NameCensus.

UK surname

Kays

A variant of the surname Kay, referring to a jackdaw or a person resembling the bird.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Kays surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Bedminster and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Tameside and Meadows and Southside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kays is 219 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.9%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

1861

219 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kays had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kays surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kays surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kays 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 219 #11,124
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 150 #18,328
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 77 #25,106
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 125 #24,351
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 134 #23,260
2004 modern 135 #23,326
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 155 #22,985
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 156 #23,231
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Kays' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Bedminster, Govan Combination, Almondbury and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Tameside, Meadows and Southside, Bristol and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 Girvan Ayr
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 020 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Tameside 004 Tameside
3 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
4 Bristol 045 Bristol, City of
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 004 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kays

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kays

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Kays surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kays household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kays is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kays 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

Kays falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kays 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kays

The surname KAYS is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "cægc" or "keys," which referred to a keeper of keys or a gatekeeper. This occupation-based surname likely emerged among those employed as gatekeepers or caretakers of castles, manors, or other important buildings.

In the early records, the name appeared with various spellings, such as Keyes, Kayes, and Kays, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, where a certain John Keyes is mentioned.

The KAYS surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers was Sir John Kays, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century (c. 1420-1495). He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1491 and was known for his philanthropic efforts, particularly in supporting the education of underprivileged children.

Another significant figure was Robert Kays (1639-1716), an English mathematician and astronomer. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and made valuable contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion. His work was highly regarded by his contemporaries, including Sir Isaac Newton.

In the literary realm, the name is associated with Samuel Kays (1756-1825), an English poet and essayist. He gained recognition for his pastoral poetry and wrote extensively on various topics, including politics and philosophy.

The KAYS surname also has connections to the military. One notable individual was General Sir John Kays (1790-1865), a distinguished British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Governor of the Ionian Islands (1849-1859).

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Henry Kays (1820-1898), a British colonial administrator and diplomat. He served as the Governor of the Straits Settlements (present-day Singapore, Malaysia, and Penang) from 1867 to 1873 and played a crucial role in the development of the region.

While the KAYS surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. The name can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants of English immigrants have continued to carry this historical surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kays families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kays 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. Lanarkshire leads with 25 Kays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.83x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 25 6.83x
Ayrshire 11 12.99x
Lancashire 11 0.82x
Northumberland 10 5.94x
Cheshire 8 3.20x
Somerset 7 3.84x
Kent 6 1.55x
Middlesex 6 0.53x
Renfrewshire 5 5.70x
Yorkshire 5 0.45x
Derbyshire 4 2.26x
Surrey 4 0.73x
Durham 2 0.59x
Leicestershire 2 1.59x
Midlothian 2 1.32x
Monmouthshire 2 2.45x
Sussex 2 1.05x
Dunbartonshire 1 3.29x
Essex 1 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.43x
Wigtownshire 1 6.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Girvan in Ayrshire leads with 10 Kays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 469.48x.

Place Total Index
Girvan 10 469.48x
Govan 10 11.05x
Lowick 9 1525.42x
Bedminster 7 40.91x
Stockport 7 54.47x
Shettleston 6 182.93x
Tonbridge 5 35.92x
Bothwell 4 40.32x
Port Glasgow 4 94.34x
Spotland 4 26.79x
Ashover 3 340.91x
Dalton In Huddersfield 3 119.52x
Glasgow 3 4.62x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 61.22x
Stretford 3 40.60x
Barony 2 2.16x
Frant 2 148.15x
Horton In Bradford 2 11.42x
Islington London 2 1.82x
Leicester St Mary 2 19.72x
Llanover 2 71.68x
Merrington 2 307.69x
Adlington 1 79.37x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 3.41x
Ayr 1 25.00x
Barrow In Furness 1 5.48x
Bonhill 1 20.49x
Dorking 1 27.03x
East Greenock 1 12.08x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 31.75x
Felstead 1 129.87x
Heage 1 106.38x
Huyton With Roby 1 63.69x
Lambeth 1 1.01x
Manley 1 833.33x
Portsmouth 1 18.73x
River 1 400.00x
South Leith 1 5.86x
St George Hanover Square 1 5.02x
Stoke 1 38.46x
Stranraer 1 72.99x
Wallsend 1 18.73x
Wimbledon 1 16.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Lucy 3
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Francis 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Catherina 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizeabth 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Mariannes 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
John 3
George 2
James 2
Charles 1
Dennis 1
Douglas 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Royal 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Kays surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kays surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Kays surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kays surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Kays a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Kays surname mean?

A variant of the surname Kay, referring to a jackdaw or a person resembling the bird.

What does the Kays map show?

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