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

Chieves, 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 Chieves surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chieves in America

Chieves is the 128249th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chieves surname appeared 133 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 Chieves.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chieves 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 Chieves

The surname Chieves has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cif" or "cyf," which referred to a deep valley or ravine. This suggests that the name may have originally been a toponymic surname, given to someone who lived near or in such a geographical feature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chives" in reference to a landowner in the county of Wiltshire. This early spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings during that era.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Chyves living in Oxfordshire, indicating the name's continued presence in different parts of England. The use of the prefix "de" suggests a Norman influence on the surname's evolution, as was common during the Norman conquest of England.

By the 14th century, the name had gained various spellings, such as "Chyves," "Cheves," and "Chyvys," reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and the influence of regional dialects.

One notable figure bearing the Chieves surname was Sir John Chyvys, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London in the early 15th century (c. 1380-1449). He was instrumental in the construction of the renowned Leadenhall Market, which served as a center of trade in the city.

Another prominent individual was William Chieves (1588-1654), a Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious turmoil of the English Civil War era. His writings and sermons were widely circulated and influenced the nonconformist movement.

In the 18th century, the Chieves surname appears in connection with the village of Cheveley in Cambridgeshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

Notably, Sir John Chieves (1701-1783) was a distinguished naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his bravery and service.

Additionally, Samuel Chieves (1795-1873), a British explorer and naturalist, is renowned for his expeditions to South America and his contributions to the study of the region's flora and fauna.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chieves

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

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

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

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