NameCensus.

UK surname

Kaiser

A German occupational surname referring to the Holy Roman Emperor or a person who worked for him.

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Kaiser surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 490, ranked #10,129, up from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Wokingham and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kaiser is 490 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 512.5%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

490

2016, ranked #10,129

Peak year

2015

490 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kaiser had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016, ranked #10,129.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 341 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kaiser surname distribution map

The map shows where the Kaiser surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Kaiser surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kaiser over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 11 #31,309
1861 historical 21 #31,242
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 138 #19,411
1901 historical 252 #13,068
1911 historical 341 #10,468
1997 modern 334 #12,591
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 370 #12,124
2000 modern 375 #11,949
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 363 #12,296
2003 modern 360 #12,152
2004 modern 380 #11,717
2005 modern 389 #11,423
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 421 #10,920
2008 modern 407 #11,310
2009 modern 407 #11,556
2010 modern 436 #11,189
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 468 #10,366
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 487 #10,289
2015 modern 490 #10,149
2016 modern 490 #10,129

Geography

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Where Kaisers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity, Gateshead and Durham St Oswald. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Wokingham, Kingston upon Hull, Cornwall and Shropshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Durham St Oswald Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
2 Wokingham 018 Wokingham
3 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Cornwall 012 Cornwall
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kaiser

These lists show first names that appear often with the Kaiser surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kaiser

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kaiser, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Kaiser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kaiser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kaiser is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kaiser is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kaiser falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kaiser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kaiser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kaiser

The surname KAISER originated in Germany and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Kaiser," which means "emperor" or "Caesar." The name likely emerged as a descriptive surname, referring to someone who held a position of authority or power, or perhaps someone who worked for an emperor or in the imperial court.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname KAISER can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of historical documents from the former Kingdom of Saxony, dating back to the 12th century. The name also appears in various medieval records and manuscripts from regions such as Bavaria, Swabia, and the Rhineland.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Hans KAISER (c. 1310-1380) was a German goldsmith and burgher from the city of Nuremberg. He was renowned for his intricate metalwork and served as a master craftsman for the Imperial Court.

Another notable individual with the surname KAISER was Johann KAISER (1642-1716), a German jurist and legal scholar. He authored several influential works on Roman law and served as a professor at the University of Ingolstadt.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the KAISER surname was also associated with various place names in German-speaking regions. For example, the town of Kaiserstuhl in southwestern Germany, which translates to "Emperor's Chair," likely derived its name from the presence of individuals with the surname KAISER in the area.

In the 19th century, Friedrich KAISER (1808-1888) was a German architect and urban planner who played a significant role in the reconstruction and modernization of Berlin after the Prussian Wars of Unification.

Another noteworthy figure was Georg KAISER (1878-1945), a prominent German dramatist and playwright known for his expressionist works, including the play "From Morn to Midnight" (1912).

Throughout its history, the surname KAISER has been associated with various professions, from craftsmen and scholars to artists and public figures, all reflecting the influence and prominence of individuals bearing this name in German-speaking regions and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kaiser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kaiser surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 37 Kaisers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 37 4.74x
Yorkshire 9 1.16x
Warwickshire 7 3.56x
Lancashire 5 0.54x
Durham 4 1.72x
Glamorgan 4 2.94x
Kent 4 1.50x
Surrey 4 1.05x
Lanarkshire 3 1.19x
Devon 1 0.62x
Leicestershire 1 1.16x
Northumberland 1 0.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 7 Kaisers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.77x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 7 29.77x
Poplar London 7 47.52x
Leamington Priors 6 123.97x
Clerkenwell London 5 27.14x
Richmond 5 413.22x
Stoke Newington London 5 82.24x
Cardiff St Mary 4 53.48x
Whitechapel London 4 52.02x
Woolwich 4 40.65x
Bishop Auckland 3 96.46x
Glasgow 3 6.69x
Camberwell 2 4.01x
Droylsden 2 66.23x
Islington London 2 2.64x
Manchester 2 4.80x
Paddington London 2 6.97x
St Marylebone London 2 4.80x
Aston 1 1.85x
Battersea 1 3.48x
Beamsley In Skipton 1 2000.00x
Bermondsey 1 4.30x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.95x
Garston 1 36.63x
Hartlepool 1 30.30x
Ilfracombe 1 59.88x
Kensington London 1 2.31x
Kingstonupon Hull 1 161.29x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 16.61x
Shadwell London 1 45.87x
Westrill 1 10000.00x
York Holy Trinity Kings 1 625.00x
York St Helen Stonegate 1 833.33x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kaiser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 3
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Margaret 2
A.Thomas 1
Alnine 1
Amelia 1
Bertha 1
Cecilia 1
Constantine 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emilie 1
Gertrude 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kath. 1
Leckover 1
Lina 1
Liza 1
Marie 1
Minnie 1
Phillipine 1
Rosa 1
Sophie 1
Sophy 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kaiser surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Frederick 3
Joseph 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Charles 2
Christian 2
Hermann 2
J. 2
John 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Constantine 1
Dominic 1
Elias 1
George 1
Henry 1
Mark 1
Mauritz 1
Nichol 1
Otto 1
Robert 1
W. 1
Wilhelm 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kaiser households.

FAQ

Kaiser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kaiser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Kaiser surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kaiser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 490 in 2016. That gives Kaiser a modern rank of #10,129.

What does the Kaiser surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to the Holy Roman Emperor or a person who worked for him.

What does the Kaiser map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kaiser bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.