It derives from the Greek name "Christos," which means "anointed one" or "the anointed." This name was later adopted and popularized by early Christians as a reference to Jesus Christ.

Early recorded instances of the surname Chris can be found in various medieval records across Europe, particularly in regions with significant Greek and Byzantine influence, such as Southern Italy and parts of the Balkans. One notable example is the mention of a certain Georgios Chris in a 12th-century Byzantine manuscript from Constantinople.

As the name spread across Europe during the Middle Ages, it underwent various spelling variations, including Chrys, Chriss, and Criss. These variations were influenced by local dialects and linguistic adaptations in different regions.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Chris was Giovanni Chris, a merchant from Genoa, Italy, who lived in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he traded extensively with the Byzantine Empire and played a role in facilitating cultural and commercial exchanges between the two regions.

In England, the surname Chris first appeared in the 16th century, likely brought by Greek or Italian immigrants. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Chris, a scholar and translator who lived from 1510 to 1585. He is known for his English translations of classical Greek texts.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Chris gained further prominence in various European countries. Notable individuals with this surname include:

1. Johann Chris (1615-1677), a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of optics. 2. Maria Chris (1688-1762), a Greek-born painter known for her religious artworks and portraits, which were popular among the nobility in Venice. 3. Alexandros Chris (1760-1832), a Greek military leader who played a crucial role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. 4. Sophie Chris (1810-1892), a French novelist and essayist whose works explored themes of feminism and social justice. 5. Konstantin Chris (1872-1945), a Russian-born artist and illustrator renowned for his intricate etchings and woodcuts, many of which depicted scenes from Russian folklore.

It is important to note that these historical references are not exhaustive, and there may be additional significant individuals or events associated with the surname Chris that have been lost or undocumented over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chris 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. Sussex leads with 1 Chris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.35x.

County Total Index
Sussex 1 61.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ore in Sussex leads with 1 Chris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Ore 1 10000.00x

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1

Top occupations

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 Chris households.

Occupation Count
Flower Seller 1

FAQ

Chris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Chris surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Chris a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Chris surname mean?

A Greek surname derived from the word "Christos" meaning "anointed one" or "Christ".

What does the Chris map show?

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