Chamber
A surname referring to an individual who worked in or lived in a chamber or room.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 686 Americans carry the last name Chamber. That puts it at #37,591 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 499,642 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Chamber surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
686
1 in 499,642
Census rank
#37,591
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
592
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 592 bearers of the surname Chamber in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 37591st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Chamber, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.3%. The next largest groups are White (36.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Chamber
The surname Chamber originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chambre," meaning "room" or "chamber," which in turn comes from the Latin "camera," meaning "vaulted room."
The name likely referred to someone who lived or worked in a chamber, possibly a servant or attendant in a noble household. It could also have been an occupational name for someone who made or repaired chambers or rooms, such as a carpenter or builder.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a Walter le Chambere. The Domesday Book, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Chamber, but it does include the name of a place called "Chambres" in Somerset.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Chaumber, Chaumbre, and Chawmbre, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. An example is John Chaumbre, who is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379.
One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Chamber (c. 1410-1492), a English knight and landowner who served as a member of parliament and was appointed to several important positions under King Henry VI and King Edward IV.
Another significant figure was John Chamber (c. 1546-1604), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of University College, Oxford, and was a renowned scholar of Greek literature.
In the 17th century, we find Samuel Chamber (1629-1676), an English historian and physician who wrote several works on the history of England and France.
During the 18th century, Sir Robert Chambers (1737-1803), a British lawyer and judge, gained prominence as the Chief Justice of Bengal and a member of the Supreme Council of India.
In the 19th century, the name was borne by Sir William Chambers (1726-1796), a renowned Scottish architect who designed many prominent buildings in London, including Somerset House.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Chamber
Among Census respondents with the surname Chamber, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.3%. The next largest groups are White (36.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Chamber bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Chamber surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American45.3%
- White36.5%
- Asian and Pacific Islander14.4%
- Hispanic or Latino1.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2%
- Two or more races1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Chamber surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,591 | #37,591 | 0.0% |
| Count | 592 | 592 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Chamber bearers went from 592 to 592 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #37,591 to #37,591.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Chamber
FAQ
Chamber surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Chamber?
The surname Chamber holds position #37,591 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 686 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Chamber surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Chamber, the largest self-reported group is Black at 45.3%. The next largest groups are White (36.5%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.