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Chamberlain Family History

Chamberlain Surname Meaning

English: status name from Old French chambrelain Norman French cambrelanc cambrelen(c) ‘chamberlain’ (of ancient Germanic origin from kamer ‘chamber room’ Latin camera (see Chambers) + the diminutive suffix -(l)ing).

This was originally the name of an official in charge of the private chambers of his master but is so widespread in late medieval England that it must sometimes have been used of people of more ordinary status.

Perhaps it served as a nickname for an officious or self-important person or for someone who played the role of chamberlain in a folk play tableau or ceremony.

Compare Chancellor for a possible similar usage.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Chamberlain family from?

You can see how Chamberlain families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chamberlain family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Chamberlain families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 1,445 Chamberlain families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Chamberlain's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Chamberlain families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chamberlain surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Chamberlain ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Chamberlain. 7% of Chamberlain men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Chamberlain women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chamberlain were Farm Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Chamberlain | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Gardener
    4%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Farm Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Chamberlain family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 334,000 census records available for the last name Chamberlain. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chamberlain census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Chamberlain

Passenger Lists

There are 28,000 immigration records available for the last name Chamberlain. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Chamberlain immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 45,000 military records available for the last name Chamberlain. For the veterans among your Chamberlain ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chamberlain military records

You've only scratched the surface of Chamberlain family history

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What is the average Chamberlain lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Chamberlain life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1943, and highest in 1950. The average life expectancy for Chamberlain in 1942 was 39, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chamberlain

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Chamberlain ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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