UK surname
From a place name meaning "island by the bend" in Old English, or a riverside meadow in Middle English.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Chumley surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Chigwell and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chumley is 101 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.5%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1901
101 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Chumley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Chumley surname density by area, 1901 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 | 45 | #25,168 |
| 1861 | historical | 52 | #27,369 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 59 | #29,325 |
| 1901 | historical | 101 | #22,726 |
| 1911 | historical | 97 | #23,076 |
| 1997 | modern | 90 | #28,360 |
| 1998 | modern | 87 | #29,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 86 | #29,496 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 81 | #29,828 |
| 2002 | modern | 80 | #30,387 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 66 | #32,303 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 67 | #32,871 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 74 | #32,835 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 82 | #32,449 |
| 2012 | modern | 79 | #32,966 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 81 | #32,975 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Chigwell, London parishes, Peckham, East and West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby). 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 | Edmonton | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Chigwell | Essex |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Peckham, East | Kent |
| 5 | West Halton, Burton-on-Stather, Flixborough (Crosby) | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Chumley 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 Chumley, 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 Chumley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Chumley 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, Chumley 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 Chumley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Chumley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Chumley is of English origin, originating in the county of Cheshire in the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "chumm" meaning a deep valley, and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived in a meadow situated in a deep valley.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cheshire County Records from 1587, where a John Chumley is mentioned as a landholder in the village of Nantwich. The name is also found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Chester, where a baptism of a child named Thomas Chumley is recorded in 1612.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain William Chumley is noted as having served in the Parliamentarian forces under the command of Oliver Cromwell. He is mentioned in several accounts of the Battle of Naseby in 1645, where he fought bravely against the Royalist troops.
In the 18th century, the Chumley name appears to have spread beyond Cheshire, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in various parts of England. One notable figure was Sir Edward Chumley (1720-1792), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Southwark from 1768 to 1784.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Reverend John Chumley (1742-1818), an influential clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Michael's Church in Cornhill, London. He was known for his passionate sermons and his involvement in various charitable endeavors.
As the centuries progressed, the Chumley name continued to be found across England, with pockets of families residing in various regions. Notable individuals include the artist Elizabeth Chumley (1856-1923), whose landscapes and portraits were widely acclaimed during her lifetime, and Sir Arthur Chumley (1876-1952), a decorated military officer who served in both World Wars and received numerous honors for his bravery and leadership.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chumley 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. Middlesex leads with 23 Chumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 23 | 3.23x |
| Surrey | 20 | 5.77x |
| Essex | 8 | 5.69x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 1.13x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.06x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.08x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.24x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 2.10x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 8 Chumleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 8 | 25.86x |
| Chigwell | 8 | 601.50x |
| Newington | 8 | 30.42x |
| Camberwell | 7 | 15.39x |
| St Marylebone London | 7 | 18.42x |
| Rathmell | 6 | 12000.00x |
| Whitechapel London | 4 | 56.98x |
| Croydon | 3 | 15.58x |
| Wolverhampton | 3 | 16.23x |
| Allington | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Bilston | 2 | 42.92x |
| Edinburgh Newington | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Mirfield | 2 | 51.68x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 7.64x |
| Wateringbury | 2 | 625.00x |
| Bisley | 1 | 625.00x |
| East Peckham | 1 | 200.00x |
| Prestwich | 1 | 47.39x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 8.82x |
| Wandsworth | 1 | 14.60x |
| Warrington | 1 | 9.99x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 29.15x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Chumley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Chumley 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 Chumley households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Tailor | 3 |
| Wife | 3 |
| Nurse | 2 |
| Agr Lab | 1 |
| Agri Lab | 1 |
| Army Pensioner | 1 |
| Assistant Manager In Bank | 1 |
| Attendant (Hosp) | 1 |
| Bargemans Wife | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Farmer 122 Acres | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Iron Worker | 1 |
| Machinist | 1 |
| Master Of Barge | 1 |
| Mate Of Barge | 1 |
| Messinger | 1 |
| Printers Engineer | 1 |
| Railway Van Guard | 1 |
| Road Labourer | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Working Janiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Chumley surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Chumley a modern rank of #32,726.
From a place name meaning "island by the bend" in Old English, or a riverside meadow in Middle English.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Chumley 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.