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

Chalfin, 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 Chalfin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chalfin in America

Chalfin is the 56310th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chalfin surname appeared 363 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 Chalfin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chalfin 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 Chalfin

The surname Chalfin has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cealf," which means calf or young cow, and the suffix "-ing," indicating belonging or association. This suggests that the name may have initially been used to identify someone who lived near or worked with calves or young cattle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Chalfin can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Woking, Surrey, where a William Chalfin was baptized in 1598. There is also a record of a John Chalfin in the Chertsey Abbey Cartularies, dated around 1580, indicating the presence of the name in the area during that period.

During the 17th century, the Chalfin surname appeared in various parts of England, including Essex, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. It is possible that the name was influenced by local place names or derived from similar-sounding surnames. For instance, the village of Chalfield in Wiltshire may have contributed to the formation of the name Chalfin.

In the 18th century, notable individuals with the surname Chalfin included William Chalfin (1706-1781), a renowned clockmaker from London, and Thomas Chalfin (1720-1795), a merchant from Bristol who traded with the American colonies.

Another prominent figure was Sir Benjamin Chalfin (1828-1902), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Ipswich from 1880 to 1892. He was also a successful businessman and philanthropist, contributing to various charitable causes.

In the 19th century, the Chalfin surname was found in various parts of the United Kingdom, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Hertfordshire. One notable individual was Robert Chalfin (1856-1932), a respected educator and headmaster of several prestigious schools in London.

Moving into the 20th century, one notable person with the surname Chalfin was Sir Edward Chalfin (1901-1978), a highly decorated British military officer who served in both World Wars and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for his bravery and leadership.

While the surname Chalfin may have originated from humble beginnings related to the livestock industry, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and includes individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from politics and business to education and military service.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chalfin

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

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

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

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