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

Chilson, 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 Chilson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chilson in America

Chilson is the 10265th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chilson surname appeared 3,140 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Chilson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chilson 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 Chilson

The surname Chilson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have originated in the county of Lincolnshire, derived from a combination of the Old English words "cild" meaning "child" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a place where children resided or a location associated with a particular family or group of children.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Childeston" and "Cildestune," referring to settlements in Lincolnshire. This historical record provides valuable insight into the name's evolution and its connection to specific regions of England.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Chilson, Chillesun, Childson, and Chillson, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records and regional dialects of the time.

Notable individuals bearing the Chilson surname include:

1. William Chilson (c. 1590-1660), a prominent landowner and merchant in colonial Massachusetts, who was among the early settlers of New England.

2. John Chilson (1716-1795), an American Revolutionary War soldier who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill and later became a respected farmer in Connecticut.

3. Mary Chilson (1812-1890), a pioneer and educator who established one of the first schools in the Oregon Territory, contributing significantly to the education of early settlers.

4. Edward Chilson (1836-1912), a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York, known for his generous support of educational institutions and charitable organizations.

5. Samuel Chilson (1867-1944), a renowned architect and civil engineer, responsible for designing numerous iconic buildings and infrastructure projects across the United States.

Throughout its history, the Chilson surname has been linked to various locations and place names, reflecting the migrations and settlements of families bearing this name. For example, the town of Chilson, Michigan, was named after an early settler with the Chilson surname, while Chilson Hill in Vermont is derived from a similar source.

The surname Chilson has a rich and diverse history, spanning centuries and continents, with its roots firmly planted in the English countryside. Despite its various spellings and geographical dispersions, the name has maintained a strong presence throughout the ages, serving as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of families who have carried it forward.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chilson

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

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

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

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