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

Chase, 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 Chase surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chase in America

Chase is the 649th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chase surname appeared 52,481 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 18 people would have the surname Chase.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chase 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 Chase

The surname CHASE originated in England, emerging during the late 11th century in the aftermath of the Norman Conquest. It is derived from the Old French word "chasser," meaning "to hunt" or "to chase." This occupational surname was likely bestowed upon individuals who worked as hunters or gamekeepers in medieval English society.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the CHASE surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is mentioned in connection with various manors and villages across various counties, including Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records and documents, often associated with landowners and individuals of notable status. One such example is Sir Thomas Chase, a renowned knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crecy during the Hundred Years' War (1346-1353).

The CHASE surname also has connections to place names, as evidenced by the existence of Chase Wood in Worcestershire and Chase Town in Somerset. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the CHASE surname who once owned or resided in those areas.

In the 16th century, the CHASE surname gained further prominence with the birth of Aquila Chase (1566-1647), an English clergyman and academic who served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1638 to 1644.

Another notable individual with the CHASE surname was Samuel Chase (1741-1811), a prominent American jurist and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He played a crucial role in the early judicial system of the United States, serving as a Supreme Court Justice from 1796 until his death.

The CHASE surname has also produced several distinguished literary figures, including Mary Ellen Chase (1887-1973), an American novelist and essayist known for her works set in rural Maine, and Ilka Chase (1900-1978), a renowned American actress, novelist, and biographer.

Throughout its history, the CHASE surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Chace, Chasse, and Chayse, reflecting the fluidity of orthography in earlier centuries. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained consistent, reflecting the enduring legacy of those who once pursued the hunt in medieval England.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chase

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

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

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

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