UK surname
Of English locational origin referring to a place likely named after an Old English personal name.
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Keniston surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Castle Cary, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Breamore. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Keniston is 123 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.1%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1911
123 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Keniston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Keniston surname density by area, 1911 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 53 | #27,253 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 108 | #21,836 |
| 1911 | historical | 123 | #20,128 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 74 | #30,562 |
| 1999 | modern | 76 | #30,546 |
| 2000 | modern | 74 | #30,785 |
| 2001 | modern | 70 | #31,016 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 67 | #31,796 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 54 | #34,232 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 52 | #34,688 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 53 | #34,715 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Castle Cary, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Breamore, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. 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 | Castle Cary | Somerset |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Breamore | Hampshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Keniston 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 Keniston, 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 Keniston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Keniston 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, Keniston 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 Keniston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Keniston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Keniston has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "kene" meaning bold or brave, and "tun" meaning a town or settlement. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived in a town or village and was considered a courageous or valiant individual.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John de Kenistun is mentioned. The prefix "de" indicates that the name was originally a locational surname, referring to a place called Keniston or a similar spelling.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Kenston, Kenniston, and Kenneston, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that period. The Inquisitiones Post Mortem, a series of medieval records, lists a William Keniston from Gloucestershire in 1371.
The Keniston surname has also been linked to several place names in England, including Keniston in Warwickshire and Keniston in Shropshire. These places may have been named after individuals bearing the surname, or the surname could have derived from the place names themselves.
Notable individuals with the Keniston surname throughout history include:
1. John Keniston (c. 1550-1625), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire. 2. William Keniston (1670-1738), a merchant and landowner from Worcestershire. 3. Elizabeth Keniston (1720-1794), a philanthropist and benefactor from Oxfordshire. 4. Robert Keniston (1815-1891), a British explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively in Africa. 5. Henry Keniston (1864-1932), an American educator and scholar who served as the president of Hampshire College.
While the Keniston surname may not be as widely known as some others, its long history and varied origins across different regions of England make it a fascinating example of how surnames evolved and were shaped by local influences and cultural traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Keniston 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. Somerset leads with 20 Kenistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 20 | 16.99x |
| Kent | 9 | 3.61x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.53x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.09x |
| Wiltshire | 8 | 12.37x |
| Dorset | 7 | 14.58x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 4.18x |
| Leicestershire | 6 | 7.40x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.69x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Castle Cary in Somerset leads with 12 Kenistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2352.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Cary | 12 | 2352.94x |
| Woolwich | 7 | 75.92x |
| Kirkby Mallory | 6 | 12000.00x |
| Steeple Langford | 5 | 3846.15x |
| Iwerne Courtnay | 4 | 1250.00x |
| Wincanton | 4 | 655.74x |
| Battersea | 3 | 11.14x |
| Bower Chalk | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 17.37x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 7.32x |
| Newington | 3 | 11.10x |
| Westbury On Trym | 3 | 61.73x |
| Bridport | 2 | 202.02x |
| Henstridge | 2 | 606.06x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.14x |
| Thornbury | 2 | 204.08x |
| Beaminster | 1 | 188.68x |
| Bristol St Michael | 1 | 81.30x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.05x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.19x |
| Harwick St Nicholas | 1 | 434.78x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.41x |
| Milborne Port | 1 | 212.77x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 1 | 26.74x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.42x |
| Thorne Coffin | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 13.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Keniston 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 Keniston 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 Keniston households.
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Keniston surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Keniston a modern rank of #35,004.
Of English locational origin referring to a place likely named after an Old English personal name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Keniston 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.