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

Chamberlin, 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 Chamberlin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chamberlin in America

Chamberlin is the 3595th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chamberlin surname appeared 9,897 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Chamberlin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chamberlin 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 Chamberlin

The surname Chamberlin is believed to have originated in England and France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chambrelain" or "chamberlain," which referred to an officer in charge of a medieval household or the private chambers of a noble or monarch.

In England, the earliest recorded instances of the surname Chamberlin date back to the late 12th century. The name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1198, where it is spelled "Chaumberlain." This spelling variation was common in early records due to variations in pronunciation and regional dialects.

The Chamberlin surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The name is recorded as "Camerarius," which was the Latin equivalent of "chamberlain."

One of the earliest known individuals with the Chamberlin surname was Sir Robert Chamberlin, who served as the Lord Chamberlain of England during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Chamberlin, who fought alongside King Henry V at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

The surname Chamberlin is also associated with several place names in England, such as Chamberlin's Farm in Hertfordshire and Chamberlin's Hill in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the Chamberlin surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Other notable individuals with the Chamberlin surname include:

1. John Chamberlin (c. 1553-1596), an English poet and playwright during the Elizabethan era.
2. Robert Chamberlin (1607-1689), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Wilts.
3. James Chamberlin (1774-1858), an American surveyor and engineer who helped lay out the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.
4. Thomas Chamberlin (1843-1928), an American geologist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of glaciers and the formation of the Earth's crust.
5. Joseph Chamberlin (1898-1975), an American actor and director who appeared in numerous films and television shows during the mid-20th century.

Overall, the surname Chamberlin has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England and France, where it was associated with individuals who served in important household and administrative roles. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by notable figures in various fields, from literature and religion to science and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chamberlin

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

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

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

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