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

Chalmers, 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 Chalmers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chalmers in America

Chalmers is the 5637th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chalmers surname appeared 6,166 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Chalmers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chalmers 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 Chalmers

The surname Chalmers originated from the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "chalmers," meaning "chambers" or "rooms." This suggests that the name may have been initially associated with someone who lived near or worked in a set of chambers or rooms.

The earliest recorded use of the name Chalmers dates back to the 13th century. In 1296, a man named John de Chalmers swore fealty to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence. This entry appears in the Ragman Rolls, a historical record of Scottish landowners and nobles who submitted to English rule during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records and charters, such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland. One notable mention is of a William de Chalmers, who is recorded as holding lands in the parish of Monifieth, Angus, in 1366.

The surname Chalmers has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a Scottish mathematician, philosopher, and Church of Scotland minister. He is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern economics and was a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir David Chalmers (1530-1592), a Scottish judge and Lord Advocate of Scotland during the reign of King James VI. He played a significant role in the prosecution of the Earl of Bothwell for the murder of Lord Darnley, the husband of Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the literary world, George Chalmers (1742-1825) was a Scottish antiquarian and writer. He is best known for his works on Scottish history and poetry, including "Caledonia" and "The Poetic Remains of Some of the Scottish Kings."

During the American Revolutionary War, James Chalmers (1742-1828) was a Scottish-born loyalist who served as a British army officer. He is remembered for his involvement in the Battle of King's Mountain, where he was captured by American forces.

In the realm of science, Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), mentioned earlier, made significant contributions to the field of natural theology and was a proponent of the idea that scientific discoveries strengthened belief in God's existence.

The surname Chalmers has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Lowlands, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. Over the centuries, it has been associated with notable figures in various fields, including law, literature, military, and science. The name's origins and its connections to Scottish history and culture continue to be studied and celebrated by historians and genealogists alike.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chalmers

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

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

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

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