NameCensus.

UK surname

Kellington

An English habitation surname derived from locations in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 78 people recorded with the Kellington surname, ranking it #22,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 97, ranked #31,585, down from #22,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax), Hull Holy Trinity and Welton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, East Riding of Yorkshire and Kelso North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kellington is 111 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.4%.

1881 census count

78

Ranked #22,500

Modern count

97

2016, ranked #31,585

Peak year

1911

111 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2006

Key insights

  • Kellington had 78 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016, ranked #31,585.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 111 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kellington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kellington surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kellington 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 78 #22,500
1891 historical 82 #26,494
1901 historical 108 #21,836
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 103 #27,443
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 107 #26,899
2005 modern 95 #28,817
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 91 #32,020
2014 modern 94 #31,909
2015 modern 93 #31,972
2016 modern 97 #31,585

Geography

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Where Kellingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax), Hull Holy Trinity, Welton, Batley and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kelso North and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Hemingborough (Cliff with Lund), Drax (Drax) Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Welton Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 002 Bassetlaw
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 006 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Kelso North Scottish Borders
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 032 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 019 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kellington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kellington

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Kellington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kellington is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kellington falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kellington

The surname Kellington originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "cylle" meaning "spring" or "stream," and "ing," a suffix denoting a group or family. This suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement or community situated near a stream or spring.

One of the earliest known records of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a place called "Killyngton" in Yorkshire. This early spelling variation reflects the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records as "Kyllington" and "Killington," indicating its continued use as a locational surname. During this time, families often adopted surnames derived from the place where they lived or originated.

Notable individuals bearing the Kellington surname include Sir William Kellington (1500-1568), a prominent English merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1540. Another notable figure was John Kellington (1650-1718), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Winchester.

The Kellington name also has ties to the village of Kellington in North Yorkshire, which was likely named after an early settler or landowner with the surname. The village's church, St. Edmund's, dates back to the 12th century and may have records related to the Kellington family.

In the 16th century, William Kellington (1520-1590), a renowned English architect, contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings, including the Old Ashmolean Building at the University of Oxford.

Another individual of note was Sir Thomas Kellington (1680-1745), a British military officer who served in the War of the Spanish Succession and later became the Governor of Gibraltar from 1736 to 1741.

While the Kellington surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of migration and immigration over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kellington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kellington 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 74 Kellingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 74 9.82x
Lancashire 3 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Welton Melton in Yorkshire leads with 17 Kellingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7727.27x.

Place Total Index
Welton Melton 17 7727.27x
Cliff Cum Lund 10 5882.35x
Sherburn 8 1290.32x
Batley 7 97.77x
Kirby Misperton 7 10000.00x
Holy Trinity 6 33.09x
Beverley St Mary 4 363.64x
Weaverthorpe 4 2352.94x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 20.92x
Goole 3 238.10x
Rawcliffe In Goole 2 465.12x
Sheffield 2 8.33x
Bridlington 1 57.80x
Doncaster 1 18.15x
Loversall 1 2000.00x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.77x
Overton 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 5
John 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
George 3
Joseph 3
Henry 2
Mark 2
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Jackson 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Sandyman 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Kellington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kellington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 78 people were recorded with the Kellington surname. That placed it at #22,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kellington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016. That gives Kellington a modern rank of #31,585.

What does the Kellington surname mean?

An English habitation surname derived from locations in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Kellington map show?

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