NameCensus.

UK surname

Kayser

An occupational surname of German origin referring to a cheese maker or cheese seller.

In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Kayser surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, up from #28,837 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrow, Hammersmith and Fulham and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kayser is 177 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 376.5%.

1881 census count

34

Ranked #28,837

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

2008

177 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kayser had 34 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,837 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016, ranked #22,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 71 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Kayser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kayser surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kayser 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 24 #30,922
1881 historical 34 #28,837
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 71 #26,277
1911 historical 57 #27,099
1997 modern 129 #23,143
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 146 #22,202
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 152 #21,294
2002 modern 168 #20,396
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 159 #20,983
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 172 #20,321
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 169 #21,826
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

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Where Kaysers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Leeds, Barnet and Redbridge. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrow 001 Harrow
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 015 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Leeds 055 Leeds
4 Barnet 014 Barnet
5 Redbridge 010 Redbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kayser

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kayser

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kayser, 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 Kayser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Kayser 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kayser is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Kayser 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

Kayser 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 Kayser 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 Kayser, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kayser

The surname Kayser is of German origin, derived from the German word "Kaiser," which means "emperor" or "Caesar." The name likely originated during the era of the Holy Roman Empire, when the title of "Kaiser" held significant power and prestige.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Kayser can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It's believed that the name was initially bestowed upon individuals who held positions of authority or had direct ties to the imperial court.

In the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a document dating back to the late 12th century, there is a mention of a nobleman named Heinrich Kayser, who held lands in the region of Saxony. Additionally, the Annales Fuldenses, a medieval chronicle from the 9th century, references a military leader named Konrad Kayser, who served under the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne.

The surname Kayser has also been associated with various place names throughout Germany, such as Kaiserslautern, Kaiserstuhl, and Kaiserwerth. These place names often incorporated the word "Kaiser," indicating a connection to the imperial legacy or the presence of imperial properties in those locations.

Notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Kayser include:

1. Albrecht Kayser (1508-1578), a German jurist and legal scholar who served as a councilor to the Holy Roman Emperor. 2. Johann Friedrich Kayser (1713-1791), a German composer and organist known for his contributions to the development of the classical style. 3. Christian Gottlob Kayser (1782-1857), a German philologist and lexicographer, best known for his pioneering work in Greek and Latin dictionaries. 4. Heinrich Ernst Kayser (1815-1888), a German chemist and inventor who developed several important industrial processes, including the production of synthetic ultramarine pigment. 5. Emanuel Kayser (1845-1927), a German geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossil invertebrates and stratigraphy.

While the surname Kayser has its roots in the German language and history, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kayser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kayser 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. Yorkshire leads with 13 Kaysers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.96x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 13 3.96x
Middlesex 9 2.71x
Kent 4 3.54x
Sussex 3 5.37x
Hampshire 2 2.94x
Durham 1 1.01x
Hertfordshire 1 4.37x
Surrey 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middlesbrough in Yorkshire leads with 7 Kaysers recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.55x.

Place Total Index
Middlesbrough 7 163.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 89.82x
Deptford St Paul 4 45.82x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 252.10x
Alverstoke 2 81.30x
Fulham London 2 41.58x
St George Hanover Square 2 34.25x
Westminster St James 2 58.65x
Bushey 1 185.19x
Camberwell 1 4.72x
Chelsea London 1 10.01x
Dawdon 1 82.64x
Isleworth 1 68.03x
St Martin In Fields 1 50.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 3
Ada 1
Annie 1
Christine 1
Clara 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Margt.Fanny 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Franz 2
A.C. 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
C.Henry 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Edwd.C. 1
Frank 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Julius 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Kayser households.

FAQ

Kayser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kayser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Kayser surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kayser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016. That gives Kayser a modern rank of #22,512.

What does the Kayser surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin referring to a cheese maker or cheese seller.

What does the Kayser map show?

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