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

Chalk, 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 Chalk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chalk in America

Chalk is the 10079th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chalk surname appeared 3,198 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chalk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chalk 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 Chalk

The surname Chalk originates from England and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "chalc," meaning lime or chalk, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived near chalk quarries or were engaged in occupations related to the production or use of chalk.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Chalk surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical record mentions individuals with variations of the name, such as "de Chalc" and "de Chalke," indicating their association with specific places.

The Chalk surname is also linked to various place names across England, including Chalk in Kent, Chalke in Wiltshire, and Chalkwell in Essex. These place names often referred to areas with chalky soil or chalk quarries, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and the geological feature.

Notably, in the 13th century, a man named Roger de Chalk was recorded as a resident of Wiltshire, where the village of Chalke is located. This provides an early example of the surname's usage and its geographical association.

Throughout history, several individuals with the Chalk surname have achieved notable recognition. One such figure was Sir Nathaniel Chalk (1658-1735), an English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London from 1707 to 1708.

Another prominent individual was William Chalk (1833-1897), a British artist and illustrator renowned for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes in England.

In the field of literature, Octavius Chalk (1839-1917) was a notable English writer and journalist who contributed to various publications, including the Daily Telegraph and Illustrated London News.

The Chalk surname has also left its mark in the realm of sports. Herbert Chalk (1887-1973) was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

Lastly, Mary Chalk (1839-1912) was a British educator who founded the Froebel Educational Institute in London, dedicated to promoting the educational philosophies of Friedrich Froebel.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and achievements of individuals bearing the Chalk surname, reflecting its long-standing presence in English history and its association with various occupations and geographical locations.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chalk

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

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

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

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