NameCensus.

UK surname

Kale

A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with cabbage or other leafy vegetables.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Kale surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, up from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Eton and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Guildford, West Berkshire and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kale is 443 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 334.3%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2016

443 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kale had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Kale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kale 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 87 #18,695
1861 historical 171 #13,692
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 233 #15,975
1998 modern 249 #15,720
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 243 #16,053
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 273 #14,892
2003 modern 275 #14,652
2004 modern 282 #14,451
2005 modern 308 #13,590
2006 modern 331 #12,990
2007 modern 349 #12,622
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 377 #12,269
2010 modern 392 #12,186
2011 modern 380 #12,326
2012 modern 398 #11,755
2013 modern 421 #11,462
2014 modern 430 #11,323
2015 modern 430 #11,226
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Kales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Eton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Woking and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Guildford, West Berkshire, Waltham Forest, Wellingborough and Morningside. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Eton Buckinghamshire
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Woking Surrey
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Guildford 001 Guildford
2 West Berkshire 010 West Berkshire
3 Waltham Forest 006 Waltham Forest
4 Wellingborough 008 Wellingborough
5 Morningside City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kale

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kale, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Kale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Kale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Kale is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kale 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

Kale falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Kale

The surname Kale is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English word "calu," which means "callow" or "bare." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a bare or treeless area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kale can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Calu." This indicates that the name was already in use during the 11th century in England.

Historically, the Kale surname was also associated with various place names, such as Calehill and Calehurst. These place names likely originated from the same Old English root word, "calu," and may have influenced the surname's development.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Calehulle, who lived in Nottinghamshire, England. This early example demonstrates the evolution of the surname from its Old English origins to a more recognizable form.

One notable individual with the surname Kale was Sir John Kale, who lived during the 15th century and served as a military commander under King Henry V of England. He participated in the famous Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent figure was William Kale, born in 1650 in Yorkshire, England. He was a renowned clockmaker and inventor, renowned for his pioneering work in developing more accurate timepieces.

In the 18th century, John Kale (1714-1792) was a successful merchant and landowner in Lancashire, England. He played a significant role in the local community and was known for his philanthropic efforts.

Moving into the 19th century, Sarah Kale (1824-1892) was a prominent educator and advocate for women's rights in England. She founded several schools and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for girls and women.

Finally, in the early 20th century, Arthur Kale (1878-1952) was a respected botanist and horticulturist. He made significant contributions to the study and cultivation of various plant species, particularly those native to the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kale 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 20 Kales recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 20 2.05x
Surrey 14 2.95x
Kent 10 3.00x
Pembrokeshire 9 29.03x
Monmouthshire 8 11.34x
Glamorgan 6 3.53x
Lancashire 6 0.52x
Warwickshire 6 2.44x
Yorkshire 5 0.52x
Caernarfonshire 3 7.61x
Buckinghamshire 2 3.39x
Durham 2 0.69x
Norfolk 2 1.33x
Staffordshire 2 0.61x
Devon 1 0.49x
Hampshire 1 0.50x
Lincolnshire 1 0.64x
Northamptonshire 1 1.09x
Wiltshire 1 1.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 8 Kales recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.26x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 8 64.26x
Edmonton 8 101.78x
St Issells 7 1060.61x
Aston 6 8.86x
Camberwell 5 8.02x
Foots Cray 5 781.25x
Deptford St Paul 4 15.58x
Lambeth 4 4.70x
Rothwell 4 205.13x
Ystradyfodwg 4 26.85x
Hackney London 3 5.49x
Llanbeblig 3 75.00x
Burnham 2 266.67x
Islington London 2 2.12x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 44.44x
Monkwearmouth 2 71.94x
Roath 2 25.94x
Shoreditch London 2 4.73x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 10.19x
Talbenny 2 2857.14x
Toxteth Park 2 5.10x
Wolverhampton 2 7.90x
Aldershot 1 14.93x
Belton 1 158.73x
Bermondsey 1 3.44x
Bishops Tawton 1 158.73x
Castleton 1 8.65x
Cheetham 1 11.59x
Cheriton 1 73.53x
Ealing 1 11.47x
Hammersmith London 1 4.16x
Hornsey 1 8.10x
Leeds 1 1.83x
Northampton Priory St 1 18.15x
Oldham 1 2.68x
Ormskirk 1 45.25x
Southwark Christchurch 1 21.88x
St Marylebone London 1 1.92x
Tottenham 1 6.44x
Wandsworth 1 10.65x
Woodborough 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 5
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Elizabett 2
Elizb. 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Augusta 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Eve 1
Florence 1
Henriette 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Kale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Kale surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Kale a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Kale surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived near or worked with cabbage or other leafy vegetables.

What does the Kale map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kale 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.