Find out how popular the first name Chisum has been for the last 47 years (from 1977 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Chisum by gender

Based on the last 47 years of data, Chisum is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 8 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Chisum.

The history of the first name Chisum

The name Chisum is believed to have originated as a variant spelling of the French surname Chassain or Chassine. These French surnames are thought to derive from the Old French word "chacier," meaning "to hunt." The name likely referred to someone who worked as a hunter or lived near a hunting ground.

Chisum as a given name appears to have emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in parts of Europe and North America with French cultural influences. One of the earliest recorded uses of Chisum as a first name dates back to the late 1700s in France.

In the American West, the name Chisum gained notoriety through John Simpson Chisum (1824-1884), a prominent cattle rancher and businessman who owned the Chisum Trail and helped establish the Chisum Ranch in New Mexico. His legacy left a lasting impact on the region's cattle industry.

Another notable figure with the first name Chisum was Chisum Callahan (1844-1922), a Confederate soldier during the American Civil War. He fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg.

In the realm of literature, the name Chisum was immortalized in the character of Chisum Boyd, the protagonist of the 1958 Western novel "The Chisum Trail" by Jeston Nash. The novel explored the life of a fictional cattle driver and his adventures along the Chisum Trail.

Moving to the 20th century, Chisum Callahan Haskell (1912-1999) was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Texas from 1963 to 1975.

While not as common as some other names, Chisum has left its mark on various historical figures and fictional characters, reflecting its roots in French etymology and its association with the American West and cattle ranching heritage.

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 Chisum was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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