UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English words "camp" meaning a field or bend, and "hop" meaning a small valley.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Kemps surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Old or West Kilpatrick and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kemps is 150 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.9%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
150 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kemps surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kemps surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 150 | #15,296 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 95 | #24,694 |
| 1901 | historical | 47 | #28,929 |
| 1911 | historical | 74 | #25,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 11 | #37,336 |
| 2010 | modern | 10 | #37,517 |
| 2011 | modern | 13 | #37,191 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 12 | #37,355 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Old or West Kilpatrick, St Leonard Shoreditch, Upwell and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stithians | Cornwall |
| 2 | Old or West Kilpatrick | Dunbarton |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Upwell | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kemps surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Kemps, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Kemps surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kemps household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Kemps is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kemps is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kemps, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kemps originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "cempa" or "kempa," which referred to a soldier or warrior. It is believed to have first emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries AD.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Kemps can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conquer in 1086. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.
During the Middle Ages, the name Kemps was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. Some variations in spelling included Kemp, Kempe, and Kempys, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times.
A notable figure bearing the surname Kemps was John Kemp (1380-1454), an English cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VI. Another distinguished individual was Sir Nicholas Kemp (c. 1600-1659), a military commander who served in the English Civil War on the Parliamentarian side.
In the 16th century, the surname Kemps was associated with the village of Kemp Town, now a part of the city of Brighton on the southern coast of England. This place name likely derived from the prevalence of the surname in the area.
Throughout the centuries, several individuals with the surname Kemps have left their mark in various fields. These include William Kemps (1637-1714), a renowned English organist and composer; Samuel Kemps (1751-1825), an English artist known for his landscapes and portraiture; and Emily Kemps (1830-1907), a British author and activist who campaigned for women's rights.
While the surname Kemps may not be as common today as it once was, its historical roots can be traced back to the warrior class of Anglo-Saxon England, reflecting a rich heritage and legacy spanning over a millennium.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kemps surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 20 Kemps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 3.94x |
| Dunbartonshire | 5 | 36.68x |
| Renfrewshire | 5 | 12.72x |
| Essex | 3 | 3.00x |
| Kent | 3 | 1.73x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.50x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.60x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 6.23x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.79x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 2.01x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.34x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.66x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 7 Kemps' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 31.85x |
| Old Kilpatrick | 5 | 310.56x |
| Bethnal Green London | 4 | 18.16x |
| West Greenock | 4 | 56.74x |
| Deptford St Paul | 3 | 22.47x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 10.64x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 8.21x |
| Cheltenham | 2 | 26.08x |
| Felstead | 2 | 588.24x |
| Grays Inn Staple Inn | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Heswall Cum Oldfield | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Breighton Cum Gunby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Brighton | 1 | 5.80x |
| Cocking | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Dodworth | 1 | 192.31x |
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 71.43x |
| Irby On Humber | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.03x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 5.36x |
| Paisley Middle Church | 1 | 43.67x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 35.84x |
| St Giles Cambridge | 1 | 243.90x |
| West Ham | 1 | 4.52x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 19.19x |
| Westoe | 1 | 11.70x |
| Willesden | 1 | 20.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kemps surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Kemps surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Kemps households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Resident Governess Of Ladies School | 2 |
| Servant | 2 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Comm Clk Wine Merch | 1 |
| Domestic (Housemaid) | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Groom Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Housekeeper Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Ironer | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Mantle Maker | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Porter To Society Of Greys Inn | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| Printers Compositor | 1 |
| Private Soldier | 1 |
| Sailmaker | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Stone Mason Wife | 1 |
| Waiter (Club) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Kemps surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Kemps a modern rank of #37,385.
A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English words "camp" meaning a field or bend, and "hop" meaning a small valley.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kemps bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.