The Chapman surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 127,939 people carried this name — #236 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 2,310 people counted. That is up 3% from 124,614 in 2000.
What the name means
The meaning of the Chapman surname
An English surname originating as an occupation for a merchant.
(golf game): Named after American amateur golfer Dick Chapman, who collaborated with the USGA in devising the system.
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Chapman» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 19 births for the Chapman name in 1890.
Most were registered in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 800 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Dublin, Down, and Antrim.”
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 154 people named Chapman.
Most of them — 99 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 16 départements, most often French Polynesia.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 94 people named Chapman 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
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
78 people named Chapman live in Switzerland.
They live in 11 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
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 Poland’s population register
46 people named Chapman have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 150 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 8 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lower Silesian.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.
In the Nordic population registers
145 people named Chapman are counted in Sweden and Finland.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.
Counted, by country
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) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
In print
Chapman in American newspapers,
1897–1925.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 961,581 pages in all carry the name.
Who carried it
People named Chapman,
with a public archive behind them.
-
George Chapman 1559–1634 · writer -
Fredrik Henrik af Chapman 1721–1808 · military personnel -
William Chapman 1749–1832 · engineer
-
Johnny Appleseed 1774–1845 · missionary -
Reuben Chapman 1799–1882 · politician
Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · 151 lives in all are documented under this name.
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Chapman.
- Chapelle 282 · U.S. census
- Chaperon 245 · U.S. census
- Chapin 10,175 · U.S. census
- Chaplain 529 · U.S. census
- Chapleau 165 · U.S. census
- Chaplin 6,513 · U.S. census
- Chapoton 186 · U.S. census
- Chapoy 141 · U.S. census
- Chappa 418 · U.S. census
- Chappel 2,521 · U.S. census
- Chappuis 460 · U.S. census
- Chapuis 213 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Chapman 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.