NameCensus.

UK surname

Kench

An English habitational surname derived from the Old English word "cenc" meaning "lump" or "hump".

In the 1881 census there were 353 people recorded with the Kench surname, ranking it #8,708 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 483, ranked #10,240, down from #8,708 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Norton, Hook and Tew, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Glenrothes Collydean, Bradford and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kench is 547 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.8%.

1881 census count

353

Ranked #8,708

Modern count

483

2016, ranked #10,240

Peak year

1911

547 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kench had 353 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,708 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016, ranked #10,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 547 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kench surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kench surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kench 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 281 #8,028
1861 historical 258 #9,603
1881 historical 353 #8,708
1891 historical 388 #9,104
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 547 #7,323
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 531 #9,164
1999 modern 522 #9,348
2000 modern 517 #9,384
2001 modern 499 #9,483
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 494 #9,572
2004 modern 477 #9,833
2005 modern 462 #10,000
2006 modern 478 #9,806
2007 modern 481 #9,844
2008 modern 476 #10,012
2009 modern 492 #9,979
2010 modern 489 #10,228
2011 modern 485 #10,180
2012 modern 476 #10,213
2013 modern 493 #10,119
2014 modern 498 #10,102
2015 modern 495 #10,070
2016 modern 483 #10,240

Geography

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Where Kenchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Norton, Hook, Tew, Little and Charlbury, Cornbury Park. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Glenrothes Collydean, Bradford, West Oxfordshire and Birmingham. 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 Norton, Hook Oxfordshire
4 Tew, Little Oxfordshire
5 Charlbury, Cornbury Park Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Glenrothes Collydean Fife
2 Bradford 043 Bradford
3 West Oxfordshire 001 West Oxfordshire
4 West Oxfordshire 002 West Oxfordshire
5 Birmingham 125 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kench

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kench

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Kench 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

Kench is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kench falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kench

The surname Kench is of English origin, originating from the southern counties of England in the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English word "cenic," meaning a servant or a retainer. The name may have initially referred to someone who worked as a servant or retainer in a specific location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kench can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a Richard Kench is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Kench appears in various records across southern England, particularly in Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334 for Sussex list a Johannes Kench, while the Feet of Fines for Kent in 1360 mentions a Thomas Kench.

The name Kench is also linked to place names in the region, such as Kenchington in Herefordshire, which was recorded as "Kencinton" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This indicates that the name may have originated from a location with a similar spelling.

In the 16th century, notable individuals bearing the surname Kench include John Kench (c. 1558 - 1617), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1608 until his death.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Kench (1599 - 1671), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sussex in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Richard Kench (1740 - 1809) was a notable English clock and watchmaker based in London, known for his intricate and highly regarded timepieces.

The 19th century saw the birth of Charles Kench (1838 - 1903), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Lichfield Cathedral in Staffordshire.

In more recent history, Sir Anthony Kench (1923 - 2008) was a prominent British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the United Nations from 1980 to 1985.

While the surname Kench is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kench families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kench 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. Oxfordshire leads with 85 Kenchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.64x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 85 39.64x
Warwickshire 64 7.31x
Middlesex 42 1.21x
Surrey 34 2.01x
Worcestershire 18 3.97x
Gloucestershire 17 2.50x
Berkshire 15 5.75x
Sussex 14 2.39x
Hampshire 13 1.83x
Lancashire 12 0.29x
Northamptonshire 12 3.67x
Yorkshire 11 0.32x
Northumberland 7 1.35x
Royal Navy 3 7.25x
Somerset 2 0.36x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Bedfordshire 1 0.56x
Essex 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.42x
Kent 1 0.08x
Roxburghshire 1 1.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Charlbury in Oxfordshire leads with 23 Kenchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 954.36x.

Place Total Index
Charlbury 23 954.36x
Lt Tew 21 6363.64x
Aston 19 7.88x
Hook Norton 15 1020.41x
Birmingham 14 4.80x
Lambeth 12 3.96x
Gomersal 10 62.27x
Kidderminster Borough 9 33.91x
Leamington Priors 9 41.76x
Bermondsey 8 7.74x
Moreton In Marsh 8 467.84x
South Bersted 8 160.64x
St George Hanover Square 8 13.08x
Warkworth 8 272.11x
Widley 8 629.92x
Elswick 7 16.97x
Heston 7 60.71x
Kensington London 7 3.63x
Milverton 7 272.37x
Warwick St Nicholas 7 109.03x
Abingdon St Helen 6 78.74x
Croydon 6 6.39x
Trotton 6 1250.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 7.64x
Clerkenwell London 5 6.10x
Temple Guiting 5 793.65x
Wallingford St Leonard 5 413.22x
Barrow In Furness 4 7.14x
Checkendon 4 869.57x
Heythrop 4 1333.33x
Kings Norton 4 9.84x
Mile End Old Town London 4 5.41x
Rochford 4 1052.63x
Crawley 3 1578.95x
Eydon 3 566.04x
Kingham 3 410.96x
Long Compton 3 361.45x
Millbrook 3 16.73x
Oxford St Ebbe 3 47.54x
Oxford St Thomas 3 29.97x
Preston Baggot 3 1428.57x
Reading St Giles 3 11.73x
Royal Navy 3 8.48x
Westminster St James 3 8.40x
Battersea 2 1.57x
Fulham London 2 3.97x
Handsworth 2 6.92x
Leamington 2 34.48x
Salford 2 444.44x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.86x
St Giles In Fields London 2 11.74x
Walcot 2 6.72x
West Derby 2 1.66x
Bowden 1 108.70x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 303.03x
Camberwell 1 0.45x
Cheltenham 1 1.90x
Dudley 1 1.81x
Gt Tew 1 175.44x
Havant 1 27.78x
Isleworth 1 6.48x
Lewisham 1 1.58x
Little Bolton 1 1.89x
Long Buckby 1 33.11x
Lower Swell 1 208.33x
Luton 1 3.21x
Neithrop 1 13.87x
Newington 1 0.78x
Pannal 1 30.30x
Portsmouth 1 6.10x
Putney 1 6.32x
Richmond 1 4.22x
Sherborne 1 147.06x
Shipton Under Wychwood 1 72.46x
Slimbridge 1 99.01x
Thatcham 1 24.88x
Watford 1 5.39x
West Ham 1 0.66x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.97x
Woodstock 1 74.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 23
Thomas 18
William 13
James 9
Alfred 8
George 8
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Henry 6
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Walter 5
Charles 4
Herbert 4
Philip 4
Arthur 3
Wm. 3
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Algernon 1
Amelia 1
Ben 1
Bruce 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Jacob 1
Jas.W. 1
Kenric 1
Milton 1
Nathaniel 1
Percival 1
Ralph 1
Sheldon 1
Sidney 1
Spires 1
Stephen 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Kench surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kench surname in 1881?

In 1881, 353 people were recorded with the Kench surname. That placed it at #8,708 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kench surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 483 in 2016. That gives Kench a modern rank of #10,240.

What does the Kench surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from the Old English word "cenc" meaning "lump" or "hump".

What does the Kench map show?

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