NameCensus.

UK surname

Kempin

An occupational surname derived from an old Dutch word meaning "innkeeper" or "hotelier".

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Kempin surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 94, ranked #31,871, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Knossington, Kimcote and Knaptoft and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mansfield, Oadby and Wigston and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempin is 131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

94

2016, ranked #31,871

Peak year

1911

131 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2006

Key insights

  • Kempin had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016, ranked #31,871.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kempin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kempin surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kempin 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 99 #24,200
1901 historical 109 #21,712
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 108 #25,788
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 112 #25,978
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 104 #27,101
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 106 #27,332
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 108 #27,684
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 95 #31,749
2016 modern 94 #31,871

Geography

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Where Kempins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Knossington, Kimcote and Knaptoft, Battersea, Tugby and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mansfield, Oadby and Wigston, Telford and Wrekin, Adur and Coventry. 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 Knossington Rutland
2 Kimcote and Knaptoft Leicestershire
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Tugby Leicestershire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mansfield 007 Mansfield
2 Oadby and Wigston 009 Oadby and Wigston
3 Telford and Wrekin 020 Telford and Wrekin
4 Adur 007 Adur
5 Coventry 017 Coventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kempin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kempin

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Kempin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kempin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kempin 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

Kempin is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Kempin

The surname KEMPIN originated in Germany during the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "kamp," which means "field" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in a field or enclosure.

The earliest recorded instances of the name KEMPIN can be traced back to the 12th century in regions of present-day northern Germany. In the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a document dated 1182, there is a reference to a person named "Henricus Kempin" who resided in the town of Lübeck.

During the 13th century, the name KEMPIN appeared in various records across northern Germany, including the Hamburgisches Urkundenbuch, which mentioned a "Theodoricus Kempin" in 1245. This document also referenced the place name "Kempin," indicating that the surname may have originated from a specific location.

One notable individual bearing the KEMPIN surname was Johann Kempin, a German theologian and reformer who lived from 1389 to 1447. He was a prominent figure in the early Reformation movement and played a significant role in the spread of Protestant teachings in northern Germany.

Another historical figure with the KEMPIN surname was Matthias Kempin, a German painter and engraver who lived from 1595 to 1647. He is known for his religious artworks and portraits, many of which can be found in churches and museums across Germany.

In the 18th century, Georg Kempin, a German composer and organist, gained recognition for his contributions to church music. He was born in 1737 and died in 1793, leaving behind a notable body of work that included several organ compositions and choral pieces.

The name KEMPIN also appeared in records from other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Poland. In the Dutch city of Utrecht, there are records from the 16th century that mention individuals with the surname KEMPIN, indicating that the name may have spread beyond Germany.

Overall, the surname KEMPIN has a rich history rooted in northern Germany, with its earliest origins dating back to the medieval period. While the name has since spread to other regions, its etymology and connections to the Old German word "kamp" remain a significant part of its legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kempin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempin 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. Leicestershire leads with 37 Kempins recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.03x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 37 57.03x
Surrey 9 3.16x
Nottinghamshire 4 5.07x
Warwickshire 4 2.71x
Kent 2 1.00x
Essex 1 0.87x
Middlesex 1 0.17x
Rutland 1 23.26x
Yorkshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester All Sts in Leicestershire leads with 11 Kempins recorded in 1881 and an index of 866.14x.

Place Total Index
Leicester All Sts 11 866.14x
Battersea 7 32.51x
Leicester St Mary 5 95.42x
Atherstone 4 533.33x
Chilwell 4 1904.76x
Knossington 4 6666.67x
Leicester St Margaret 4 25.28x
Loddington 4 13333.33x
Goadby 3 15000.00x
Aylestone 2 392.16x
Camberwell 2 5.35x
Belton 1 1250.00x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 48.08x
Ilkley 1 105.26x
Illston On The Hill 1 1666.67x
Little Totham 1 1666.67x
Sapcote 1 714.29x
Somerby 1 909.09x
St Marylebone London 1 3.20x
Tugby 1 1428.57x
Woolwich 1 13.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Alice 2
Ann 2
C. 2
Emily 2
Mary 2
Agness 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Flora 1
Jane 1
Keturah 1
L. 1
Louisa 1
Phoebe 1
Rebekah 1
T.A.R. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Thomas 4
William 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Robert 2
A. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
G.H. 1
Ge. 1
George 1
Goerge 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Joseph 1
T.J. 1
W. 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 Kempin households.

FAQ

Kempin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kempin surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Kempin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 94 in 2016. That gives Kempin a modern rank of #31,871.

What does the Kempin surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from an old Dutch word meaning "innkeeper" or "hotelier".

What does the Kempin map show?

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