NameCensus.

UK surname

Kempster

A locational surname denoting someone from a place where kempers (warriors or combatants) lived.

In the 1881 census there were 1,047 people recorded with the Kempster surname, ranking it #3,762 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,587, ranked #3,912, down from #3,762 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Watford and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, Aylesbury Vale and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempster is 1,637 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.6%.

1881 census count

1,047

Ranked #3,762

Modern count

1,587

2016, ranked #3,912

Peak year

2011

1,637 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kempster had 1,047 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,762 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,587 in 2016, ranked #3,912.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,442 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kempster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kempster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kempster 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 688 #3,784
1861 historical 590 #4,480
1881 historical 1,047 #3,762
1891 historical 1,150 #3,708
1901 historical 1,315 #3,802
1911 historical 1,442 #3,350
1997 modern 1,526 #3,853
1998 modern 1,618 #3,803
1999 modern 1,636 #3,790
2000 modern 1,628 #3,788
2001 modern 1,607 #3,761
2002 modern 1,618 #3,810
2003 modern 1,573 #3,832
2004 modern 1,535 #3,923
2005 modern 1,557 #3,830
2006 modern 1,573 #3,787
2007 modern 1,566 #3,829
2008 modern 1,583 #3,826
2009 modern 1,599 #3,882
2010 modern 1,630 #3,895
2011 modern 1,637 #3,840
2012 modern 1,583 #3,889
2013 modern 1,604 #3,908
2014 modern 1,616 #3,909
2015 modern 1,604 #3,895
2016 modern 1,587 #3,912

Geography

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Where Kempsters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Watford, Manchester and Tring. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, Aylesbury Vale, Dacorum and Harborough. 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 Watford Hertfordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Tring Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 017 Wrexham
2 Aylesbury Vale 021 Aylesbury Vale
3 Dacorum 002 Dacorum
4 Harborough 003 Harborough
5 Dacorum 003 Dacorum

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kempster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kempster

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

Kempster is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kempster falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kempster

The surname Kempster is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "camp" and "stere," which together translate to "one who directs a military camp or encampment." This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name were likely individuals who held positions of authority within army camps or were responsible for overseeing their operations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Chempestre." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a comprehensive record of landowners and their holdings across England and parts of Wales.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Kempstre" and "Kempstere." It is worth noting that the surname may have also been influenced by the Old English word "cempa," which means "warrior" or "soldier," further reinforcing its military associations.

In the 14th century, the name was found in various locations across England, including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Kent. One notable individual from this period was John Kempster, who was born in Oxfordshire around 1320 and served as a soldier during the Hundred Years' War.

Throughout the centuries, the Kempster surname has been associated with several notable individuals. In the 16th century, William Kempster (1495-1567) was a prominent merchant and landowner in Kent. During the same period, Thomas Kempster (1520-1591) was a respected scholar and author of theological works.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of Mary Kempster (1635-1702), a renowned Quaker writer and preacher. Her works, which focused on religious themes, were widely circulated and influential within the Quaker community.

Moving into the 18th century, John Kempster (1712-1783) was a successful businessman and landowner in Gloucestershire. His son, William Kempster (1745-1819), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in local politics and agriculture.

As the surname spread across England, it also found its way into various place names, such as Kempster Green in Worcestershire and Kempster's Field in Oxfordshire, further solidifying its historical presence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kempster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempster 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 150 Kempsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.25x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 150 24.25x
Middlesex 132 1.29x
Hertfordshire 114 16.16x
Lancashire 98 0.81x
Bedfordshire 78 14.72x
Surrey 64 1.28x
Essex 57 2.82x
Shropshire 42 4.75x
Kent 34 0.97x
Oxfordshire 31 4.91x
Warwickshire 28 1.09x
Wiltshire 27 2.98x
Durham 23 0.76x
Montgomeryshire 23 9.81x
Yorkshire 21 0.21x
Denbighshire 20 5.17x
Gloucestershire 19 0.95x
Hampshire 15 0.72x
Berkshire 13 1.69x
Cheshire 11 0.49x
Somerset 8 0.49x
Sussex 8 0.46x
Northumberland 7 0.46x
Ayrshire 5 0.65x
Monmouthshire 5 0.68x
Norfolk 3 0.19x
Royal Navy 3 2.46x
Suffolk 3 0.24x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.17x
Inverness-shire 1 0.33x
Leicestershire 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire leads with 43 Kempsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 188.68x.

Place Total Index
Leighton Buzzard 43 188.68x
Tring 35 185.87x
Chesham 34 149.12x
Bury 31 22.35x
Wingrave 27 849.06x
Heath Reach 24 636.60x
Kensington London 24 4.22x
Birmingham 23 2.67x
Rickmansworth 22 113.29x
Watford 21 38.41x
Lambeth 15 1.68x
Hammersmith London 13 5.16x
Little Missenden 13 333.33x
Openshaw 13 22.86x
Deythur 12 779.22x
West Derby 12 3.38x
Battersea 11 2.92x
Deptford St Paul 11 4.08x
Hemel Hempstead 11 34.61x
Ruabon 11 20.70x
Bulphan 10 1010.10x
Camberwell 10 1.53x
Chelsea London 10 3.24x
Cowley 10 50.71x
Greenwich 10 6.14x
St George Hanover Square 10 5.55x
Benfieldside 9 44.96x
Clifton 9 8.87x
Newington 9 2.38x
Northchurch 9 119.52x
Paddington London 9 2.39x
Pool 9 50.88x
Swindon 9 12.82x
York St Mary 9 21.43x
Aylesbury 8 29.19x
Bermondsey 8 2.63x
Crompton 8 23.13x
Cublington 8 879.12x
Eton 8 57.06x
Islington London 8 0.81x
Lathom 8 54.57x
Lee 8 15.78x
Mile End Old Town London 8 3.67x
Newport Pagnell 8 61.82x
Oswestry Rural 8 59.08x
Portsea 8 1.95x
Rotherhithe 8 6.33x
Weston Turville 8 276.82x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.57x
Bristol St George 7 7.54x
Great Warley 7 153.17x
Halliwell 7 15.84x
Hughenden 7 110.76x
Oxford St Thomas 7 23.74x
St Luke London 7 4.26x
Tynemouth 7 8.58x
Walthamstow 7 9.63x
Albrighton 6 140.52x
Bedford St Paul 6 16.51x
Berkhampstead 6 37.83x
Great Missenden 6 78.74x
Hailey 6 135.14x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 10.10x
Olney 6 70.18x
Orsett 6 113.85x
Sheffield 6 1.86x
Southchurch 6 322.58x
West Ham 6 1.35x
Westminster St John 6 4.81x
Whitchurch 6 34.97x
Withington 6 15.34x
Wooburn 6 70.34x
Wycombe 6 13.01x
Aston 5 0.70x
Bersham 5 30.32x
Gt Ness 5 217.39x
Manchester 5 0.92x
Poplar London 5 2.59x
Speen 5 39.78x
Stratton St Margaret 5 36.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 64
John 60
George 36
Thomas 36
James 29
Joseph 24
Arthur 19
Charles 19
Henry 19
Frederick 17
Albert 14
Alfred 9
Ernest 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Thos. 7
Walter 7
Frank 6
Robert 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Samuel 3
Amos 2
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Jack 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Noah 2
Seth 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Edgar 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Gwynne 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Milton 1

FAQ

Kempster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kempster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,047 people were recorded with the Kempster surname. That placed it at #3,762 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kempster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,587 in 2016. That gives Kempster a modern rank of #3,912.

What does the Kempster surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone from a place where kempers (warriors or combatants) lived.

What does the Kempster map show?

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