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

Chav, 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 Chav surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chav in America

Chav is the 125282nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chav surname appeared 137 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 Chav.

The history of the last name Chav

The surname "CHAV" is believed to have originated in Spain, derived from the Spanish word "chavo," which means "boy" or "young man." This surname likely emerged in the 16th or 17th century, during the height of Spanish exploration and colonization.

The earliest known record of the surname "CHAV" can be found in archival documents from the Spanish colonies in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and parts of Central America. It is possible that the name was initially given to individuals who were born or raised in these colonies, as a way to distinguish them from those born in Spain.

One notable figure with the surname "CHAV" was Juan Chav, a Spanish conquistador who participated in the conquest of Guatemala in the 16th century. While precise dates of his birth and death are unknown, historical accounts place him as an active participant in the subjugation of indigenous populations in that region.

Another individual of note was Francisco Chav, a Spanish missionary who traveled to the Philippines in the late 16th century. He is credited with establishing several missions and contributing to the spread of Christianity in the archipelago. Francisco Chav was born in Seville, Spain, in 1562 and died in Manila in 1628.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname "CHAV" was María Chav, a Spanish painter known for her portraits and religious works. Born in Madrid in 1723, she was one of the few female artists recognized during her time and was commissioned by the Spanish royal court. She died in 1795.

Transitioning to the 19th century, one cannot overlook the contributions of Antonio Chav, a Spanish philosopher and educator. Born in Barcelona in 1812, he was a prominent advocate for educational reform and the promotion of critical thinking. His seminal work, "The Pursuit of Knowledge," published in 1857, had a significant impact on the intellectual landscape of Spain. Antonio Chav died in Madrid in 1893.

Moving into the 20th century, a notable figure with the surname "CHAV" was Javier Chav, a Spanish writer and journalist. Born in Valencia in 1920, he was known for his poignant novels and essays that explored the complexities of human relationships and societal issues. Javier Chav's literary works garnered critical acclaim, and he was awarded the prestigious Cervantes Prize in 1985. He passed away in 2002 in Madrid.

While the surname "CHAV" may have originated in Spain, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who trace their ancestry back to the Spanish colonial era or through more recent migrations. However, the historical roots of this surname remain firmly grounded in the rich cultural tapestry of Spain.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chav

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

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 Chav 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.

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!