NameCensus.

UK surname

Kear

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a left-handed person.

In the 1881 census there were 510 people recorded with the Kear surname, ranking it #6,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,061, ranked #5,505, up from #6,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kear is 1,136 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 108.0%.

1881 census count

510

Ranked #6,678

Modern count

1,061

2016, ranked #5,505

Peak year

1999

1,136 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kear had 510 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,061 in 2016, ranked #5,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 814 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kear 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 510 #6,678
1891 historical 545 #6,931
1901 historical 769 #5,824
1911 historical 814 #5,405
1997 modern 1,065 #5,214
1998 modern 1,122 #5,169
1999 modern 1,136 #5,158
2000 modern 1,112 #5,223
2001 modern 1,087 #5,220
2002 modern 1,100 #5,276
2003 modern 1,075 #5,277
2004 modern 1,054 #5,370
2005 modern 1,033 #5,399
2006 modern 1,031 #5,424
2007 modern 1,021 #5,517
2008 modern 1,027 #5,527
2009 modern 1,057 #5,519
2010 modern 1,053 #5,637
2011 modern 1,051 #5,585
2012 modern 1,036 #5,572
2013 modern 1,054 #5,581
2014 modern 1,058 #5,595
2015 modern 1,052 #5,563
2016 modern 1,061 #5,505

Geography

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Where Kears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, St Philip and Jacob, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
3 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
4 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
5 Forest of Dean 006 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kear

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Kear surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kear 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kear 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

Kear is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kear falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kear 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kear

The surname Kear is believed to have originated in England, derived from the Old English word "cær," which means "to bend or turn." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a bend in a river or road.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landholders in England, there are several entries for individuals with the surname Kear or similar spellings, such as Keare and Keir. These records indicate that the name was already in use during the Norman conquest of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Kear was John Kear, born around 1240 in Gloucestershire, England. Another notable figure was William Kear, born in 1312 in Yorkshire, who was a member of the landed gentry and held substantial estates in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the name Kear was also associated with several place names in England, such as Kear's Green in Worcestershire and Kear's Hill in Oxfordshire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Kear who lived or held land in those areas.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname Kear was Sir Thomas Kear, born in 1548 in Lincolnshire. He was a prominent merchant and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1593.

Another significant individual was John Kear, born in 1672 in Lancashire, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor. His innovations in clockmaking mechanisms contributed significantly to the advancement of timekeeping technology during the late 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Kear was associated with the artist and engraver John Kear, born in 1744 in London. His intricate engravings and illustrations were highly sought after by collectors and publishers of the time.

As the surname Kear spread throughout England and beyond, it took on various spellings, including Keir, Keere, and Kier. This was common during the era when spelling conventions were less standardized, and names were often recorded based on their phonetic pronunciation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kear 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. Gloucestershire leads with 299 Kears recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.83x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 299 30.83x
Yorkshire 40 0.82x
Middlesex 31 0.63x
Staffordshire 24 1.44x
Monmouthshire 20 5.59x
Durham 13 0.88x
Lanarkshire 10 0.63x
Angus 9 1.96x
Warwickshire 9 0.72x
Stirlingshire 8 4.39x
Hampshire 6 0.59x
Brecknockshire 5 5.06x
Dunbartonshire 5 3.76x
Lancashire 5 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.66x
Glamorgan 3 0.35x
Worcestershire 3 0.46x
Kincardineshire 2 3.32x
Midlothian 2 0.30x
Suffolk 2 0.33x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.48x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Kent 1 0.06x
Leicestershire 1 0.18x
Perthshire 1 0.45x
Renfrewshire 1 0.26x
Somerset 1 0.13x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Dean in Gloucestershire leads with 117 Kears recorded in 1881 and an index of 742.39x.

Place Total Index
West Dean 117 742.39x
Newland 38 466.26x
Westbury On Severn East 27 123.12x
Cheltenham 24 32.07x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 22 24.09x
Islington London 14 2.92x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 7.91x
Castleford 12 67.23x
St Briavels 12 960.00x
Monmouth 10 105.49x
Birmingham 8 1.92x
Skenfrith 8 754.72x
Stirling 8 34.78x
Winchcomb 8 166.32x
Barnsley 7 13.85x
Alvington 6 909.09x
Flaxley 6 275.23x
Govan 6 1.52x
Hackney London 6 2.16x
Handsworth 6 46.30x
Stranton 6 12.11x
Wickham 6 322.58x
Bristol St Peter 5 144.09x
Gloucester Barton St 5 88.03x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 5 28.17x
Kirkden 5 174.22x
Llanelly 5 42.27x
Row 5 29.09x
Westbury On Trym 5 15.22x
Wolverhampton 5 3.90x
Arbroath 4 26.35x
Barony 4 0.99x
Burslem 4 8.36x
English Bicknor 4 373.83x
Hammersmith London 4 3.28x
Hedon 3 182.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 4.71x
Huntly 3 40.27x
Pemberton 3 12.82x
Roystone 3 156.25x
Sunderland 3 11.55x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 2 11.24x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 4.29x
Brightside Bierlow 2 2.08x
Bristol St Paul In 2 7.74x
Chiswick 2 7.40x
Kensington London 2 0.73x
Kings Norton 2 3.45x
Lydney 2 39.92x
St Cyrus 2 79.37x
Tewkesbury 2 23.09x
Woodbridge 2 25.97x
Wotton St Mary 2 39.76x
Abbey 1 1.71x
Alfreton 1 4.25x
Armitage 1 46.08x
Aston 1 0.29x
Batley 1 2.15x
Bristol St James In 1 7.01x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.09x
Bristol St Michael 1 12.02x
Castle Eden 1 67.11x
Childs Wyckham 1 131.58x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.38x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 23.92x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 3.17x
Leeds 1 0.36x
Llandingat 1 21.10x
Llanharan 1 112.36x
Lower Mitton 1 17.57x
Olveston 1 36.63x
Painswick 1 14.58x
Rearsby 1 123.46x
Roath 1 2.56x
St Pancras London 1 0.25x
St Woollos 1 2.51x
Sutton 1 5.73x
Westminster St Margaret 1 4.19x
Wonastow 1 434.78x
Woolwich 1 1.60x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
Thomas 29
John 25
Henry 18
George 15
Richard 12
James 11
Arthur 8
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Walter 5
Alfred 3
Joseph 3
Tom 3
Charles 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Elijah 2
Enoch 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Luke 2
Moses 2
Peter 2
Alexander 1
Arnold 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Caleb 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Eton 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Grantley 1
Harold 1
Jabez 1
Jaramiah 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Albert 1
Kithart 1
Leslie 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Oskar 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Kear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 510 people were recorded with the Kear surname. That placed it at #6,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,061 in 2016. That gives Kear a modern rank of #5,505.

What does the Kear surname mean?

An English surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from a place name or a nickname for a left-handed person.

What does the Kear map show?

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