NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelham

A habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Kelham in Nottinghamshire.

In the 1881 census there were 228 people recorded with the Kelham surname, ranking it #11,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 319, ranked #14,121, down from #11,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Falkingham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, West Lindsey and Blackpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelham is 344 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.9%.

1881 census count

228

Ranked #11,826

Modern count

319

2016, ranked #14,121

Peak year

1999

344 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelham had 228 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016, ranked #14,121.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 327 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kelham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kelham 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 228 #11,826
1891 historical 252 #12,685
1901 historical 254 #13,005
1911 historical 327 #10,742
1997 modern 327 #12,784
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 344 #12,776
2000 modern 328 #13,129
2001 modern 318 #13,205
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 324 #13,135
2004 modern 325 #13,161
2005 modern 312 #13,462
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 298 #14,206
2009 modern 298 #14,480
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 311 #14,260
2012 modern 302 #14,451
2013 modern 316 #14,223
2014 modern 319 #14,216
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 319 #14,121

Geography

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Where Kelhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Falkingham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Nottingham St Mary and Markfield, Charley, Newton Linford, Broadgate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, West Lindsey and Blackpool. 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 Falkingham Lincolnshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Markfield, Charley, Newton Linford, Broadgate Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 008 South Kesteven
2 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
3 South Kesteven 007 South Kesteven
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 Blackpool 017 Blackpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kelham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kelham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kelham, 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 Kelham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kelham 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kelham 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

Kelham 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

Kelham 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 Kelham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kelham

The surname Kelham has its origins in England and dates back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a town or village called Kelham, located in Nottinghamshire. The name itself is likely derived from the Old English words "cel" meaning "spring" or "stream" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "settlement."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Kelham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Cheleham." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landholdings and property ownership across England.

During the 13th century, the surname Kelham appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1230, where it was spelled "Kellum." This variation in spelling was common during that time period due to the inconsistencies in written language.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kelham throughout history include Sir John Kelham (1565-1637), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire. Another prominent figure was Robert Kelham (1717-1808), an English antiquarian and topographer who authored several works on the history and antiquities of the county of Nottinghamshire.

In the literary realm, the name Kelham is associated with Robert Kelham Cooke (1790-1853), an English author and poet who published works such as "The Life of Theodore, King of Corsica" and "Memoirs of the House of Cressy."

The surname Kelham also has connections to the religious sphere, with individuals like William Kelham (1571-1639), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1628 until his death.

Another notable figure was Richard Kelham (1736-1799), an English land surveyor and cartographer who produced maps of various counties in England, including Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Kelham has maintained its strong ties to the English county of Nottinghamshire, where it originated from the eponymous town or village. While variations in spelling have occurred over time, the core meaning and significance of the name remain rooted in its geographical origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kelham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelham 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. Leicestershire leads with 70 Kelhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.39x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 70 28.39x
Lincolnshire 61 17.15x
Nottinghamshire 30 10.01x
Warwickshire 19 3.39x
Surrey 15 1.38x
Yorkshire 10 0.45x
Derbyshire 9 2.58x
Bedfordshire 4 3.47x
Middlesex 3 0.13x
Lanarkshire 2 0.28x
Rutland 2 12.25x
Gloucestershire 1 0.23x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kegworth in Leicestershire leads with 20 Kelhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1219.51x.

Place Total Index
Kegworth 20 1219.51x
Markfield 18 1475.41x
Folkingham 15 3409.09x
Balderton 14 1707.32x
Nottingham St Mary 12 15.48x
Camberwell 9 6.33x
Coventry St Michael 9 49.94x
Stamford All Sts 8 402.01x
Warwick St Mary 8 164.27x
Bourn 6 209.06x
Stamford St George 6 375.00x
Hathern 5 500.00x
Lambeth 5 2.58x
Spittlegate 5 101.63x
Bedford St Paul 4 50.63x
Litchurch 4 28.55x
Lockington 4 3076.92x
Normanton 4 136.05x
Osbaston 4 2352.94x
Rawcliffe In Goole 4 320.00x
St Botolph Lincoln 4 156.25x
Barkestone 3 1304.35x
Loughborough 3 26.81x
Mexborough 3 68.65x
Pickworth 3 1764.71x
Edenham 2 465.12x
Goxhill 2 227.27x
Knighton 2 143.88x
Leicester All Sts 2 41.32x
Liddington 2 500.00x
Maryhill 2 14.20x
New Sealford 2 273.97x
Redmile 2 540.54x
Rugby 2 26.35x
Selston 2 59.70x
St Martin Lincoln 2 60.61x
Thorpe Arnold 2 1818.18x
Bardon 1 1666.67x
Basford 1 7.24x
Burton Coggles 1 500.00x
Cheltenham 1 2.97x
Cleethorpes 1 47.85x
Deeping St James 1 79.37x
Diseworth 1 312.50x
Hampstead London 1 2.89x
Harby 1 222.22x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 7.05x
Huddersfield 1 3.11x
Hulme 1 1.81x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.84x
Kinver 1 46.30x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.02x
Radford 1 6.57x
Rippingdale 1 238.10x
Ropsley 1 204.08x
Snelston 1 416.67x
St John Lincoln 1 263.16x
St Pancras London 1 0.56x
St Sepulchre London 1 30.67x
Stansfield 1 12.33x
Stoney Stanton 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 12
Charles 10
William 10
Herbert 7
Thomas 7
Henry 6
James 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Cyril 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Hugh 2
Walter 2
Auther 1
Carey 1
Chas. 1
Earnest 1
Ephriam 1
Francis 1
George 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Robt.Ernest 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Sutton 1
Vernon 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Kelham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 228 people were recorded with the Kelham surname. That placed it at #11,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 319 in 2016. That gives Kelham a modern rank of #14,121.

What does the Kelham surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from the town of Kelham in Nottinghamshire.

What does the Kelham map show?

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