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

Chapin, 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 Chapin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chapin in America

Chapin is the 3510th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chapin surname appeared 10,175 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 Chapin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chapin 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 Chapin

The surname Chapin originated in France, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "chape," which referred to a cloak or cape worn by clergymen or noblemen. It is believed that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who wore a distinctive cloak or cape.

The earliest known record of the Chapin name dates back to the 12th century in Normandy, France. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Raoul Chapin, who was mentioned in a charter from 1195 in Normandy.

In the 13th century, the Chapin family gained prominence in the region of Champagne, France. Records from this time period show various spellings of the name, including Chapen, Chapyn, and Chappin.

During the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, several individuals with the Chapin surname accompanied William the Conqueror and settled in various parts of England. The Domesday Book, a great survey of England completed in 1086, contains references to individuals with the surname Chapin or similar spellings.

One notable bearer of the Chapin name was John Chapin (c. 1370-1443), a wealthy English merchant and alderman of London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1439.

In the 16th century, the Chapin family had established itself in various parts of Europe. Robert Chapin (1503-1578) was a French Protestant reformer and theologian who played a significant role in the French Reformation.

As the Chapin family spread across Europe, different branches emerged, and the name underwent various spelling variations, such as Chaplin, Chaplyn, and Chappelon.

In the 17th century, members of the Chapin family migrated to the American colonies. Samuel Chapin (1598-1675) was one of the earliest settlers, arriving in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635. He became a prominent figure in the colony and served as a deacon in the church.

Another notable bearer of the Chapin name was Edward Chapin (1703-1775), a surveyor and mapmaker who helped establish the boundary lines between Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the mid-18th century.

The Chapin family continued to play significant roles in various fields throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries. Some notable examples include Charles Edward Chapin (1856-1941), a prominent American public health pioneer, and Harry Chapin (1942-1981), a popular American singer-songwriter known for his humanitarian efforts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chapin

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

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

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

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