NameCensus.

UK surname

Kemp

An occupational surname for a person who combed wool or flax, or harvested hemp.

In the 1881 census there were 16,605 people recorded with the Kemp surname, ranking it #231 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21,637, ranked #275, down from #231 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broadland, Dover and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kemp is 23,086 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.

1881 census count

16,605

Ranked #231

Modern count

21,637

2016, ranked #275

Peak year

1998

23,086 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kemp had 16,605 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #231 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 21,637 in 2016, ranked #275.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 20,992 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kemp surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kemp surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kemp 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 10,921 #226
1861 historical 9,820 #265
1881 historical 16,605 #231
1891 historical 17,715 #222
1901 historical 20,992 #226
1911 historical 20,224 #222
1997 modern 22,396 #251
1998 modern 23,086 #255
1999 modern 23,084 #257
2000 modern 22,924 #258
2001 modern 22,296 #259
2002 modern 22,760 #259
2003 modern 22,107 #259
2004 modern 21,922 #262
2005 modern 21,336 #268
2006 modern 21,313 #270
2007 modern 21,416 #271
2008 modern 21,459 #272
2009 modern 21,915 #273
2010 modern 22,336 #274
2011 modern 21,926 #274
2012 modern 21,536 #274
2013 modern 22,037 #274
2014 modern 22,099 #274
2015 modern 21,838 #274
2016 modern 21,637 #275

Geography

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Where Kemps are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Edinburgh and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broadland, Dover, Braintree, Kingston upon Hull and Breckland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broadland 004 Broadland
2 Dover 002 Dover
3 Braintree 014 Braintree
4 Kingston upon Hull 002 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Breckland 014 Breckland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kemp

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kemp

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

Kemp 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

Kemp falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kemp

The surname Kemp originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "cempa" or "kempa," meaning a soldier, warrior, or champion. The name first emerged in areas such as Kent, Surrey, and Essex, which were strongholds of the Anglo-Saxon settlers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kemp can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Kempe." This ancient record lists several individuals bearing this surname, indicating its presence in various parts of England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name Kemp was associated with notable figures such as Walter Kemp (c. 1230-1294), a prominent English churchman who served as Bishop of Rochester and later as Archbishop of Canterbury. Another early bearer of the name was John Kemp (c. 1380-1454), an English cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VI.

The surname Kemp also has connections to place names in England, such as Kemp Town, a coastal area in Brighton, and Kempton Park in Middlesex. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the Kemp surname, reflecting the historical significance of this name in various regions.

Among the notable historical figures with the surname Kemp were:

1. Thomas Kemp (1517-1589), an English Catholic scholar and writer who served as a chaplain to Queen Mary I. 2. William Kemp (c. 1560-1620), an English actor and dancer who gained fame for his remarkable feat of morris dancing from London to Norwich in 1599. 3. John Kemp (c. 1665-1717), an English composer and organist who served as the organist at the Chapel Royal and authored several music publications. 4. George Kemp (1737-1807), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London and surrounding areas. 5. Jack Kemp (1935-2009), an American politician and former professional football player who served as the 9th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and was the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee in 1996.

