NameCensus.

UK surname

Kelvin

A Scottish surname derived from a river name meaning "great stream."

In the 1881 census there were 49 people recorded with the Kelvin surname, ranking it #26,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 130, ranked #26,152, up from #26,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Leeds and Nitshill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kelvin is 140 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 165.3%.

1881 census count

49

Ranked #26,735

Modern count

130

2016, ranked #26,152

Peak year

2011

140 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kelvin had 49 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016, ranked #26,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 59 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kelvin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kelvin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kelvin 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 27 #30,543
1881 historical 49 #26,735
1891 historical 59 #29,325
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 44 #28,454
1997 modern 117 #24,553
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 118 #25,146
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 140 #24,395
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 130 #26,152

Geography

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Where Kelvins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Leeds, Nitshill and Motherwell South. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 014 Barnet
2 Barnet 028 Barnet
3 Leeds 015 Leeds
4 Nitshill Glasgow City
5 Motherwell South North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kelvin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kelvin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kelvin, 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 Kelvin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kelvin 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kelvin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kelvin is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kelvin falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kelvin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Kelvin

The surname KELVIN originated in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic words "coill" meaning "wood" and "abhuinn" meaning "river," referring to a place near a wooded river. The name was initially associated with the area around the River Kelvin in the Scottish Lowlands.

One of the earliest documented references to the name KELVIN can be found in the records of the Abbey of Paisley in the late 12th century, where it appears as "de Kelvin." This indicates that the name was initially used as a locational surname, identifying individuals from the area near the River Kelvin.

In the 13th century, the name KELVIN appeared in various Scottish charters and legal documents, often spelled as "Kelwyn" or "Kelvyn." This variation in spelling was common during that period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

One notable historical figure with the surname KELVIN was Sir John Kelvin (c. 1420-1497), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who held significant influence in the region. Another was William Kelvin (1505-1562), a Scottish clergyman and scholar who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow.

In the 17th century, the name KELVIN gained prominence with the birth of William Thomson, 1st Baron Kelvin (1824-1907), a renowned Scottish mathematician, physicist, and engineer. He made significant contributions to the fields of thermodynamics and electromagnetics, and the unit of temperature, the Kelvin, was named in his honor.

Other prominent individuals with the surname KELVIN include James Kelvin (1815-1879), a Scottish engineer and inventor, and John Kelvin (1870-1936), a Scottish architect known for his work in the Arts and Crafts movement.

While the name KELVIN has Scottish origins, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and the influence of Scottish culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kelvin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kelvin 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. Northumberland leads with 16 Kelvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.06x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 16 22.06x
Angus 9 19.92x
Lanarkshire 8 5.07x
Lancashire 5 0.86x
Renfrewshire 4 10.58x
Ayrshire 3 8.22x
Midlothian 2 3.06x
Isle of Man 1 11.05x
Morayshire 1 13.19x
Surrey 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 9 Kelvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.38x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 9 53.38x
Longbenton 9 293.16x
Bedlington 5 206.61x
Govan 5 12.82x
West Greenock 4 59.00x
New Monkland 3 64.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 7.61x
Everton 2 10.85x
Liverpool 2 5.69x
Newton On Ayr 2 183.49x
Alnwick 1 80.00x
Camberwell 1 3.21x
Cheetham 1 23.15x
Lezayre 1 243.90x
Monkton Prestwick 1 277.78x
Newbrough 1 769.23x
Rothes 1 270.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 3
Mary 2
Ann 1
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Jessie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Andrew 3
John 3
George 2
Harkness 2
Thomas 2
James 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Kelvin households.

FAQ

Kelvin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kelvin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 49 people were recorded with the Kelvin surname. That placed it at #26,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kelvin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 130 in 2016. That gives Kelvin a modern rank of #26,152.

What does the Kelvin surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a river name meaning "great stream."

What does the Kelvin map show?

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