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

Charter, 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 Charter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Charter in America

Charter is the 22260th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Charter surname appeared 1,158 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Charter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Charter 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 Charter

The surname Charter has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "chartre," which means a charter or deed. The name likely originated as an occupational surname for someone who was involved in the drafting or recording of legal documents, such as charters and deeds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Robertus Chartarius is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 12th century.

The surname Charter is also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Chartere." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as surnames were often written as they were pronounced.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Charter was Robert Charter, a cleric and scholar who served as the Chancellor of Oxford University from 1248 to 1252. He is known for his contributions to the development of the university's statutes and regulations.

Another prominent individual bearing the surname was Sir Thomas Charter (1490-1568), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Moving into the 17th century, we find John Charter (1614-1668), a clergyman and author who was born in Somersetshire. He wrote several theological works, including "The Scripture Doctrine of Predestination" and "A Treatise on Baptismal and Spiritual Regeneration."

In the 18th century, Samuel Charter (1723-1796) was a notable English painter and engraver. He was particularly known for his mezzotint engravings, which were widely admired for their rich tonal qualities.

Another individual of note was Thomas Charter (1756-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was awarded several honors for his distinguished service.

Throughout its history, the surname Charter has maintained its connection to the legal and literary professions, reflecting its origins as an occupational surname. While the name has spread across various regions, it remains an enduring part of the English surname tradition.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Charter

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

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

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

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