NameCensus.

UK surname

Kendrew

An English surname derived from a place name referring to the town of Kendrew.

In the 1881 census there were 366 people recorded with the Kendrew surname, ranking it #8,490 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 434, ranked #11,102, down from #8,490 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirby, Cold, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Thirsk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Kingston upon Hull and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kendrew is 531 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.6%.

1881 census count

366

Ranked #8,490

Modern count

434

2016, ranked #11,102

Peak year

1911

531 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kendrew had 366 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,490 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016, ranked #11,102.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 531 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Kendrew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kendrew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kendrew 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 210 #10,030
1861 historical 218 #11,175
1881 historical 366 #8,490
1891 historical 389 #9,085
1901 historical 458 #8,593
1911 historical 531 #7,492
1997 modern 455 #9,985
1998 modern 475 #9,982
1999 modern 470 #10,120
2000 modern 460 #10,245
2001 modern 449 #10,254
2002 modern 450 #10,452
2003 modern 436 #10,552
2004 modern 422 #10,838
2005 modern 423 #10,713
2006 modern 425 #10,729
2007 modern 425 #10,837
2008 modern 408 #11,292
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 437 #11,165
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 428 #11,092
2013 modern 442 #10,997
2014 modern 436 #11,198
2015 modern 435 #11,120
2016 modern 434 #11,102

Geography

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Where Kendrews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirby, Cold, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Thirsk, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Kingston upon Hull, Northumberland, Leeds and Wakefield. 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 Kirby, Cold Yorkshire, North Riding
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Thirsk Yorkshire, North Riding
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 002 Hambleton
2 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
4 Leeds 060 Leeds
5 Wakefield 012 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kendrew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kendrew

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Kendrew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Kendrew household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kendrew 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

Kendrew is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kendrew 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 Kendrew 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 Kendrew, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kendrew

The surname Kendrew originated in England during the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "cyne" meaning "royal" and "trew" meaning "tree," suggesting a connection to a royal tree or a location associated with a significant tree.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a census-like record from 1273, where it appears as "Kenedrew." This variation in spelling was common during that time period.

The name Kendrew is often associated with places in Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire, where it is thought to have originated. Some historical records mention individuals with the surname living in these areas as early as the 14th century.

In the 16th century, John Kendrew (1537-1612) was a prominent English clergyman who served as the Vicar of Rochdale and the Archdeacon of Middlesex. He is known for his involvement in the translation of the King James Bible.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir John Kendrew (1917-1997), a British biochemist and molecular biologist. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1962 for his pioneering work in determining the three-dimensional structure of globular proteins. His research contributed significantly to our understanding of biological processes at the molecular level.

In the realm of literature, Grace Kendrew (1924-2017) was a renowned English author and poet. She published several collections of poetry and novels, some of which explored themes of spirituality and nature.

William Kendrew (1906-1989) was a British artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1958 and had his works exhibited in various galleries across the United Kingdom.

The surname Kendrew has also been found in historical records from other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lancashire, suggesting that it may have spread from its original location in the eastern counties.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kendrew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kendrew 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. Yorkshire leads with 288 Kendrews recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.14x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 288 8.14x
Durham 28 2.64x
Lancashire 23 0.54x
Middlesex 10 0.28x
Banffshire 6 8.10x
Cheshire 4 0.51x
Essex 2 0.28x
Northumberland 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.54x
Shropshire 1 0.32x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rothwell in Yorkshire leads with 18 Kendrews recorded in 1881 and an index of 251.75x.

Place Total Index
Rothwell 18 251.75x
Cold Kirby 17 8500.00x
Pannal 13 383.48x
Sowerby In Thirsk 12 563.38x
Stillington 12 1643.84x
Bradford 10 11.68x
Broughton In Salford 10 25.81x
Clifford Cum Boston 10 314.47x
Cundall Cum Leckby 9 4090.91x
Holbeck 9 38.40x
Middlesbrough 9 19.54x
Willington 9 146.58x
Leeds 8 4.00x
Scarborough 8 24.88x
Thirlby 8 6153.85x
Thirsk 8 196.08x
Haworth 7 83.23x
Kirkdale 7 9.82x
York St Giles In 7 209.58x
Esh 6 77.62x
Keith 6 76.05x
Newburgh 6 3333.33x
Tockwith 6 857.14x
Darlington 5 12.19x
Goldsborough 5 1923.08x
Huddersfield 5 9.70x
Kirkleavington 5 1923.08x
Seaham 5 129.20x
York St Lawrence 5 135.50x
Beverley St Nicholas 4 137.93x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 39.80x
Coneythorpe 4 4000.00x
East Witton Within 4 1250.00x
Flawith 4 4444.44x
Islington London 4 1.16x
Manchester 4 2.10x
Tranmere 4 13.81x
York St Nicholas In 4 201.01x
York St Saviour 4 118.34x
Batley 3 8.92x
Cleckheaton 3 23.02x
Crathorne 3 967.74x
Dawdon 3 22.97x
Fadmoor 3 1666.67x
Friern Barnet 3 38.17x
Hammersmith London 3 3.41x
Hunslet 3 5.44x
Hunton 3 600.00x
Ingleby Greenhow 3 625.00x
Liversedge 3 19.05x
Ripon 3 36.54x
Alne 2 333.33x
Bedale 2 155.04x
Brafferton 2 666.67x
Cowthorpe 2 1333.33x
Elswick 2 4.72x
Gomersal 2 12.11x
Great Dunmow 2 54.50x
Liverpool 2 0.78x
Morley 2 10.88x
Thorp Arch 2 416.67x
York St Maurice 2 30.03x
Aston 1 0.40x
Bowling 1 2.85x
Clifton In York 1 13.51x
Dalton In Huddersfield 1 12.61x
Feliskirk 1 714.29x
Hunsingore 1 454.55x
Long Marston 1 227.27x
Luton 1 3.13x
Manningham 1 2.29x
Newsham With 1 384.62x
Old Byland 1 526.32x
Oswestry Town 1 10.12x
Raskelf 1 172.41x
Seaton Ross 1 172.41x
Sessay 1 250.00x
Southcoates 1 5.09x
Thirsk Sand Hutton 1 263.16x
Thornborough 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 16
Jane 14
Sarah 11
Ann 8
Eliza 6
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Emily 4
Emma 4
Frances 4
Margaret 4
Florence 3
Grace 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Kate 2
Maud 2
Priscilla 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Christiana 1
Cordelia 1
Dorothy 1
E.H. 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emilia 1
Eunice 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Gerty 1
Harriet 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Lizzie 1
Marg.Hannah 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Newirah 1
Newrina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 32
William 26
Thomas 21
James 13
George 7
Joseph 7
Harry 6
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Benjamin 5
Albert 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Chas. 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Christopher 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Agustine 1
C.P. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
E.Thomas 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Emmanuel 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Henery 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Lenard 1
Manfield 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Paul 1
Rennison 1
Richd. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Kendrew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kendrew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 366 people were recorded with the Kendrew surname. That placed it at #8,490 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kendrew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 434 in 2016. That gives Kendrew a modern rank of #11,102.

What does the Kendrew surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to the town of Kendrew.

What does the Kendrew map show?

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