Chuck
Meaning: Its source is ceorl, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Freeholder."
Nickname For: Charles
Popularity: The name Chuck ranked 547th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.
Narrative: The first Holy Roman Emperor, who lived from 742-814, is known to English-speaking students of history as Charlemagne (French for ''Charles the Great.'')
Charlemagne was a powerful Germanic leader who synthesized a relatively ordered society out of the chaos that followed the fall of Rome. He not only united France, but much of central Europe. His widespread fame gave rise to many forms of his name, in many languages.
For example, in Latin he was referred to as Carolus Magnus, and in German as Karl der Grosse. Many of these forms remain popular names in their own right, or have formed the basis for other modern names.
Arts and Music
- Chuck Berry (born 1926)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Musical guest on ''''Saturday Night Live'''' (see list of Musical Guests on ''Saturday Night Live'')
- Rock guitarist (see list of Guitarists)
- Made his television debut on ''''American Bandstand'''' (see list of Musicians Who Debuted on ''American Bandstand'')
- Wrote ''''Maybellene'''' and ''''Sweet Little Sixteen'''' (see list of Songwriters)
- Chuck D
American rap musician and songwriter. Performs with Public Enemy.
- Wrote ''''Bring the Noise'''' and ''''Don''t Believe the Hype'''' (see list of Songwriters)
- Chuck Jones (born 1912)
American cartoonist.
- Animator of Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (see list of Cartoonists)
Leadership
- Charles L. ''Chuck'' Watson
- CEO of Fortune 500 company NGC (see list of 1996 Fortune 500 Company CEOs)
Miscellaneous
- Charles E. ''Chuck'' Yeager (born 1923)
American Air Force officer and test pilot. First person to fly faster than the speed of sound.
- 1985 recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom (see list of Presidential Medal of Freedom Winners)
Science and Philosophy
- Charles E. ''Chuck'' Yeager (born 1923)
American Air Force officer and test pilot. First person to fly faster than the speed of sound.
- Member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame (see list of National Aviation Hall of Fame)
Sports
- Chuck Bednarik
American football player.
- 1949 National Football League number-one draft pick (see list of Football #1 Draft Picks)
- Elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967 (see list of Professional Football Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Clemens
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Charles ''Chuck'' Daly
American basketball coach.
- Elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1994 (see list of Basketball Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Foreman
American football player.
- 1974 National Football Conference Player of the Year (see list of NFL Players of the Year)
- 1973 National Football Conference Rookie of the Year (see list of NFL Rookies of the Year)
- Charles ''Chuck'' Hyatt
American basketball player.
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959 (see list of Basketball Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Klein
Baseball player.
- 1932 National League Most Valuable Player (see list of National League Most Valuable Players)
- Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980 (see list of Members of the Baseball Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Knoblauch
Baseball player.
- 1991 American League Rookie of the Year (see list of American League Rookies of the Year)
- Chuck Lewis
Skier.
- Elected to the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1990 (see list of Members of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame)
- Chuck McKinley
American tennis player.
- 1963 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
- Chuck Noll (born 1931)
American football coach.
- Elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1993 (see list of Professional Football Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Person
- 1986-87 National Basketball Association Rookie of the Year (see list of NBA Rookies of the Year)
- Chuck Pezzano
- Member of the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame (see list of Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame)
- Member of the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Chuck Schobinger
Skier.
- Elected to the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in 1992 (see list of Members of the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame)
Stage and Screen
- Chuck Berry (born 1926)
American musician, singer and songwriter.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- 2000 Kennedy Center Honors recipient (see list of Kennedy Center Honors Recipients)
- Chuck Connors (born 1921, died 1992)
American actor. Original name: Kevin Joseph Connors.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television (see list of Television Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Chuck Cunningham
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Gavan O''Herlihy, 1974; and by Randolph Roberts, 1974-75 (see list of Characters on ''Happy Days'')
- Chuck Jones (born 1912)
American cartoonist.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Chuck Norris (born 1940)
American karate champion and actor. Original name: Carlos Ray Norris.
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
The Literary World
- Chuck Philips
- 1999 Pulitzer winner for Beat Reporting with Michael A. Hitzik of the Los Angeles Times (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting)
Teasing Nicknames:
- Chuck Wagon
- Chuck Roast
- Chuckles
- Upchuck
- Chuck Steak
Associations:
To ''upchuck'' means to vomit.
To ''chuck'' something means to throw it away.
A ''chuck wagon'' carries food, supplies and equipment to a campsite.
To ''chuck a cheesy'' in Australian slang means to grin widely.
''Chuck you, Farley!'' is a euphemism for ''-uck you, Charlie!'' and is often shouted as a contemptuous insult.
