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

Chambliss, 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 Chambliss surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chambliss in America

Chambliss is the 5543rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chambliss surname appeared 6,268 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 Chambliss.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chambliss 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 Chambliss

The surname Chambliss originated in England and can be traced back to the early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cham" meaning valley or basin, and "blis" meaning bliss or joy, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a pleasant valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a William de Chaumblis is mentioned as holding lands in Bedfordshire. This spelling variation demonstrates the name's evolution over time.

By the 14th century, the name had taken on spellings closer to its modern form, such as Chamblis and Chamelys, as evidenced in various medieval records and tax rolls. It is possible that the name was also influenced by the French word "chamblis," meaning a small room or chamber.

The Chambliss surname is also associated with several place names in England, including Chambliss Hill in Buckinghamshire and Chambliss Farm in Wiltshire. These locations may have been named after early bearers of the surname or vice versa.

One notable figure with the Chambliss name was Sir Thomas Chambliss, a 16th-century English merchant and explorer who was involved in the early colonization efforts in North America. He was born around 1545 and is recorded as having established a trading post in what is now Virginia in the late 1500s.

Another historical figure was John Chambliss, a 17th-century English clergyman and scholar who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds. He was born in 1620 and is known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, there was William Chambliss, a notable British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and other parts of England. He was born in 1735 and is recognized for his contributions to the Georgian architectural style.

Moving into the 19th century, one cannot overlook the work of Mary Chambliss, a pioneering English educator and advocate for women's rights. Born in 1815, she established one of the first schools for girls in London and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was Sir Edward Chambliss, a British military officer and politician who served in both World Wars and later became a member of parliament. He was born in 1885 and played a significant role in shaping the post-war policies of the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chambliss

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

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

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

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