The Chamberlain surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 28,727 people carried this name — #1,231 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 10,300 people counted. That is up 3% from 27,928 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Chamberlain surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a name of office: ‘the chamberlain’.

An early record he cites: Henry le Chamberlein, Buckinghamshire, 1291–92 (20 Edward I) — Placita de Quo Warranto.

His entry covers Chamberlain, Chamberlayne, Chamberlaine and Chamberlin.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 168 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

32 people named Chamberlain live in Switzerland.

They live in 2 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 17
Vaud 15

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 24 people named Chamberlain live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 24

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 21 people named Chamberlain.

Most of them — 17 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Nord.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 17
Nord 2
Yvelines 1
Somme 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In the Nordic population registers

34 people named Chamberlain is counted in Sweden.

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

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 34

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).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Chamberlain was found among the farmers of 6 counties.

It was most frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland: 47 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 213. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Chamberlain and Chamberlayne.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Leicestershire and Rutland 47
Norfolk 18
Gloucestershire 17
Cambridgeshire 15
Hampshire 13
Wiltshire 13

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Chamberlain was recorded 14 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1484th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 12. 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 the first U.S. census, 1790

324 families named Chamberlain, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,825 people lived in those households, 5.6 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 12 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 76
Vermont 54
New Hampshire 50
Connecticut 42
Pennsylvania 28
New York 20
Maine 18
North Carolina 13
Maryland 12
Virginia 7
Rhode Island 4

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 233 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Chamberlain in American newspapers,
1899–1907.

Newspaper page from The Mirror And Farmer carrying the name Chamberlain
The Mirror And Farmer 1907-04-11
Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Chamberlain
Daily Kennebec Journal 1899-10-20
Newspaper page from Omaha Daily Bee carrying the name Chamberlain
Omaha Daily Bee 1903-04-05

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 24,147 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Chamberlain in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

446,367 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Chamberlain. The most, 148,278, date from the 1900s. 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 Australian Capital Territory, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 129,103
Queensland 95,835
Victoria 70,814
Western Australia 57,930
South Australia 50,734
Tasmania 38,462
ACT (Canberra) 2,591
Northern Territory 504

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

Who carried it

People named Chamberlain,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Chamberlain d. 1445 · politician
  • Richard Chamberlain d. 1663 · Anglican priest
  • Humphrey Chamberlain d. 1841 · industrialist
  • Humphrey Chamberlain d. 1841 · industrialist
  • William Chamberlain d. 1666
  • Eleanor McWilliams Chamberlain d. 1934

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

In the public record

People named Chamberlain,
in the records of 8 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 States3,149 records

3,149 records of the Chamberlain name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 1,062
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 624
  • Other U.S. records 1,463
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Robert F. Chamberlain

    Born 1940; from Las Cruces, New Mexico. U.S. Army, helicopter pilot; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam. Buried at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Charles L. Chamberlain

    Born 1907 in North Carolina. Enlisted 1940 at Fort Moultrie; textile mill worker from Davie County. U.S. Army veteran; died 1997, buried at Danville Memorial Gardens, Virginia.

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

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Majestic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 19; servant. From Cork, Ireland; bound for Springfield.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 3,149 records for Chamberlain in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · 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: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia1,751 records

1,751 records of the Chamberlain name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 820
  • Tasmanian Names Index 368
  • Other Australian records 563
  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 Selina Chamberlain

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Platina, sailing from London in 1837. Native of Leicester, Leicestershire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1841. Married 1841 in Avoca, Tasmania, aged 21.

    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 Susan Chamberlain

    Died 1886 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 73. Will registered in Tasmania in 1886.

    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 Robt W. Chamberlain

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Oliver Lang, aged 29; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,751 records for Chamberlain in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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).

Canada154 records

154 records of the Chamberlain name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 47
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 31
  • Other Canadian records 76
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Chamberlain

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Tweed, landing at Quebec, bound for Cobourg, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Leonard James Chamberlain

    Buried in 1985 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 58.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Catherine E. Chamberlain

    Died 1962 in West Bay Road, Inverness, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 154 records for Chamberlain in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom70 records

70 records of the Chamberlain name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 51
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 13
  • Other British records 6
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Chamberlain

    Buried in 1909 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 38.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Lucy Gwendoline Chamberlain

    Will proved in 1938; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record A. Chamberlain

    Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 70 records for Chamberlain in the United Kingdom.

Counts: 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. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand54 records

54 records of the Chamberlain name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 53
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ada Mabel Chamberlain

    Died 1958, aged 79; buried at Ruru Lawn, 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 Ivy Fay Chamberlain

    Died 2001, aged 90; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Charles Chamberlain

    Died 1894, aged 46; buried at Linwood Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 54 records for Chamberlain in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri 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).

Netherlands8 records

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

    Died 1845 in Rotterdam, aged 26.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Paul Graydon Chamberlain

    Married in 1945 in Utrecht.

    Open Archives, Het Utrechts Archief (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 8 records for Chamberlain 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France5 records

5 records of the Chamberlain 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 Yvonne Aziza Chamberlain

    Born 1915 in Great Britain; died 1994 in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Jack Clifton Chamberlain

    Born 1921 in Great Britain; died 1996 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 5 records for Chamberlain in France.

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).

Ireland4 records

4 records of the Chamberlain name in Ireland County Galway graveyard records
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Bridget Chamberlain

    Died 1971, aged 66; buried at Ballygar, Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Neville Chamberlain

    Died 1973; buried at Glenamaddy (New), Co. Galway.

    Galway County Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Chamberlain in Ireland.

Counts: Galway County 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Chamberlain.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Chamberlain 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.

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