History of your Surname
Get access to Chess family records.Start a free trial

Chess Family History

Chess Name Meaning

English (Gloucestershire): of uncertain origin. Formally it might derive from Middle English ches chesse (Old French esches) ‘chess’ (referring to the game a set of chess pieces or a chess board) or from Middle English chesse ‘(poppy) seed pod’. This surname is now rare in Britain.

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


Similar surnames: Cressy, Bess, Chesson, Check, Che, Cross, Crees, Chesser, Chee

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Chess family from?

You can see how Chess families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Chess family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Chess families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 17 Chess families living in Gloucestershire. This was about 55% of all the recorded Chess's in United Kingdom. Gloucestershire had the highest population of Chess families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Chess 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 Chess ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Chess. 100% of Chess women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. .

View Census Data for Chess | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Chess family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Chess. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Chess census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Chess

Passenger Lists

There are 827 immigration records available for the last name Chess. 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 Chess immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Chess. For the veterans among your Chess ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Chess military records

You've only scratched the surface of Chess family history

Discover More

What is the average Chess lifespan?

Between 1946 and 2004, in the United States, Chess life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1962. The average life expectancy for Chess in 1946 was 53, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Chess

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Chess family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Chess last name

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