UK surname
Habitational name referring to someone from Kempston near Bedford, England.
In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Kempston surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #23,816 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Tring. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempston is 186 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.6%.
1881 census count
69
Ranked #23,816
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1861
186 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kempston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kempston surname density by area, 1911 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 186 | #12,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 69 | #23,816 |
| 1891 | historical | 138 | #19,411 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 123 | #20,128 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 72 | #30,977 |
| 2001 | modern | 72 | #30,813 |
| 2002 | modern | 68 | #31,626 |
| 2003 | modern | 68 | #31,689 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 70 | #31,912 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 59 | #34,265 |
| 2012 | modern | 53 | #34,657 |
| 2013 | modern | 59 | #34,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 58 | #34,470 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Tring, Almondbury and St Mary Islington. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Tring | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | Almondbury | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kempston 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 Kempston, 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 Kempston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kempston 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, Kempston 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 Kempston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kempston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname KEMPSTON is of English origin, derived from the place name Kempston, a village near Bedford in Bedfordshire. The name likely dates back to the Anglo-Saxon period, possibly as early as the 7th or 8th century.
Kempston is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cempa" meaning "soldier" or "warrior" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests the name may have originated as a descriptive term for a settlement or encampment of soldiers or warriors.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Camestone." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the modern spelling of KEMPSTON emerging later.
One notable historical figure with the surname KEMPSTON was Sir John Kempston (c. 1435–1509), a member of the English gentry who served as Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire during the reign of King Henry VII.
In the 16th century, a family bearing the KEMPSTON name resided in the village of Kempston itself, as evidenced by records from the parish church. One member of this family, William KEMPSTON (c. 1550–1615), was a prominent landowner and held the position of churchwarden.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a soldier named Robert KEMPSTON (c. 1620–1680) fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He later settled in the town of Bedford and established a successful business as a merchant.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the KEMPSTON name was John KEMPSTON (1721–1795), a renowned clockmaker from Bedfordshire. His intricate and highly accurate timepieces were sought after by the gentry and aristocracy of the time.
Another individual of historical significance was Elizabeth KEMPSTON (1780–1845), a writer and educator who published several books on education and child-rearing in the early 19th century. Her work was influential in shaping educational practices of the time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempston 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 17 Kempstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 2.53x |
| Surrey | 13 | 3.96x |
| Bedfordshire | 7 | 20.09x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 6.50x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.90x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 7.90x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.74x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.26x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 2.20x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.00x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.44x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.88x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 8 Kempstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kensington London | 8 | 21.38x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 13.63x |
| Crowland | 6 | 882.35x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 6 | 44.22x |
| Northampton St Sepulchre | 5 | 155.28x |
| Marston Moretaine | 4 | 1481.48x |
| Tonbridge | 4 | 48.31x |
| Bethnal Green London | 2 | 6.84x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 5.30x |
| Heath Reach | 2 | 800.00x |
| Newington | 2 | 8.05x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 8.08x |
| Snenton | 2 | 56.18x |
| West Ham | 2 | 6.82x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.33x |
| Castle Church | 1 | 72.99x |
| Clapham | 1 | 11.89x |
| East Ham | 1 | 40.49x |
| Hanwell | 1 | 84.03x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 35.46x |
| Hatcliffe | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Jesmond | 1 | 70.92x |
| Luton | 1 | 16.58x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 7.39x |
| St Bride London | 1 | 256.41x |
| Stockport | 1 | 13.07x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 19.08x |
| West Derby | 1 | 4.28x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kempston 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 Kempston 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 Kempston households.
FAQ
In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Kempston surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Kempston a modern rank of #34,287.
Habitational name referring to someone from Kempston near Bedford, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kempston 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.