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

Chips, 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 Chips surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Chips in America

Chips is the 120187th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Chips surname appeared 144 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 Chips.

We can also compare 2010 data for Chips 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 Chips

The surname "Chips" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be a derivative of the Old English word "cypp," which means a small bundle or faggot of sticks or twigs. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname referring to someone who worked with bundles of wood, such as a woodcutter or woodsman.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname "Chips" dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a certain William Chips was mentioned in 1273. This record provides evidence of the name's existence and use during that time period in England.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a John Chips as a taxpayer. This further solidifies the presence of the surname in different regions of England during the Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, the surname was sometimes spelled as "Chyppes" or "Chypps," as seen in records from that era. This variation in spelling was common with many surnames before standardized spellings became more widespread.

One notable bearer of the surname "Chips" was Sir Thomas Chips, who lived during the reign of King Henry VIII in the early 16th century. He served as a member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1542 and was knighted by the king.

Another individual of historical significance was Reverend Robert Chips, an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1631 to 1638. He was born in 1593 and made significant contributions to the college during his tenure.

In the 17th century, the name "Chips" was also found in parish records from various counties in England, including Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Suffolk. This suggests that the surname had spread and established itself in different parts of the country by that time.

One notable individual from this period was Captain John Chips, an English sea captain and explorer who was born in 1640. He is recorded as having sailed to the West Indies and the Caribbean in the late 17th century, contributing to the exploration and trade activities of the time.

As the centuries progressed, the surname "Chips" continued to be present in various records and documents across England, reflecting its enduring heritage and the diverse individuals who bore this name throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Chips

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

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

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

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