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

Chalkley, 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 Chalkley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chalkley in America

Chalkley is the 40016th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chalkley surname appeared 548 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 Chalkley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chalkley 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 Chalkley

The surname Chalkley is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name Chalkley, a small village in Worcestershire. The name itself is derived from the Old English words "chalc" meaning chalk and "leah" meaning a meadow or clearing, referring to a chalky meadow or clearing.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Chalkley can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, where a Richard de Chalcleye is listed. This early spelling variation highlights the locational roots of the name.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records and documents across Worcestershire and the surrounding areas. A notable example is a Thomas Chalkley, born in 1675 in Woodborough, Wiltshire, who was a Quaker minister and author of a popular autobiography detailing his travels and religious experiences.

Another significant figure with this surname was John Chalkley, born in 1676 in Woodborough, Wiltshire. He was a Quaker missionary who traveled extensively throughout the American colonies, preaching and establishing Quaker meetings. His journal, published posthumously in 1751, provides valuable insights into the life and challenges faced by early Quakers in the New World.

In the 18th century, the Chalkley family had a strong presence in the county of Gloucestershire, with several members recorded in parish registers and local records. One notable individual was William Chalkley, born in 1712 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, who was a successful wool merchant and philanthropist, contributing significantly to the local community.

Moving into the 19th century, the name Chalkley continued to be found throughout England, with pockets of concentration in the West Midlands and the Southwest regions. A prominent figure from this era was James Chalkley, born in 1804 in Bristol, who was a renowned architect and engineer. He designed several notable buildings in Bristol, including the city's iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was completed in 1864.

Throughout its history, the surname Chalkley has maintained a strong connection to its roots in the English countryside, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. While not a widespread name, it has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from religion and literature to architecture and engineering.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chalkley

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

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

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

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