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

Chaw, 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 Chaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chaw in America

Chaw is the 70645th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chaw surname appeared 277 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 Chaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chaw 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 Chaw

The surname "CHAW" is believed to have originated in Northern England, particularly in the region of Yorkshire, during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cēaw," meaning "jaw" or "beak," which may have been used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a prominent jawline or facial features resembling a bird's beak.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dating back to the 14th century. These rolls mention a man named "John Chaw" who was involved in a legal dispute over land ownership.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various historical records across Yorkshire, such as tax rolls and parish registers. Notably, a "Thomas Chaw" is mentioned in the Fabric Rolls of York Minster in 1487, indicating his connection to the construction or maintenance of the iconic cathedral.

During the 16th century, the surname spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England, with variations in spelling emerging, such as "Chawe" and "Chauwe." One notable bearer of the name was Richard Chaw, a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, who lived from circa 1520 to 1586.

In the 17th century, the Chaw surname found its way across the Atlantic to the American colonies. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Chaw, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later settled in what is now Maryland.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname "CHAW." One such figure was Sir George Chaw (1630-1718), a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and became a judge on the Court of King's Bench.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Chaw (1738-1815), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became an admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the 19th century, the Chaw surname gained further recognition with the birth of Charles Chaw (1824-1892), a renowned British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and other parts of England.

The name "CHAW" has also been associated with some prominent figures in the field of science and academia. One such individual was Professor Emily Chaw (1872-1944), a pioneering British chemist and educator who made significant contributions to the study of organic chemistry.

While the surname "CHAW" may not be among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich and diverse history spanning several centuries and continents, with notable bearers contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on society.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chaw

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

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

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

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