NameCensus.

UK surname

Kempton

From a place name meaning "the farm of a man named Cyma" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 865 people recorded with the Kempton surname, ranking it #4,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,142, ranked #5,164, down from #4,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crayford, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Wandsworth and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kempton is 1,238 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.

1881 census count

865

Ranked #4,373

Modern count

1,142

2016, ranked #5,164

Peak year

1999

1,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kempton had 865 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,142 in 2016, ranked #5,164.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,149 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kempton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kempton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kempton 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 501 #4,984
1861 historical 430 #5,979
1881 historical 865 #4,373
1891 historical 926 #4,461
1901 historical 1,132 #4,287
1911 historical 1,149 #4,066
1997 modern 1,166 #4,837
1998 modern 1,213 #4,840
1999 modern 1,238 #4,783
2000 modern 1,195 #4,927
2001 modern 1,152 #4,982
2002 modern 1,187 #4,945
2003 modern 1,154 #4,972
2004 modern 1,137 #5,048
2005 modern 1,110 #5,097
2006 modern 1,104 #5,125
2007 modern 1,116 #5,122
2008 modern 1,119 #5,149
2009 modern 1,136 #5,181
2010 modern 1,168 #5,155
2011 modern 1,129 #5,253
2012 modern 1,117 #5,220
2013 modern 1,176 #5,084
2014 modern 1,189 #5,065
2015 modern 1,153 #5,144
2016 modern 1,142 #5,164

Geography

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Where Kemptons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crayford, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Ely Trinity. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Wandsworth, Barking and Dagenham, East Cambridgeshire and South Northamptonshire. 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 Crayford Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 Ely Trinity Cambridgeshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 007 New Forest
2 Wandsworth 022 Wandsworth
3 Barking and Dagenham 021 Barking and Dagenham
4 East Cambridgeshire 008 East Cambridgeshire
5 South Northamptonshire 005 South Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kempton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kempton

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kempton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kempton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kempton is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kempton is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kempton falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kempton

The surname Kempton has its origins traced back to England, with roots dating back to the late Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from the place name Kempton, which is found in various regions of England, including Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Somerset.

The name Kempton is thought to have originated from the Old English words "cempa," meaning "soldier" or "warrior," and "tun," meaning "town" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a settlement or town inhabited by soldiers or warriors.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Kempton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Chementone" in this historical document.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "de Kempton" and "Kempeton," indicating its locational origin. The earliest known bearer of the name was Richard de Kempton, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1202.

Notable individuals with the surname Kempton throughout history include:

1. Sir John Kempton (c. 1380 - 1453), an English nobleman and member of Parliament for Sussex during the reign of Henry VI. 2. William Kempton (1617 - 1691), an early settler in colonial America and one of the founders of the town of Kempton, Pennsylvania. 3. Samuel Kempton (1777 - 1838), an American sea captain and merchant who played a significant role in the maritime trade between the United States and Asia in the early 19th century. 4. Eliza Kempton (1839 - 1921), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, known for establishing one of the first successful vocational schools for girls in the United States. 5. James Kempton (1917 - 2007), a British journalist and newspaper editor who served as the editor of The New Statesman and The Sunday Times during his career.

