The Chalmers surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,166 people carried this name — #5,637 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 47,800 people counted. That is up 6% from 5,817 in 2000.

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In the Nordic population registers

25 people named Chalmers is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 25

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

In Scotland, 1880s

Chalmers was 23 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 435. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Dispersed over a large part of Scotland, but rare in the north.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 587 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Chalmers was recorded 162 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 139th most common name in those registers. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 245. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Chalmers in American newspapers,
1906–1924.

Newspaper page from Svenska Monitoren carrying the name Chalmers
Svenska Monitoren 1906-05-18
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Chalmers
The Birmingham Age-herald 1924-12-21
Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Chalmers
The Birmingham Age-herald 1924-12-21

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 6,656 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Chalmers in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

55,529 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Chalmers. The most, 8,200, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in the Northern Territory, at 1.9 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 21,032
Victoria 14,009
Queensland 9,928
Tasmania 3,968
South Australia 3,440
Western Australia 2,249
ACT (Canberra) 614
Northern Territory 168

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Chalmers.

Who carried it

People named Chalmers,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Wallace Chalmers d. 1963 · police officer
  • Robert Oliver Chalmers d. 2006 · exhibition curator
  • William Chalmers d. 1940 · association football coach
  • William Chalmers d. 1940 · association football coach
  • Christine Chalmers d. 1696
  • Alexander Chalmers d. 1497

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Chalmers,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,139 records

1,139 records of the Chalmers name in the United States
  • Passenger arrivals in the United States, 1820–1912 295
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 247
  • Other U.S. records 597
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Robert H. Chalmers

    Born 1916 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1942 at Buffalo, New York; rubber worker. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1997, buried at Greenlawn Memrorial Park, Akron, Ohio.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Chalmers

    Arrived at New York in 1884 aboard the Devonia from Glasgow, aged 22; servant. From Glasgow, Scotland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Dempsey Chalmers

    Born 1947; from Nesbit, Mississippi. U.S. Marine Corps, mortarman; died in an accident 1968 in Quang Tri, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 1,139 records for Chalmers in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia1,884 records

1,884 records of the Chalmers name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 1,033
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 284
  • Other Australian records 567
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Isobel Chalmers

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Woodbridge, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Banff, Banffshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1848.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frederick Edmond Chalmers

    Died 1869 in Brighton, Tasmania, aged 65. Will registered in Tasmania in 1869.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Archd Chalmers

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Hampshire, aged 15; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,884 records for Chalmers in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada177 records

177 records of the Chalmers name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 44
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 41
  • Other Canadian records 92
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Hannah Mary Chalmers

    Buried in 1984 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 89.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Foster Ballatyne Chalmers

    Died 1987, aged 82; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Alexander Chalmers

    Died 1961; buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, British Columbia.

    City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver.

Showing 3 of 177 records for Chalmers in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom173 records

173 records of the Chalmers name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 91
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 46
  • Other British records 36
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Alexander Chalmers

    Estate garden labourer. Killed or died by 1921. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917 (Seaforth Highlanders).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain); National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Charles Chalmers

    Born 1880 at Glenlivet; sailor. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Helen Kay Chalmers

    Died 1963, aged 63; buried at Kippen Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 173 records for Chalmers in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand30 records

30 records of the Chalmers name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 25
  • Thames-Coromandel District cemetery records 3
  • Other New Zealand records 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Adam Chalmers

    Died 1908, aged 75; buried at Lyttelton Anglican Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Alexander Cunningham Chalmers

    Died 1967, aged 68; buried at Picton Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ada Una Chalmers

    Died 1996, aged 81; buried at Mercury Bay Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 30 records for Chalmers in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands22 records

22 records of the Chalmers name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 15
  • Dutch population registers 4
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Margaretha Chalmers

    Died 1819 in Rotterdam, aged 78.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Jacoba Wilhelmina Anna Chalmers

    Died 1813 in Middelburg, aged 48.

    Open Archives, Zeeuws Archief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Barbara Wilhelmina Chalmers

    Died 1824 in Delft; born in Venloo.

    Open Archives, Archief Delft (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 22 records for Chalmers in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France1 record

1 record of the Chalmers name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Bernard Mary Chalmers

    Born 1931 in the United Kingdom; died 1992 in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Chalmers.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Chalmers is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Chalmers volume
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