Over the centuries, the surname Kemp has maintained a strong presence in various parts of the English-speaking world, reflecting its deep roots in English history and the widespread influence of its bearers across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kemp families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kemp 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 1,887 Kemps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,887 1.16x
Kent 1,764 3.19x
Yorkshire 1,208 0.75x
Surrey 1,054 1.34x
Essex 996 3.11x
Lancashire 871 0.45x
Suffolk 833 4.22x
Sussex 755 2.76x
Norfolk 701 2.81x
Hampshire 528 1.59x
Aberdeenshire 438 2.92x
Warwickshire 378 0.93x
Lincolnshire 368 1.42x
Nottinghamshire 343 1.57x
Midlothian 325 1.50x
Cornwall 322 1.76x
Lanarkshire 311 0.59x
Cheshire 309 0.86x
Devon 297 0.88x
Durham 216 0.45x
Leicestershire 199 1.11x
Perthshire 188 2.59x
Derbyshire 157 0.62x
Banffshire 132 3.93x
Gloucestershire 131 0.41x
Stirlingshire 130 2.18x
Glamorgan 120 0.43x
Staffordshire 111 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 101 0.98x
Hertfordshire 98 0.88x
Worcestershire 95 0.45x
Berkshire 88 0.72x
Northumberland 87 0.36x
Wiltshire 87 0.61x
Buckinghamshire 70 0.71x
Bedfordshire 67 0.80x
Ross-shire 66 1.48x
Somerset 64 0.25x
Northamptonshire 62 0.41x
Angus 54 0.36x
Morayshire 51 2.03x
Renfrewshire 47 0.37x
Selkirkshire 43 2.93x
Oxfordshire 40 0.40x
Kincardineshire 39 1.98x
East Lothian 30 1.40x
Fife 29 0.30x
Shropshire 29 0.21x
Royal Navy 26 1.35x
Orkney 25 1.40x
Huntingdonshire 24 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 19 0.44x
Argyllshire 16 0.35x
Cumberland 16 0.11x
Dorset 16 0.15x
Inverness-shire 16 0.33x
Cardiganshire 15 0.38x
Ayrshire 13 0.11x
Kinross-shire 11 2.69x
Monmouthshire 10 0.09x
Westmorland 10 0.28x
Buteshire 8 0.81x
Wigtownshire 7 0.33x
Dumfriesshire 6 0.17x
Herefordshire 6 0.09x
Channel Islands 5 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 5 0.37x
Flintshire 5 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 0.21x
Peeblesshire 5 0.66x
Denbighshire 4 0.07x
Rutland 3 0.25x
Anglesey 2 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.03x
Caithness 2 0.09x
Nairnshire 2 0.40x
Roxburghshire 2 0.07x
West Lothian 2 0.08x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.01x
Merionethshire 1 0.03x
Radnorshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 208 Kemps recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 208 1.32x
Camberwell 174 1.68x
St Pancras London 139 1.07x
Lambeth 122 0.86x
Aberdeen Old Machar 116 3.70x
Birmingham 110 0.81x
Hackney London 107 1.18x
Whitstable 106 39.09x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 105 1.20x
Aston 101 0.90x
Newington 100 1.67x
Barony 98 0.74x
Kensington London 96 1.07x
St Marylebone London 96 1.11x
West Ham 96 1.36x
Deptford St Paul 95 2.23x
Shoreditch London 88 1.25x
Mile End Old Town London 86 2.49x
Croydon 82 1.87x
Govan 79 0.61x
Portsea 78 1.20x
Paddington London 77 1.29x
Ticehurst 74 44.27x
Plumstead 73 3.96x
Holy Trinity 72 1.86x
Tonbridge 71 3.56x
Margate St John Baptist 67 6.62x
Battersea 66 1.11x
Dukinfield 66 3.99x
Nottingham St Mary 60 1.06x
Bermondsey 58 1.20x
Leicester St Margaret 55 1.26x
Burwash 53 41.82x
Great Yarmouth 53 2.57x
Bethnal Green London 52 0.74x
Clerkenwell London 52 1.36x
St George Hanover Square 52 1.82x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 50 1.78x
Bromley London 50 1.40x
Chelsea London 50 1.02x
Halstead 50 13.40x
Manchester 50 0.58x
Abernethy 49 51.57x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 49 8.54x
Brighton 48 0.87x
Gorleston 47 9.37x
Woolwich 47 2.30x
Camborne 46 6.09x
Hamilton 46 3.15x
Salford 45 0.80x
Chiswick 44 4.97x
Tottenham 44 1.71x
Larbert 43 12.04x
Poplar London 43 1.41x
Barking 42 4.49x
Liverpool 42 0.36x
Bow London 41 1.99x
Greenwich 41 1.59x
Heathfield 41 37.04x
Selborne 41 60.64x
Trowbridge 41 6.47x
Ashton Under Lyne 40 0.95x
Manningham 40 2.02x
Ramsgate 40 4.43x
Walthamstow 40 3.47x
Batley 39 2.56x
Lewisham 39 1.32x
Salehurst 37 31.28x
Hammersmith London 36 0.90x
Maidstone 36 2.19x
West Derby 36 0.64x
Sittingbourne 35 8.02x
Ash Next Sandwich 34 27.80x
Blackburn 34 0.66x
Glasgow 34 0.37x
Gwennap 34 9.83x
Leeds 34 0.38x
Newhills 34 11.07x
Sculcoates 34 1.34x
Whitechapel London 34 2.13x
Heaton Norris 33 3.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 873
Elizabeth 539
Sarah 458
Ellen 262
Emma 255
Jane 251
Ann 245
Alice 244
Annie 237
Eliza 228
Emily 172
Maria 121
Harriet 112
Hannah 110
Louisa 110
Martha 106
Fanny 100
Charlotte 99
Florence 96
Edith 92
Caroline 91
Ada 88
Margaret 78
Kate 71
Frances 65
Harriett 64
Agnes 63
Lucy 61
Susan 61
Clara 59
Catherine 58
Sophia 50
Esther 49
Amelia 43
Rose 43
Julia 40
Matilda 40
Anne 37
Lydia 37
Gertrude 35
Eleanor 33
Jessie 33
Ethel 32
Isabella 32
Amy 30
Susannah 28
Rebecca 27
Laura 26
Minnie 26
Anna 25

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 905
John 761
George 566
James 436
Thomas 407
Charles 375
Henry 330
Alfred 223
Robert 204
Arthur 191
Joseph 186
Edward 174
Walter 159
Frederick 148
Samuel 132
Richard 114
Harry 109
Albert 94
Ernest 86
Herbert 70
Frank 62
David 59
Edwin 48
Francis 48
Wm. 35
Benjamin 32
Daniel 31
Stephen 29
Fred 26
Fredrick 23
Isaac 23
Thos. 23
Geo. 20
Horace 19
Percy 19
Jesse 17
Alexander 16
Fredk. 16
Earnest 15
Sydney 15
Harold 14
Lewis 13
Tom 13
Mark 12
Willie 12
Christopher 11
Peter 11
Sidney 11
Abraham 10
Willm. 10

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 Kemp households.

FAQ

Kemp surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kemp surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16,605 people were recorded with the Kemp surname. That placed it at #231 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kemp surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 21,637 in 2016. That gives Kemp a modern rank of #275.

What does the Kemp surname mean?

An occupational surname for a person who combed wool or flax, or harvested hemp.

What does the Kemp map show?

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