Chester

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Chester

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Chester is the English form of “castra” or “caester” the Roman Latin word for “Fort.” It appears in many British places names and surnames (Winchester, Rochester, Manchester, Chichester, Chesterfield, Worchester, etc.).

History:
Chester is one of those names like Ashley, Taylor, Russell, or Harrison, that was a surname transferred to become a first name. It reached its peak of popularity at the turn of the century.

Originally, it would have been bestowed upon sons (very occasionally daughters) as either a first or a middle name in order to honor the Chester surname. For example, a woman named Mary Chester who married a man named John Smith, may name her son John Chester Smith, or merely Chester Smith. This custom had pretty much died out by the mid-20th century.

Although Chester was a fairly common name in 19th century America, it was given quite a boost in 1881 when Chester A. Arthur became president. Afterwards, the name Chester entered into a slow decline. Today it is rare.

Pronunciation: ches-ter.

Diminutives:
English: Chet, Ches.

Alternates (surnames): Ceaster, Chaster, Kester.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Chester Harding (1792-1866)
American painter.
Chester Gould (1900-1985)
American cartoonist.
Chester Himes (1909-1984)
American writer.
Chester Kallman (1921-1975)
American poet.

Miscellaneous:
Chester Nimitz (1885-1966)
American naval officer.

Political Figures:
Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886)
21st president of the United States.
Chester Crocker (1941-)
American diplomat.

Scientists:
Chester Moor Hall (1703-1771)
English mathematician.
Sir Chester Beatty (1875-1968)
British mining engineer.
Chester R. Longwell (1887-1975)
American geologist.
Chester F. Carlson (1906-1968)
American physicist.

Singers and Entertainers:
Chester Arthur Burnett (1910-1976)
American blues singer.
Chester Burton “Chet” Atkins (1924-2001)
American country singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.078 % of males forenamed Chester
0.005 % of males forenamed Chet

0.006 % surnamed Chester

Popularity of Chester:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 264th most popular.
1875: 178th most popular.
1880: 85th most popular.
1881: 59th most popular. - Peak! (Chester A. Arthur Becomes president)
1882: 60th most popular.
1883: 59th most popular.
1884: 58th most popular.
1885: 67th most popular.
1886: 65th most popular.
1887: 78th most popular.
1888: 72nd most popular.
1889: 69th most popular.
1890: 69th most popular.
1891: 68th most popular.
1892: 72nd most popular.
1893: 66th most popular.
1894: 63rd most popular.
1895: 57th most popular.
1896: 63rd most popular.
1897: 67th most popular.
1898: 66th most popular.
1899: 66th most popular.
1900: 72nd most popular.
1901: 75th most popular.
1902: 74th most popular.
1903: 68th most popular.
1904: 69th most popular.
1905: 64th most popular.
1906: 60th most popular.
1907: 67th most popular.
1908: 66th most popular.
1909: 65th most popular.
1910: 61st most popular.
1911: 59th most popular.
1912: 55th most popular.
1913: 56th most popular.
1914: 56th most popular.
1915: 54th most popular.
1916: 54th most popular.
1917: 56th most popular.
1918: 54th most popular.
1919: 53rd most popular.
1920: 55th most popular.
1921: 56th most popular.
1922: 64th most popular.
1923: 63rd most popular.
1924: 67th most popular.
1925: 73rd most popular.
1926: 79th most popular.
1927: 85th most popular.
1928: 88th most popular.
1929: 97th most popular.
1930: 103rd most popular.
1931: 105th most popular.
1932: 112th most popular.
1933: 119th most popular.
1934: 123rd most popular.
1935: 121st most popular.
1936: 127th most popular.
1937: 129th most popular.
1938: 136th most popular.
1939: 135th most popular.
1940: 137th most popular.
1941: 136th most popular.
1942: 138th most popular.
1943: 137th most popular.
1944: 138th most popular.
1945: 145th most popular.
1946: 150th most popular.
1947: 153rd most popular.
1948: 158th most popular.
1949: 163rd most popular.
1950: 169th most popular.
1951: 178th most popular.
1952: 181st most popular.
1953: 183rd most popular.
1954: 185th most popular.
1955: 204th most popular.
1956: 207th most popular.
1957: 221st most popular.
1958: 240th most popular.
1959: 252nd most popular.
1960: 260th most popular.
1961: 266th most popular.
1962: 277th most popular.
1963: 286th most popular.
1964: 295th most popular.
1965: 299th most popular.
1966: 323rd most popular.
1967: 324th most popular.
1968: 343rd most popular.
1969: 333rd most popular.
1970: 359th most popular.
1971: 357th most popular.
1972: 387th most popular.
1973: 374th most popular.
1974: 368th most popular.
1975: 408th most popular.
1976: 404th most popular.
1977: 396th most popular.
1978: 398th most popular.
1979: 423rd most popular.
1980: 444th most popular.
1981: 441st most popular.
1982: 464th most popular.
1983: 493rd most popular.
1984: 502nd most popular.
1985: 540th most popular.
1986: 601st most popular.
1987: 580th most popular.
1988: 629th most popular.
1989: 665th most popular.
1990: 702nd most popular.
1991: 720th most popular.
1992: 736th most popular.
1993: 879th most popular.
1994: 965th most popular.
1995: 953rd most popular.
1996-2004: N/A

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of English Surnames by Reaney and Wilson, 1997.
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880