NameCensus.

UK surname

Kemm

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an archaic place name or occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Kemm surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hart, Derby and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kemm is 107 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.0%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

78

2016, ranked #33,171

Peak year

1998

107 bearers

Map years

1

1998 to 1998

Key insights

  • Kemm had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016, ranked #33,171.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 96 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Kemm surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kemm surname density by area, 1998 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kemm 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 61 #22,412
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 64 #28,781
1901 historical 91 #23,921
1911 historical 96 #23,193
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 107 #26,555
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 96 #27,976
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 99 #28,852
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 93 #31,239
2011 modern 83 #32,336
2012 modern 82 #32,701
2013 modern 83 #32,813
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 82 #32,911
2016 modern 78 #33,171

Geography

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Where Kemms 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 Hart, Derby, Broxtowe and South Derbyshire. 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 Hart 010 Hart
2 Derby 009 Derby
3 Derby 025 Derby
4 Broxtowe 008 Broxtowe
5 South Derbyshire 013 South Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kemm

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kemm

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Kemm surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kemm household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kemm 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

Kemm is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kemm falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kemm

The surname KEMM is of English origin, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cemman," meaning "to comb." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for a wool comber or someone involved in the textile industry.

The name first appeared in historical records in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it was listed as "William Kemme." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to several place names that may have contributed to the development of the KEMM surname. These include Kempton in Bedfordshire, which was recorded as "Cammendene," and Kempsford in Gloucestershire, recorded as "Cammes-forde."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the KEMM surname was John Kemm, born around 1450 in Somerset, England. He was a renowned merchant and landowner in the region during the 15th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Kemm (1505-1569), a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was a prominent figure in local politics and played a significant role in the religious reforms of the time.

In the 17th century, Richard Kemm (1625-1692) was a prominent Puritan minister who served as the vicar of Boston in Lincolnshire. He was known for his strict adherence to Puritan principles and his influential sermons.

During the 18th century, William Kemm (1730-1801) was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath, England. His works included the Assembly Rooms and the Royal Crescent, which are now considered architectural landmarks.

In the field of literature, James Kemm (1820-1888) was a notable English poet and writer. He published several collections of poetry and was recognized for his contributions to the literary scene of the Victorian era.

These examples showcase the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the KEMM surname throughout various periods in British history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kemm families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kemm 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. Wiltshire leads with 17 Kemms recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.85x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 17 32.85x
Norfolk 10 11.11x
Warwickshire 6 4.07x
Leicestershire 5 7.71x
Lincolnshire 5 5.34x
Surrey 5 1.75x
Yorkshire 4 0.69x
Worcestershire 3 3.93x
Middlesex 2 0.34x
Rutland 2 46.51x
Buckinghamshire 1 2.83x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thetford St Mary in Norfolk leads with 10 Kemms recorded in 1881 and an index of 4166.67x.

Place Total Index
Thetford St Mary 10 4166.67x
Aston 6 14.77x
Avebury 6 4000.00x
Clapham 5 68.31x
Foston 5 7142.86x
Netheravon 5 4166.67x
Dudley 3 32.29x
Hathern 3 1153.85x
Salisbury St Thomas 3 731.71x
Sutton Stoneferry 3 180.72x
Amesbury 2 869.57x
Oakham Deanshold 2 1052.63x
Wymeswold 2 1052.63x
Corsham 1 131.58x
Holy Trinity 1 7.17x
Islington London 1 1.76x
Mile End Old Town London 1 8.03x
Taplow 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 3
Mary 3
Ellen 2
Martha 2
Agnes 1
Almena 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Barbara 1
Daina 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Everdell 1
Gertrude 1
Kate 1
Margrett 1
Marian 1
Matilda 1
Phyllis 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1
Serena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Thomas 4
Daniel 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
George 2
John 2
Charles 1
Daniell 1
James 1
Mansfield 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
St. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Kemm surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kemm surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Kemm surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kemm surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Kemm a modern rank of #33,171.

What does the Kemm surname mean?

A surname of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an archaic place name or occupation.

What does the Kemm map show?

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