UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a place called Kempton.
In the 1881 census there were 69 people recorded with the Kempt surname, ranking it #23,816 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #23,816 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Terwick, London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempt is 112 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.2%.
1881 census count
69
Ranked #23,816
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1851
112 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kempt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kempt 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 | 112 | #15,913 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 69 | #23,816 |
| 1891 | historical | 86 | #25,951 |
| 1901 | historical | 65 | #26,917 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 51 | #32,940 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 46 | #33,311 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 44 | #34,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 42 | #34,905 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 53 | #34,630 |
| 2012 | modern | 50 | #34,814 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 48 | #35,041 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Terwick, London parishes, Govan Combination, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Clavering. 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 | Terwick | Sussex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 4 | Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry | Forfar |
| 5 | Clavering | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kempt 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 Kempt, 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 Kempt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kempt 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, Kempt 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 Kempt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kempt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kempt is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cemped," which means "combed" or "well-groomed." This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or occupational name for someone who worked as a comber or groomer of wool or other fibers.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kempt can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Willelmus Kempt is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Kempe, Kemp, and Kempte, reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time. For example, a record from 1275 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire mentions a person named Johannes Kemp.
The Kempt surname has also been associated with certain place names in England. For instance, the village of Kemp Town, now part of Brighton, may have derived its name from the Kempt family who owned land in the area.
Notable individuals with the surname Kempt throughout history include:
1. John Kemp (c. 1380-1454), an English cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England during the reign of Henry VI. 2. William Kempt (c. 1530-1591), an English translator and writer known for his translation of the works of the Roman historian Justin. 3. Sir James Kempt (1765-1854), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became Governor-General of British North America (Canada). 4. Margery Kempe (c. 1373-1438), an English mystic and author of one of the earliest surviving autobiographies in English, "The Book of Margery Kempe." 5. Arthur Kempt (1904-1975), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s.
While the Kempt surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and various cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempt 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. Kent leads with 10 Kempts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.35x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 10 | 4.35x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.34x |
| Norfolk | 9 | 8.70x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 1.35x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 13.44x |
| Aberdeenshire | 7 | 11.23x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.52x |
| Ross-shire | 3 | 16.23x |
| Devon | 2 | 1.43x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.71x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.92x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.67x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.31x |
| Kincardineshire | 1 | 12.20x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 9 Kempts recorded in 1881 and an index of 117.49x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Plumstead | 9 | 117.49x |
| Wilton | 8 | 1904.76x |
| Saxlingham Thorpe | 5 | 16666.67x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 10.60x |
| Middlesbrough | 4 | 46.03x |
| Saxlingham Nethergate | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 4 | 29.54x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 7.38x |
| West Ardsley | 4 | 500.00x |
| Aberdeen Old Machar | 3 | 23.06x |
| Kilmuir Easter | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Newhills | 3 | 234.38x |
| Barony | 2 | 3.63x |
| St Mary Church | 2 | 10000.00x |
| Aberdeen St Nicholas | 1 | 8.58x |
| Altrincham | 1 | 38.46x |
| Banchory Ternan | 1 | 140.85x |
| Brixham | 1 | 61.73x |
| Camborne | 1 | 31.85x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.65x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.53x |
| Kirkleatham | 1 | 111.11x |
| Pirbright | 1 | 588.24x |
| Tiverton | 1 | 41.49x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kempt 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 Kempt 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 Kempt households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| General Servant | 4 |
| Carpet Maker | 3 |
| Engine Fitter | 2 |
| Farm Laborer | 2 |
| Colonel (Retired) | 1 |
| Engine Fitter Wife | 1 |
| Examiner Rl Gun Factories | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Groom D | 1 |
| Journalist | 1 |
| Letter Sorter | 1 |
| Miner Coal | 1 |
| Potman (Inn Sv) | 1 |
| School Governess | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Soliciter Managing Clerk | 1 |
| Stonemason | 1 |
| Stonemason Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 69 people were recorded with the Kempt surname. That placed it at #23,816 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Kempt a modern rank of #35,224.
A habitational surname derived from a place called Kempton.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kempt 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.