NameCensus.

UK surname

Kempen

A topographic surname referring to someone from Kempen, a place name found across Europe.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Kempen surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, Tendring and Southend-on-Sea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempen is 121 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1233.3%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

2009

121 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kempen had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kempen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kempen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kempen 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 19 #29,904
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 31 #31,820
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 24 #30,800
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 87 #29,240
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 115 #26,348
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 121 #26,373
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 113 #28,779
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Kempens 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 Maldon, Tendring and Southend-on-Sea. 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 Maldon 003 Maldon
2 Maldon 004 Maldon
3 Maldon 001 Maldon
4 Tendring 003 Tendring
5 Southend-on-Sea 002 Southend-on-Sea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kempen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kempen

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Kempen 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

Kempen 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

Kempen falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kempen

The surname "KEMPEN" is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have originated in the region of Kempenland, a historical region in the Netherlands and Belgium. The name is derived from the Old Dutch word "kempe," which means "a warrior" or "a soldier."

The earliest recorded instances of the name "KEMPEN" can be found in medieval documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. It is mentioned in various charters and land records from the Duchy of Brabant, which encompassed parts of modern-day Belgium and the Netherlands. One notable example is the mention of a knight named Arnoldus de Kempen in a charter dated 1245.

In the 14th century, the name "KEMPEN" appeared in the records of the city of Antwerp, Belgium. A merchant named Jan van Kempen was recorded as a prominent citizen and guild member in the city's archives from the late 1300s.

The name "KEMPEN" has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) was a German-Dutch canon regular, writer, and mystic best known for his work "The Imitation of Christ," one of the most influential Christian devotional books of all time.

Another prominent individual with the surname "KEMPEN" was Pieter Kempeneer (1503-1580), a Flemish Renaissance painter from Antwerp. His works, which included religious paintings and portraits, can be found in various museums across Europe.

In the 17th century, Jacobus Kempen (1619-1681) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his landscape paintings and depictions of rural life. His works are notable for their attention to detail and realistic portrayal of nature.

During the 18th century, Petrus Kempen (1717-1792) was a Dutch still-life painter who gained recognition for his detailed renderings of fruit, flowers, and other natural elements.

The surname "KEMPEN" has also been associated with prominent figures in more recent history, such as Ruurd Kempen (1897-1977), a Dutch politician and member of the Dutch Senate in the mid-20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kempen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempen 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. Lanarkshire leads with 8 Kempens recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.23x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 8 28.23x
Warwickshire 1 4.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 8 Kempens recorded in 1881 and an index of 111.58x.

Place Total Index
Barony 8 111.58x
Rugby 1 333.33x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Edward 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 Kempen households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 1

FAQ

Kempen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kempen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Kempen surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kempen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Kempen a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Kempen surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone from Kempen, a place name found across Europe.

What does the Kempen map show?

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