Find out how popular the first name Chatham has been for the last 39 years (from 1984 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Chatham by gender

Based on the last 39 years of data, Chatham is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 79% of people named Chatham being male.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 5 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Chatham.

The history of the first name Chatham

The name Chatham has its origins in the Old English language and can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period in Britain, around the 5th to 11th centuries AD. It is derived from the Old English words "cæt" meaning "a homestead" and "ham" meaning "a village or settlement." Together, these words formed the place name "Cæt-ham," which referred to a hamlet or village where farmers or peasants lived.

Historically, the town of Chatham in Kent, England, is one of the earliest recorded instances of this name. The town's name was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a detailed survey of land and landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry in the Domesday Book refers to the town as "Cedham," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Chatham.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Chatham was Sir John de Chatham, a 14th-century English landowner and member of the gentry class. He was born around 1320 in Chatham, Kent, and held significant landholdings in the area.

Another historical figure with the name Chatham was William Pitt the Elder, 1st Earl of Chatham (1708-1778), a British statesman and Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. He was born William Pitt in Westminster, London, and was later granted the title Earl of Chatham in recognition of his distinguished military and political career.

In the literary world, one of the most renowned individuals with the name Chatham was Sir Thomas Chatham (1582-1638), an English poet and playwright during the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. He was born in London and is best known for his plays, including "The Tragedy of Hoffmann" and "The Humorous Courtier."

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Chatham (1610-1672), an English naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy during the 17th century. He was born in Chatham, Kent, and played a significant role in exploring and mapping the coastlines of North America and the Caribbean.

Finally, in the realm of science, Sir Joseph Chatham (1842-1919) was a prominent British chemist and inventor. He was born in Manchester and made significant contributions to the field of organic chemistry, including the development of synthetic dyes and explosives.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Chatham was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Chatham, please contact us.

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