Chalmers

Chalmers is a Scottish surname of territorial origin that derives from the Barony of Chalmers in the county of Angus, in the Eastern Lowlands of Scotland. The name itself is believed to be of Norman origin, derived from the Old French word "chalener," meaning 'to challenge'. The Chalmers clan is said to have descended from Donnachadh Reamhar, a chief who lived around the 13th century.

The surname Chalmers has been widely recorded throughout Scottish history, with notable bearers including George Chalmers (1742-1825), a Scottish antiquarian and political writer, known for his research on Scottish history and genealogy.

Over the centuries, branches of the Chalmers family have spread across different parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, resulting in variations of the spelling of the surname. Today, the surname Chalmers is found not only in Scotland but also in England, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

The coat of arms associated with the Chalmers surname features a red shield with a gold chevron between three gold sparrows. The motto "sperandum est" means "we hope." The crest is a hand holding a sword.

Chalmers remains a prominent and respected surname within British genealogy and continues to be passed down through the generations as a reminder of the family's roots in Angus, Scotland.

There are approximately 11,169 people named Chalmers in the UK. That makes it the 820th most common surname in Britain. Around 172 in a million people in Britain are named Chalmers.

Origin: Celtic

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: Scotland

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: Gaelic

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Alan
  • Alexander
  • Andrew
  • David
  • Ian
  • James
  • John
  • Robert
  • Thomas
  • William

Female

  • Alison
  • Catherine
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Fiona
  • Helen
  • Jacqueline
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Sarah
  • Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.