NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelson

Derived from a place name meaning "Kel's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement owned by someone named Kel.

In the 1881 census there were 300 people recorded with the Kelson surname, ranking it #9,724 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 268, ranked #16,003, down from #9,724 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset, Wandsworth and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelson is 379 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.7%.

1881 census count

300

Ranked #9,724

Modern count

268

2016, ranked #16,003

Peak year

1891

379 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelson had 300 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,724 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016, ranked #16,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kelson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kelson 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 267 #8,342
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 300 #9,724
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 362 #10,173
1911 historical 362 #10,020
1997 modern 349 #12,197
1998 modern 334 #12,940
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 360 #12,309
2001 modern 312 #13,392
2002 modern 301 #13,962
2003 modern 282 #14,410
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 293 #14,116
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 283 #14,724
2009 modern 285 #14,944
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 279 #15,353
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 268 #16,003

Geography

Back to top

Where Kelsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Trowbridge and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset, Wandsworth and Newport. 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 Bedminster Somerset
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 019 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Wandsworth 012 Wandsworth
3 Bath and North East Somerset 015 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Newport 005 Newport
5 Wandsworth 035 Wandsworth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kelson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kelson

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kelson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kelson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Kelson 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

Kelson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kelson

The surname Kelson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, where it was derived from the Old English word "kell," meaning a spring or well, combined with the suffix "-son," meaning "son of." This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a spring or well.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kelson can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kelsune." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provided a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings in England following the Norman Conquest.

During the 13th century, the name Kelson was also associated with various place names in Yorkshire, such as Kelston and Kelshall. These place names shared a similar etymology, further solidifying the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Kelson throughout history include:

1. Richard Kelson (c. 1470-1545), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. 2. William Kelson (1555-1628), an English clergyman and author of several religious works, including "The Pathway to Perfection" (1603). 3. Jane Kelson (1678-1742), a renowned English embroiderer whose intricate needlework adorned tapestries and ecclesiastical vestments. 4. Thomas Kelson (1720-1789), a British explorer and cartographer who accompanied Captain James Cook on his second voyage to the Pacific Ocean from 1772 to 1775. 5. Elizabeth Kelson (1810-1888), a pioneering English educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in the city of Liverpool.

The surname Kelson has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Kelston, Kellson, and Kelshan, reflecting the fluidity of language and regional dialects. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be carried by families across England and other parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kelson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelson 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. Middlesex leads with 60 Kelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 60 2.05x
Somerset 57 12.10x
Wiltshire 24 9.27x
Kent 21 2.10x
Gloucestershire 19 3.31x
Staffordshire 15 1.52x
Surrey 13 0.91x
Yorkshire 12 0.41x
Hampshire 8 1.33x
Monmouthshire 8 3.78x
Brecknockshire 7 11.96x
Renfrewshire 7 3.09x
Lancashire 6 0.17x
Oxfordshire 6 3.32x
Sussex 6 1.22x
Worcestershire 6 1.57x
Derbyshire 4 0.87x
Devon 4 0.66x
Northumberland 4 0.92x
Warwickshire 4 0.54x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.13x
Cheshire 2 0.31x
Lanarkshire 2 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x
Shropshire 1 0.40x
Suffolk 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover Square in Middlesex leads with 17 Kelsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.97x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover Square 17 32.97x
Bedminster 11 24.85x
Walcot 10 39.86x
Bradford On Avon 9 108.56x
Lyncombe Widcombe 9 72.99x
St Marylebone London 9 5.76x
Frome 8 70.98x
Islington London 8 2.82x
Tipton 8 26.45x
Kensington London 7 4.30x
Paisley Low Church 7 97.49x
Sevenoaks 7 86.53x
Streatham 7 32.24x
Twerton 7 144.03x
Dudley 6 12.91x
Hoyland Nether 6 84.39x
Trowbridge 6 52.45x
Aberystruth 5 26.81x
Chippenham 5 92.08x
Greenwich 5 10.73x
Holywell 5 588.24x
Little Sodbury 5 3846.15x
Ventnor 5 87.72x
Westham 5 500.00x
Weston 5 138.12x
Wolverhampton 5 6.58x
Litherland 4 55.10x
Llanelly 4 57.14x
Long Eaton 4 66.12x
Mile End Old Town London 4 6.42x
Sculcoates 4 8.70x
St Lawrence 4 58.31x
Tynemouth 4 17.15x
Warwick St Mary 4 62.40x
Christchurch 3 45.87x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.34x
Limehouse London 3 9.34x
Llangattock 3 62.89x
Newington 3 2.78x
Uffculme 3 164.84x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 3 79.16x
Westbury 3 49.67x
Barony 2 0.84x
Bow London 2 5.37x
Brightside Bierlow 2 3.52x
Bristol St George 2 7.54x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 10.45x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 3.70x
Chelsea London 2 2.27x
Farnham Royal 2 190.48x
Folkestone 2 10.33x
Lambeth 2 0.78x
Portsea 2 1.70x
Sale 2 25.25x
Stroud 2 17.91x
Aldeburgh 1 47.39x
Brighton 1 1.00x
Bristol Christchurch 1 120.48x
Bristol St Paul In 1 6.54x
Buckland Dinham 1 222.22x
Canterbury St Alphage 1 93.46x
Canterbury St George 1 83.33x
Carisbrooke 1 12.00x
Clifton 1 3.45x
Hackney London 1 0.61x
Hammersmith London 1 1.39x
Hayes 1 33.44x
Hemel Hempstead 1 11.00x
Lewisham 1 1.88x
Manchester 1 0.64x
Shoreditch London 1 0.79x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 11.27x
Stapleton 1 9.18x
Tavistock 1 14.41x
Upton Scudamore 1 322.58x
West Bromwich 1 1.77x
Westminster St John 1 2.81x
Weston Super Mare 1 8.41x
Wilton 1 81.30x
Wolstanton Oldcott 1 27.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 10
Ann 8
Jane 7
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Florence 5
Louisa 5
Sarah 5
Harriet 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Martha 3
Blanche 2
Caroline 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Isabel 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Minnie 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Cora 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Emmie 1
Florene 1
Frances 1
Francisca 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Kora 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
Thomas 15
Charles 12
George 11
John 11
Henry 9
Edward 6
James 6
Joseph 5
Frank 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Algernon 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Geo. 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Adge 1
Duncan 1
Fank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hulbert 1
Louis 1
Norman 1
Reginald 1
Reginold 1
Richard 1
Roland 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Kelson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 300 people were recorded with the Kelson surname. That placed it at #9,724 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 268 in 2016. That gives Kelson a modern rank of #16,003.

What does the Kelson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Kel's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement owned by someone named Kel.

What does the Kelson map show?

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