Challis Family History

Challis Surname Meaning

English (southeastern England and East Anglia) of Norman origin: habitational name from either Écalles-Alix (Seine-Maritime) Écalles (in Estouteville-Écalles Seine-Maritime) or Escalles (Pas-de-Calais). The Norman surname is recorded as de Scalers Latinized as de Scalariis which contains the plural form of Late Latin scalaria ‘ladder staircase stile’.

It may have been used as a variant of scala and scalae in the naming of one or more of these places, the modern forms of which derive from scala(e); see Scales.

English (southwestern) of Norman origin: habitational name, a shortened form of Challons from Chalon-sur-Saône or Châlons-sur-Marne in France.

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

Similar surnames: Callis, Fallis, Allis, Charles, Chall, Chaplin, Wallis, Chellis, Callies, Hallin

54K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
3K	Military Records
3K	Immigration Records
55K	Census and Voter Lists
117K	Member Trees

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Challis family from?

You can see how Challis families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Challis family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Challis families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 559 Challis families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Challis's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Challis families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Challis surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Challis

What did your Challis 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 Challis. 12% of Challis men worked as a General labourer and 72% of Challis women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Challis were Bricklayer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Challis

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.

General labourer

12%

Retired

Gardener

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

72%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Incapacitated

What Challis family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 55K census records available for the last name Challis. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Challis census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Challis

Passenger List

There are 3K immigration records available for the last name Challis. 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 Challis immigration records

Military Records

There are 3K military records available for the last name Challis. For the veterans among your Challis ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Challis military records

You've only scratched the surface of Challis family history

Discover More

What is the average Challis lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Challis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Challis in 1960 was 34, and 84 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Challis family tree

Explore Your Tree

Search for another surname

Challis Surname Meaning

It may have been used as a variant of scala and scalae in the naming of one or more of these places, the modern forms of which derive from scala(e); see Scales.

English (southwestern) of Norman origin: habitational name, a shortened form of Challons from Chalon-sur-Saône or Châlons-sur-Marne in France.

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

Where is the Challis family from?

What did your Challis ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

12%

Retired

Gardener

Bricklayer

Unpaid domestic duties

72%

Unpaid domestic

Housewife

Incapacitated

What Challis family records will you find?

What is the average Challis lifespan?

Between 1960 and 2004, in the United States, Challis life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 1997. The average life expectancy for Challis in 1960 was 34, and 84 in 2004.

Challis Family History

Challis Surname Meaning

234,000 record(s) for Challis

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Challis family from?

What did your Challis ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Challis family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Challis family history

What is the average Challis lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Challis family tree

Search for another surname

Challis Surname Meaning

234,000 record(s) for Challis

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Challis family from?

What did your Challis ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Challis family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Challis family history

What is the average Challis lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Challis family tree

Search for another surname