Explore the Family Name Chase
The meaning of Chase
English (southern): metonymic occupational name for a huntsman, or perhaps a nickname for an exceptionally skilled huntsman, from Middle English chase ‘hunt’ (Old French chasse, from chasser ‘to hunt’, Latin captare). History: Thomas Chase came to MA from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, England, in the 1640s, and had many prominent descendants. Samuel Chase, born in Somerset County, MD, in 1741, was one of the first members of the US Supreme Court; Philander Chase, born in Cornish, NH, in 1741 was a prominent Episcopal clergyman, and his nephew Salmon Portland Chase (1808–73), also born in Cornish, was governor of OH, a US senator, and secretary of the US Treasury during the Civil War.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Chase in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Chase has seen some changes between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Chase was ranked as the 606th most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 649th position, a decrease of 7.1%. Despite this drop in rank, the actual count of individuals with the Chase surname increased from 50,777 to 52,481 during the same period, representing a growth of 3.36%. The proportion per 100,000 people bearing the Chase surname decreased slightly from 18.82 to 17.79, reflecting a -5.47% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #606 | #649 | -7.1% |
| Count | 50,777 | 52,481 | 3.36% |
| Proportion per 100k | 18.82 | 17.79 | -5.47% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Chase
When examining the ethnic identity associated with the surname Chase, according to the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some notable shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of individuals identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander and carrying the Chase surname increased from 0.52% to 0.72%, while those identifying with two or more races went up from 1.55% to 2.07%. The largest increase was seen among those identifying as Hispanic, with an increase from 1.70% to 2.50%. On the other hand, the percentage of White individuals with the Chase surname saw a slight decrease from 83.65% to 81.84%. Similarly, those identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native saw a decrease from 1.60% to 1.47%. The Black population with the Chase surname experienced a slight growth, from 10.98% to 11.39%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 83.65% | 81.84% | -2.16% |
| Black | 10.98% | 11.39% | 3.73% |
| Hispanic | 1.7% | 2.5% | 47.06% |
| Two or More Races | 1.55% | 2.07% | 33.55% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 1.6% | 1.47% | -8.12% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.52% | 0.72% | 38.46% |
Chase ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Chase is British & Irish, which comprises 47.1% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (24.5%) and Eastern European (5.1%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, and Nigerian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 47.1% |
| French & German | 24.5% |
| Eastern European | 5.1% |
| Other | 23.4% |
Possible origins of the surname Chase
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Chase have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 83.00% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 82.90% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 82.60% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 82.60% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 82.50% |
What Chase haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Chase is R-Z209, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-Z209 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include I-Z58 and R-L51, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Burke, Potts, Cushing, Grace, Willey, Benoit, Burge, Goss, Bernard, Harr.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Chase surname are: H1, H3, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Chase have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Chase" Surname 42.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Chase" Surname 21.9%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Chase" Surname 22.8%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Chase" Surname 18.7%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Chase?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Chase are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition