Chaffey
A place name derived from the Old English word "cæfïc," meaning a chaff-strewn area.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 308 Americans carry the last name Chaffey. That puts it at #73,666 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.09 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 1,112,839 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chaffey surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
308
1 in 1,112,839
Census rank
#73,666
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.1
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
263
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 263 bearers of the surname Chaffey in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 73666th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaffey, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chaffey
The surname CHAFFEY is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words 'ceaf' meaning chaff or husks of grain, and 'ey' meaning an island or dry ground surrounded by water or marsh. The name likely originated in the county of Somerset, England, during the medieval period.
The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as 'Chaveia', referring to a place name in Somerset. This suggests the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near or came from a place called Chaffey or a similar variation.
In the 13th century, the name appeared as 'Chavey' and 'Chaveye' in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Somerset from 1273. This indicates the surname's evolution from its Old English roots to a more modern spelling.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname CHAFFEY include:
1. Richard Chaffey (1684-1756), an English landowner and farmer from Somerset.
2. William Chaffey (1826-1926), a Canadian-American engineer and land developer who founded the town of Ontario, California, and played a significant role in the development of irrigation systems in the southwestern United States.
3. George Chaffey (1848-1932), William Chaffey's brother, who co-founded the town of Mildura in Victoria, Australia, and was instrumental in establishing the region's irrigation and agricultural industries.
4. Benjamin Chaffey (1865-1943), a New Zealand politician and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council from 1923 to 1943.
5. Arthur Chaffey (1883-1971), an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1931 to 1946, representing the United Australia Party.
The surname CHAFFEY has also been associated with various place names, such as Chaffey's Locks and Chaffey's Flats in Ontario, Canada, named after the Chaffey brothers who were involved in the development of those areas.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chaffey
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaffey, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%).
The bar chart below shows how Chaffey bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chaffey surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White92.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.3%
- Two or more races2.3%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Chaffey surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #73,666 | #73,666 | 0.0% |
| Count | 263 | 263 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.09 | 0.09 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Chaffey bearers went from 263 to 263 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #73,666 to #73,666.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chaffey
FAQ
Chaffey surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Chaffey?
The surname Chaffey holds position #73,666 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 308 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.09 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Chaffey surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chaffey, the largest self-reported group is White at 92.8%. The next largest groups are Asian/Pacific Islander (2.3%) and Two or More Races (2.3%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.