About the Chartier Surname

Search old registers for Chartier and you will soon meet Chartrand too. Its meaning, shared with Chartrand, is “From Chartres”.

Chartier coat of arms

Heraldry is personal: arms associated with the Chartrand surname were borne by specific families, and sharing the name does not mean sharing the blazon.

Chartier and Chartrand

Before spelling was fixed, Chartrand was also written Chartier. Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard. Related forms: Chartrain.

Chartier ranked 6,239 in the 2010 US Census, with 5,479 people answering to the name. INSEE counts 16,727 people born in France with the Chartier surname between 1891 and 2000; the busiest decade was 1951–1960. Names that sound alike, such as Charter, are easily confused in old records. For the full story, order the Chartier surname pack.