NameCensus.

UK surname

Kemsley

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Cyma's clearing" or "Cyma's meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 443 people recorded with the Kemsley surname, ranking it #7,395 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 743, ranked #7,347, up from #7,395 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and Bobbing. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kemsley is 813 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.7%.

1881 census count

443

Ranked #7,395

Modern count

743

2016, ranked #7,347

Peak year

2011

813 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kemsley had 443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,395 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016, ranked #7,347.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 697 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Kemsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kemsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kemsley 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 293 #7,783
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 443 #7,395
1891 historical 531 #7,061
1901 historical 697 #6,312
1911 historical 654 #6,416
1997 modern 725 #7,045
1998 modern 787 #6,846
1999 modern 791 #6,864
2000 modern 783 #6,891
2001 modern 749 #6,990
2002 modern 771 #6,978
2003 modern 737 #7,103
2004 modern 741 #7,094
2005 modern 720 #7,161
2006 modern 720 #7,201
2007 modern 733 #7,186
2008 modern 737 #7,204
2009 modern 766 #7,125
2010 modern 806 #6,984
2011 modern 813 #6,843
2012 modern 774 #7,050
2013 modern 767 #7,209
2014 modern 785 #7,115
2015 modern 768 #7,166
2016 modern 743 #7,347

Geography

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Where Kemsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead, Bobbing, Bredgar and Wouldham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale and Medway. 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 3
2 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
3 Bobbing Kent
4 Bredgar Kent
5 Wouldham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Swale 009 Swale
3 Medway 037 Medway
4 Swale 016 Swale
5 Swale 013 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kemsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kemsley

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Kemsley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Kemsley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kemsley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kemsley 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

Kemsley falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kemsley

The surname "Kemsley" is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "cymesl" and "leah," meaning "valley" or "meadow." It is believed to have originated in the region of Kent, England, during the Anglo-Saxon period, sometime between the 5th and 11th centuries.

Kemsley is a locational surname, indicating that the earliest bearers of the name likely hailed from a place called Kemsley, which was likely a small settlement or hamlet located in a valley or meadow area. The name may also have evolved from a similar-sounding place name, such as Kemesle or Kemeslea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Chemereslegh," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of Kemsley.

In the 13th century, a Richard de Kemesle was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Kent, indicating the presence of the surname in the region during that time period. Another early record dates back to 1273, when a John de Kemesle was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Kent.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Kemsly, Kemslie, Kemsley, and Kemeslie, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects. One notable bearer of the name was Sir Nicholas Kemsley (c. 1530-1589), an English politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Kent and represented the county in Parliament.

In the 17th century, a John Kemsley (c. 1620-1670) was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Cranbrook, Kent. His descendants continued to play a significant role in the local community for several generations.

Another notable figure with the surname was William Kemsley (1798-1868), a British politician and newspaper proprietor who founded the Kemsley Newspapers group. His son, John Kemsley (1837-1907), continued the family's involvement in the newspaper industry and served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London.

In the 20th century, Lord Keith Kemsley (1926-2014) was a prominent British businessman and philanthropist who served as Chairman of the Kemsley Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests in publishing, real estate, and manufacturing.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kemsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kemsley 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. Kent leads with 304 Kemsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.71x.

County Total Index
Kent 304 20.71x
Surrey 45 2.15x
Middlesex 41 0.95x
Essex 17 2.00x
Sussex 9 1.24x
Angus 6 1.51x
Berkshire 4 1.24x
Cheshire 3 0.32x
Durham 3 0.23x
Yorkshire 3 0.07x
Renfrewshire 2 0.60x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.17x
Shropshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bredgar in Kent leads with 24 Kemsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2637.36x.

Place Total Index
Bredgar 24 2637.36x
Wouldham 20 1069.52x
Wandsworth 19 45.88x
Borden 18 967.74x
Croydon 16 13.75x
Rochester St Margaret 14 90.44x
Sittingbourne 14 120.79x
Chatham 13 32.19x
Gillingham 12 39.66x
Lynsted 11 578.95x
Oare 11 1466.67x
Aylesford 10 245.70x
Bromley London 10 10.57x
Bethnal Green London 9 4.82x
Maidstone 9 20.59x
Milton In Milton 9 144.23x
Epping 8 231.88x
Framfield 8 355.56x
Frindsbury 8 144.67x
Sheldwich 8 851.06x
Boxley 7 311.11x
Canterbury St Mildred 7 201.15x
Halling 7 364.58x
Snodland 7 168.27x
St Pancras London 7 2.02x
Doddington 6 705.88x
Montrose 6 24.84x
St Marylebone London 6 2.61x
Throwley 6 652.17x
Tonbridge 6 11.33x
Wormshill 6 1875.00x
Burham 5 246.31x
Gravesend 5 40.23x
Greenwich 5 7.30x
Lambeth 5 1.33x
Rainham 5 124.07x
Rodmersham 5 793.65x
Brenchley 4 76.19x
Carshalton 4 49.88x
Dartford 4 26.65x
Kingsdown In Milton 4 3636.36x
New Windsor 4 36.83x
West Malling 4 121.21x
Woodford 4 41.62x
Hanwell 3 39.32x
Higham 3 151.52x
Molash 3 612.24x
Newnham 3 652.17x
Selby 3 33.67x
Southwick 3 24.75x
Theydon Garnon 3 154.64x
Yalding 3 80.86x
Bow London 2 3.65x
East Greenock 2 6.35x
East Malling 2 56.98x
Hackington St Stephen 2 212.77x
Nantwich 2 18.13x
Ryarsh 2 246.91x
West Ham 2 1.07x
Bapchild 1 163.93x
Basingstoke 1 9.86x
Birkenhead 1 1.32x
Boughton Under Blean 1 40.65x
Bredhurst 1 526.32x
Canterbury Holy Cross 1 70.42x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 161.29x
Chalk 1 196.08x
Cheswardine 1 62.89x
Farnborough 1 46.73x
Frinstead 1 322.58x
Hackney London 1 0.41x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.54x
Manchester 1 0.44x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.67x
Paddington London 1 0.63x
Ramsgate 1 4.17x
Selling 1 83.33x
Sevenoaks 1 8.40x
Shoreditch London 1 0.54x
Streatham 1 3.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Ellen 13
Alice 12
Elizabeth 12
Emma 12
Eliza 11
Jane 9
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Emily 7
Florence 6
Annie 5
Louisa 5
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Maria 3
Rhoda 3
Rosa 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Sophia 2
Amy 1
Elizabh. 1
Elsie 1
Isobela 1
Janett 1
Joyce 1
Judith 1
Laura 1
Lilie 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Thomasine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
John 20
George 18
Thomas 14
Edward 13
James 13
Alfred 11
Henry 10
Charles 9
Robert 6
Albert 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Richard 5
Herbert 4
Nathaniel 4
Sidney 4
Walter 3
Andrew 2
Arther 2
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Jesse 2
Joseph 2
Philip 2
Abraham 1
Alvin 1
Archibald 1
Ashley 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Ed.Wm. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fetrom 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Kemsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kemsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 443 people were recorded with the Kemsley surname. That placed it at #7,395 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kemsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 743 in 2016. That gives Kemsley a modern rank of #7,347.

What does the Kemsley surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Cyma's clearing" or "Cyma's meadow".

What does the Kemsley map show?

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