NameCensus.

UK surname

Chute

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "cheute" meaning a falling or downward motion, often referring to someone who lived near a waterfall or rapid.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Chute surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redditch, IZ02 and Hammersmith and Fulham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Chute is 168 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.7%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2016

168 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Chute had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 119 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Chute surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Chute surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Chute 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 46 #24,985
1861 historical 48 #27,896
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 104 #23,388
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 144 #22,405
2000 modern 150 #21,781
2001 modern 142 #22,234
2002 modern 155 #21,431
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 134 #23,425
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 148 #22,406
2008 modern 149 #22,530
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 151 #23,166
2013 modern 159 #22,706
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 166 #22,159
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Chutes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redditch, IZ02, Hammersmith and Fulham, Croydon and Winchester. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redditch 013 Redditch
2 IZ02 East Lothian
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 023 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Croydon 026 Croydon
5 Winchester 007 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Chute

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Chute

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

Chute 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

Chute falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Chute

The surname Chute has its origins in the French language, with the word "chute" meaning "a fall" or "a waterfall." The name is believed to have originated in Normandy, France, during the medieval period, possibly as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a waterfall or a place where a river dropped sharply.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 11th century in Normandy. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Radulphus de la Chute, who was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in England.

As the Normans expanded their influence across Europe, the name spread to other regions, including England, where it took on various spellings such as Chute, Chewte, and Chewitt. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Walter Chute (c. 1483-1544), an English courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII.

In the 13th century, the name Chute was associated with several places in England, including Chute Forest in Wiltshire and the villages of Upper Chute and Lower Chute in Hampshire. The name may have been derived from these place names or vice versa, as it was common for surnames to originate from locations.

Other notable individuals with the surname Chute include Lionel Chute (1630-1668), an English barrister and landowner in Somersetshire, and John Chute (1701-1776), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire.

In the United States, the Chute surname can be traced back to the 17th century, with early settlers arriving from England. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of James Chute, who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1635.

While the surname is primarily associated with England and France, it has also been documented in other parts of Europe, including Germany, where it may have been derived from a different linguistic root. Overall, the name Chute has a rich history spanning several centuries and countries, reflecting the diverse origins and migrations of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Chute families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Chute 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. Middlesex leads with 18 Chutes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 1.81x
Lancashire 16 1.36x
Staffordshire 10 2.98x
Gloucestershire 9 4.61x
Surrey 8 1.65x
Norfolk 7 4.58x
Cheshire 6 2.73x
Hampshire 6 2.94x
Northumberland 5 3.38x
Devon 4 1.93x
Berkshire 3 4.02x
Yorkshire 3 0.30x
Kent 2 0.59x
Wiltshire 2 2.27x
Bedfordshire 1 1.94x
Durham 1 0.34x
Essex 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolverhampton in Staffordshire leads with 9 Chutes recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.86x.

Place Total Index
Wolverhampton 9 34.86x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 39.96x
Chelsea London 7 23.36x
Manchester 6 11.30x
Moulton St Michael 6 5000.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 27.22x
Westgate 5 54.53x
Liverpool 4 5.58x
Sherborne St John 4 1818.18x
St George Hanover 4 30.82x
Tormoham 4 45.66x
Alsager 3 545.45x
Binfield 3 526.32x
Everton 3 7.97x
Finchley 3 78.74x
St Marylebone London 3 5.65x
Birkenhead 2 11.43x
Cheltenham 2 13.29x
Clifton 2 20.28x
Leeds 2 3.59x
Openshaw 2 36.17x
Trowbridge 2 51.41x
Walmer 2 135.14x
Bedford St Paul 1 28.33x
Burslem 1 10.40x
Dockenfield 1 1428.57x
Hackney London 1 1.79x
Heaton Norris 1 14.88x
Heigham 1 12.18x
Hunslet 1 6.51x
Liscard 1 25.25x
Portsea 1 2.50x
Westoe 1 5.96x
White Colne 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 4
Eliza 3
Margaret 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
Georgina 2
Jane 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Alethea 1
Anastacia 1
Anne 1
Christine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Norah 1
Octavia 1
Rachel 1
Rosina 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
George 6
James 4
Thos. 4
William 4
Trevor 3
Edward 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Stephen 2
Caleb 1
Chaloner 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Devereux 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Iraac 1
Julia 1
Lawrence 1
Mervyn 1
Theophiluis 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Chute surname: questions and answers

How common was the Chute surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Chute surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Chute surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Chute a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Chute surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old French word "cheute" meaning a falling or downward motion, often referring to someone who lived near a waterfall or rapid.

What does the Chute map show?

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