NameCensus.

UK surname

Kearsey

A surname derived from a place name meaning "church enclosure" or "man from Kersey".

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Kearsey surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 312, ranked #14,350, up from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cliffe, London parishes and Cholsey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, West Dorset and Runnymede.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kearsey is 344 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

312

2016, ranked #14,350

Peak year

1998

344 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kearsey had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016, ranked #14,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kearsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kearsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kearsey 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 99 #17,294
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 196 #15,163
1901 historical 244 #13,329
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 311 #13,217
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 343 #12,800
2000 modern 336 #12,921
2001 modern 327 #12,970
2002 modern 338 #12,939
2003 modern 316 #13,355
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 320 #13,243
2006 modern 309 #13,633
2007 modern 319 #13,474
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 338 #13,550
2011 modern 319 #14,000
2012 modern 311 #14,173
2013 modern 331 #13,748
2014 modern 333 #13,770
2015 modern 328 #13,840
2016 modern 312 #14,350

Geography

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Where Kearseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cliffe, London parishes, Cholsey and Cheltenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, West Dorset, Runnymede and Wychavon. 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 Cliffe Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cholsey Berkshire
5 Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire
2 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
3 West Dorset 009 West Dorset
4 Runnymede 008 Runnymede
5 Wychavon 018 Wychavon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kearsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kearsey

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kearsey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kearsey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kearsey is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Kearsey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kearsey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kearsey 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 Kearsey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kearsey

The surname Kearsey is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "cærse," meaning watercress. It originated as a locational name for those who lived near areas where watercress grew abundantly.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several mentions of places with names similar to Kearsey, such as Careseia and Carseia. These entries suggest that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kearsey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1221, where a William de Karsie is listed. This spelling variation reflects the local dialect and pronunciation of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Kearsey include John Kearsey, a 17th-century English playwright and poet born in 1594. His works include the plays "Philidor" and "The Fairy Queen." Another notable figure was Thomas Kearsey, a 16th-century English translator who published a translation of Virgil's Aeneid in 1582.

In the 18th century, William Kearsey (1691-1771) was a prominent English clockmaker and watchmaker based in London. His timepieces were highly regarded, and some of his works are displayed in museums today.

During the 19th century, Mary Kearsey (1819-1896) was a British philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the education and welfare of working-class children. She founded several schools and institutions dedicated to this cause.

Another notable individual was Sir John Kearsey (1839-1921), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan from 1887 to 1892. He played a significant role in strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

While the surname Kearsey has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its historical origins can be traced back to the Old English word "cærse" and the locational names derived from it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kearsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kearsey 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 45 Kearseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.61x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 45 14.61x
Oxfordshire 26 26.81x
Middlesex 19 1.21x
Essex 15 4.84x
Wiltshire 12 8.64x
Berkshire 11 9.33x
Hampshire 7 2.17x
Kent 7 1.31x
Surrey 6 0.78x
Lancashire 4 0.21x
Somerset 3 1.19x
Staffordshire 2 0.38x
Derbyshire 1 0.41x
Durham 1 0.21x
Herefordshire 1 1.55x
Hertfordshire 1 0.92x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kemble in Wiltshire leads with 12 Kearseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4615.38x.

Place Total Index
Kemble 12 4615.38x
Cholsey 10 1075.27x
Eynsham 8 1311.48x
Thundersley 8 2857.14x
Bristol St Paul In 7 85.26x
Cliffe 7 578.51x
West Ham 7 10.23x
Cheltenham 6 25.25x
Hailey 6 882.35x
Bishops Cleeve 5 641.03x
Spitalfields London 5 42.34x
Westminster St John 5 26.14x
Burstow 4 615.38x
Charlbury 4 366.97x
Longhope 4 769.23x
Mitcheldean 4 1052.63x
Shoreditch London 4 5.88x
Barnwood 3 731.71x
Bibury 3 810.81x
Coates 3 1200.00x
Heap 3 30.36x
Minchinhampton 3 122.45x
Odiham 3 212.77x
Oxford St Giles 3 64.79x
Basingstoke 2 54.05x
Cannington 2 266.67x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 35.46x
Lichfield St Chad 2 168.07x
Oxford St Ebbe 2 70.18x
Weeke 2 204.08x
Ashleworth 1 370.37x
Aston Rowant 1 285.71x
Avening 1 91.74x
Bermondsey 1 2.14x
Cheshunt 1 26.46x
Edmonton 1 7.91x
Elton 1 15.53x
Goathurst 1 714.29x
Handborough 1 192.31x
Headington 1 66.23x
Heworth 1 10.86x
Hornsey 1 5.04x
Inkpen 1 270.27x
Kings Caple 1 588.24x
Lambeth 1 0.73x
Maugersbury 1 333.33x
Prestbury 1 131.58x
Repton 1 107.53x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.61x
St Gilesin Fields London 1 75.19x
St Marylebone London 1 1.19x
Stroud 1 16.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 5
Alice 4
Edith 4
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Clara 3
Jane 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Sophia 2
Adelaide 1
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hariett 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Luissa 1
Myra 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Charles 6
Joseph 6
James 5
Henry 4
William 4
Edward 3
Francis 3
George 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Herbert 2
Neighbour 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jacob 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Thos.J. 1
Willm. 1
Woodruffe 1

FAQ

Kearsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kearsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Kearsey surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kearsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016. That gives Kearsey a modern rank of #14,350.

What does the Kearsey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "church enclosure" or "man from Kersey".

What does the Kearsey map show?

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