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

Chale, 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 Chale surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chale in America

Chale is the 97210th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chale surname appeared 187 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Chale.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chale 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 Chale

The surname Chale has its origins in France, tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "chale," meaning a small house or hut, suggesting that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a modest dwelling or a person associated with such a structure.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chale can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The mention of the name in this significant historical document indicates that individuals bearing this surname likely existed in Normandy before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name Chale appeared in various records and documents across different regions of France, particularly in the northern provinces. One notable figure from this era was Pierre Chale, a merchant and landowner born in Rouen in 1248. He played a significant role in the local trade guild and left a substantial legacy upon his death in 1312.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Chalé, Chalée, and Challey. These variations often reflected local dialects and linguistic adaptations. One prominent individual bearing a similar name was Sir John Challey, an English knight who participated in the Hundred Years' War and was part of the garrison defending the town of Calais in 1347.

In the 16th century, the name Chale gained recognition through the works of the French poet and playwright Pierre de Chale, born in Paris in 1521. His literary contributions, including plays and poems, earned him a place among the notable writers of the French Renaissance.

Another noteworthy figure was Jacques Chale, a French explorer and cartographer who accompanied Samuel de Champlain on his expeditions to the Americas in the early 17th century. Chale's detailed maps and accounts of the New World territories played a crucial role in the exploration and understanding of the continent.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Chale has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and military personnel. While its origins can be traced back to France, the name has since spread across borders and continents, representing a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and historical significance.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chale

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!