Find out how popular the last name Chaffin is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Chaffin.

Chaffin, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Chaffin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chaffin in America

Chaffin is the 3629th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chaffin surname appeared 9,782 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Chaffin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chaffin to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Chaffin

The surname Chaffin is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages, likely derived from the Old English word "cæfan," which means "to chaff" or "to winnow grain." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked as farmers or in agricultural professions.

The earliest recorded instances of the Chaffin surname can be traced back to the 13th century in various English parish records and tax rolls. Variations in spelling, such as Chaffyn, Chaffyne, and Chaffyne, were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One notable early reference to the Chaffin name can be found in the Cartulary of Dunstable Priory, a medieval manuscript dating back to the late 12th century. This document mentions a person named Walter Chaffyn, who lived in Bedfordshire during that time.

In the 14th century, the Chaffin surname appeared in various manorial records and court rolls, indicating that the family had established itself across different regions of England. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 list a John Chaffyn, while the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1334 mention a William Chaffyn.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Chaffin name became more widespread and can be found in various historical records, including parish registers and tax lists. One notable figure from this period was Robert Chaffin (1529-1608), a prominent English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk.

In the 18th century, the Chaffin family had established roots in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. A notable individual from this time was John Chaffin (1675-1743), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Bridport, Dorset.

As the Chaffin family spread throughout the British Isles, variations in spelling continued to emerge, such as Chaffyn, Chaffing, and Chaffing. Additionally, some individuals with the surname Chaffin migrated to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, further contributing to the name's global distribution.

Overall, the Chaffin surname has a rich history deeply rooted in English agricultural traditions, with its earliest known origins dating back to the Middle Ages. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergymen, landowners, and members of parliament, showcasing its enduring presence throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chaffin

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Chaffin.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Chaffin was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Chaffin has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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

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

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