This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Chatham family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Chatham Family History

Chatham Surname Meaning

English (West Midlands and Lancashire): variant of Cheetham.

English: habitational name from Chatham in Kent or possibly from Chatham Green in Essex both named from Celtic cēd ‘wood’ (modern Welsh coed) + Old English hām ‘homestead’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Chatham family from?

You can see how Chatham families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chatham family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Chatham families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 158 Chatham families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Chatham's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Chatham families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chatham surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Chatham ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Chatham. 23% of Chatham men worked as a Farmer and 69% of Chatham women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chatham were Dock Labourer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Chatham | 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

  • Farmer
    23%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Carpenter joiner
    10%
  • Dock Labourer
    10%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    69%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Household Duties
    3%
  • Housekeeper
    3%

What Chatham family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 25,000 census records available for the last name Chatham. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chatham census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Chatham

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Chatham. 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 Chatham immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 8,000 military records available for the last name Chatham. For the veterans among your Chatham ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chatham military records

You've only scratched the surface of Chatham family history

Discover More

What is the average Chatham lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Chatham life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1946, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Chatham in 1946 was 37, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chatham

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Chatham 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Chatham family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial