The Chisholm surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 12,503 people carried this name — #2,878 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 23,600 people counted. That is up 4% from 12,027 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Chisholm surname

A surname from Old English [in turn from locations].

Scottish habitational surname, from Old English ċīese (“cheese”) + holm (“piece of dry land in a fen”) or helm (“shed, barn”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Chisholm» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Chisholm’.

His entry covers Chisholm and Chisom.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 178 · public domain.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

22 people named Chisholm live in Switzerland.

They live in 4 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Bern.

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

Where they live today

Bern 10
Geneva 4
Zug 4
Zurich 4

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 Scotland’s registers today

Chisholm was recorded 54 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 485th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 111. 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

Chisholm in American newspapers,
1882–1920.

Newspaper page from Eureka Daily Sentinel carrying the name Chisholm
Eureka Daily Sentinel 1882-05-11
Newspaper page from Daily Capital Journal carrying the name Chisholm
Daily Capital Journal 1911-04-01
Newspaper page from El Imparcial carrying the name Chisholm
El Imparcial 1920-08-23

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 101,972 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Chisholm in Australian newspapers,
1810s–2010s.

57,862 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Chisholm. The most, 9,130, 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 1.8 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 28,656
Victoria 13,504
Queensland 6,961
Tasmania 4,233
Western Australia 2,082
South Australia 1,814
ACT (Canberra) 305
Northern Territory 132

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

Who carried it

People named Chisholm,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Chisholm
    William Chisholm 1525–1593 · Catholic priest
  • William Chisholm
    William Chisholm 1788–1842 · politician
  • Jesse Chisholm
    Jesse Chisholm 1806–1868 · diplomat
  • James Chisholm
    James Chisholm 1806–1888 · politician
  • Caroline Chisholm
    Caroline Chisholm 1808–1877 · humanitarian

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 264 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Chisholm,
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 States1,752 records

1,752 records of the Chisholm name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 485
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 459
  • Other U.S. records 808
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Allan D. Chisholm

    Born 1915 in Massachusetts. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Devens; laboratory technician. U.S. Army Air Forces veteran of World War II; died 1999, buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, Massachusetts.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (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 Rose R. Chisholm

    Born 1899 in South Carolina. Enlisted 1943 in the Women's Army Corps at New York City; waiter. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Calverton National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Gibbs Chisholm

    Born 1932; from Essex County, New Jersey. U.S. Army, light weapons infantry leader; killed in action 1953 in North Korea.

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

Showing 3 of 1,752 records for Chisholm in the United States.

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

Canada4,877 records

4,877 records of the Chisholm name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 4,694
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 50
  • Other Canadian records 133
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Catherine Chisholm

    Killed in the Halifax Explosion of 1917, aged 18; buried at Sheet Harbour.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alex Chisholm

    Came to Ontario in 1873 aboard the Sar, landing at Quebec, bound for Lime House, Ontario; Scotch.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marie Chisholm

    Buried in 1974 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 89.

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

Showing 3 of 4,877 records for Chisholm in Canada.

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

Australia1,738 records

1,738 records of the Chisholm name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 836
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 371
  • Other Australian records 531
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Frances Elizabeth Chisholm

    Died 1865 in Clarence, Tasmania, aged 36. Will registered in Tasmania in 1866.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Louisa Mary Alexandr Chisholm

    Born 1872 in Hobart, Tasmania. Died 1934 in Tasmania, aged 62.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Florence Ann Janet Chisholm

    Born 1869 in Hobart, Tasmania. Married 1897 in Hobart, Tasmania, aged 27.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 1,738 records for Chisholm 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) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

United Kingdom74 records

74 records of the Chisholm name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 26
  • Stirling Council burial records 26
  • Other British records 22
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record George F. Chisholm

    Born 1877 at Duffus; estate workman. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Highland Light Infantry).

    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 William F. Chisholm

    Born 1894 at Pluscarden; sawmiller. Died 1917. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Highland Light Infantry).

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

    Born 1882 at Duffus; gardener. Died 1918. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921). Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918 (Seaforth Highlanders).

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

Showing 3 of 74 records for Chisholm in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · 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 Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0). 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).

New Zealand39 records

39 records of the Chisholm name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 34
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 2
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Elsie Evalina Beatrice Chisholm

    Died 1967, 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 Eric Dudley Chisholm

    Died 1999, aged 91; 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 Ronald Chisholm

    Buried in 1968 at Totara Memorial Park Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 54.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 39 records for Chisholm in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Thames-Coromandel District 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).

Netherlands10 records

10 records of the Chisholm name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 6
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 3
  • Dutch population registers 1
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Ewan Chisholm

    Married in 1767 in Rotterdam; born in Killmorack.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Maria Debora Chisholm

    Died 1947 in 's-Hertogenbosch.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 2 of 10 records for Chisholm in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

France2 records

2 records of the Chisholm 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 Ronald Stephenson Chisholm

    Born 1929 in Great Britain; died 1999 in Brennilis (Finistère).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 1 of 2 records for Chisholm 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).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Chisholm.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Chisholm is.
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