The surname Kempton has also been associated with various place names, such as Kempton Park in Hertfordshire, Kempton in Somerset, and Kempton in Bedfordshire, further emphasizing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kempton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kempton 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. Middlesex leads with 272 Kemptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 272 3.24x
Surrey 107 2.61x
Kent 101 3.52x
Cambridgeshire 63 11.84x
Wiltshire 54 7.27x
Essex 37 2.23x
Hertfordshire 25 4.32x
Lancashire 20 0.20x
Somerset 20 1.48x
Lanarkshire 18 0.66x
Cornwall 17 1.79x
Staffordshire 15 0.53x
Yorkshire 12 0.14x
Hampshire 10 0.58x
Sussex 10 0.71x
Wigtownshire 10 8.97x
Renfrewshire 8 1.23x
Gloucestershire 6 0.36x
Warwickshire 6 0.28x
Ayrshire 5 0.80x
Durham 5 0.20x
Leicestershire 5 0.54x
Oxfordshire 5 0.96x
Suffolk 5 0.49x
Derbyshire 4 0.30x
Lincolnshire 4 0.30x
Norfolk 4 0.31x
Worcestershire 4 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.18x
Anglesey 1 0.67x
Channel Islands 1 0.40x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Northumberland 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 57 Kemptons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.78x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 57 7.78x
Islington London 51 6.26x
Hackney London 40 8.49x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 34 146.55x
Shoreditch London 32 8.79x
St Pancras London 31 4.59x
Crayford 24 191.85x
Bethnal Green London 19 5.21x
St Andrewthe Less 16 26.32x
Barony 14 2.04x
Battersea 13 4.21x
Kensington London 13 2.78x
West Ham 13 3.55x
Dartford 12 40.96x
Burbage 11 290.24x
Plumstead 10 10.47x
Stoneykirk 10 125.31x
Tottenham 10 7.48x
Bexley 9 35.53x
Broxbourne 9 78.47x
Middleton In Oldham 9 30.12x
Swindon 9 15.62x
Wolverhampton 9 4.13x
Camberwell 8 1.49x
Great Bedwin 8 151.52x
Lochwinnoch 8 82.47x
St Just In Penwith 8 43.36x
Watford 8 17.83x
Westminster St John 8 7.82x
Bermondsey 7 2.80x
Chigwell 7 44.73x
Mile End Old Town London 7 3.92x
Paulton 7 113.09x
Trowbridge 7 21.32x
West Thurrock 7 127.04x
All Saints Cambridge 6 160.43x
Avebury 6 287.08x
Camborne 6 15.31x
Canterbury St Paul 6 116.73x
Cuxton 6 530.97x
Fulham London 6 4.93x
Long Lawford 6 304.57x
Preston 6 24.26x
Shepton Mallet 6 39.55x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.05x
Wroughton 6 93.31x
Beith 5 26.65x
Bow London 5 4.68x
Bradford On Avon 5 21.03x
Foots Cray 5 91.07x
Leicester All Sts 5 27.34x
Loughton 5 60.98x
Morden 5 246.31x
Ramsgate 5 10.69x
Sheffield 5 1.89x
St Giles Cambridge 5 72.78x
Stranton 5 5.94x
Bitton Oldland 4 23.75x
Cheshunt 4 19.76x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.02x
Glasgow 4 0.83x
Hammersmith London 4 1.93x
Hanwell 4 26.86x
Kings Norton 4 4.07x
Launton 4 233.92x
Lee 4 9.61x
Limehouse London 4 4.34x
Lowestoft 4 8.28x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 11.30x
Romford 4 15.26x
Rotherhithe 4 3.85x
Tudeley 4 253.16x
Wednesbury 4 5.65x
Millbrook 3 6.92x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 1.78x
Westminster St James 3 3.47x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 1.26x
Derby St Alkmund 2 5.07x
Erith 2 7.08x
Handsworth 2 2.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 53
John 38
George 36
Charles 24
Thomas 23
Henry 20
James 18
Frederick 13
Albert 11
Joseph 10
Walter 9
Frank 8
Herbert 7
Arthur 6
Alfred 5
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Robert 5
Giles 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Green 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Benjamin 2
Edwd.F. 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Simeon 2
Alf 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.J. 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Georg 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Josh.W. 1
Josiah 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Kempton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kempton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 865 people were recorded with the Kempton surname. That placed it at #4,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kempton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,142 in 2016. That gives Kempton a modern rank of #5,164.

What does the Kempton surname mean?

From a place name meaning "the farm of a man named Cyma" in Old English.

What does the Kempton map show?

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