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 Chesnut family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Chesnut Family History

Chesnut Surname Meaning

Scottish (Ayrshire Stirlingshire): variant of Chestnut.

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 Chesnut family from?

You can see how Chesnut families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chesnut family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Chesnut families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Chesnut family living in Caernarvonshire. This was about 25% of all the recorded Chesnut's in United Kingdom. Caernarvonshire and 3 other counties had the highest population of Chesnut families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chesnut 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 Chesnut ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Chesnut. 35% of Chesnut men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Chesnut women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Chesnut were Truck Driver and Laundress.

View Census Data for Chesnut | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    35%
  • Laborer
    18%
  • Salesman
    6%
  • Truck Driver
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    14%
  • Housekeeper
    11%
  • Saleslady
    9%
  • Laundress
    7%

What Chesnut family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Chesnut. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chesnut census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Chesnut

Passenger Lists

There are 887 immigration records available for the last name Chesnut. 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 Chesnut immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Chesnut. For the veterans among your Chesnut ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chesnut military records

You've only scratched the surface of Chesnut family history

Discover More

What is the average Chesnut lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Chesnut life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1960, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Chesnut in 1949 was 35, and 81 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chesnut

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Chesnut 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 Chesnut family tree

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