NameCensus.

UK surname

Kennett

Derived from a place name meaning "royal homestead" in Old English, likely referring to a family's residence.

In the 1881 census there were 1,661 people recorded with the Kennett surname, ranking it #2,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,280, ranked #2,848, down from #2,587 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Dover and Havant.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kennett is 2,355 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

1,661

Ranked #2,587

Modern count

2,280

2016, ranked #2,848

Peak year

2002

2,355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kennett had 1,661 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,587 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,280 in 2016, ranked #2,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kennett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kennett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kennett 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 1,133 #2,487
1861 historical 1,040 #2,694
1881 historical 1,661 #2,587
1891 historical 1,788 #2,561
1901 historical 2,259 #2,399
1911 historical 2,313 #2,197
1997 modern 2,233 #2,776
1998 modern 2,342 #2,765
1999 modern 2,337 #2,785
2000 modern 2,336 #2,771
2001 modern 2,308 #2,748
2002 modern 2,355 #2,753
2003 modern 2,273 #2,781
2004 modern 2,272 #2,775
2005 modern 2,238 #2,787
2006 modern 2,186 #2,857
2007 modern 2,182 #2,875
2008 modern 2,172 #2,912
2009 modern 2,274 #2,862
2010 modern 2,319 #2,872
2011 modern 2,278 #2,880
2012 modern 2,276 #2,832
2013 modern 2,324 #2,830
2014 modern 2,339 #2,828
2015 modern 2,305 #2,833
2016 modern 2,280 #2,848

Geography

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Where Kennetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Margate and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Dover and Havant. 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 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
4 Margate Kent
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Swale 014 Swale
3 Swale 011 Swale
4 Dover 010 Dover
5 Havant 013 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kennett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kennett

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Kennett is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Kennett 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

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

Meaning and origin of Kennett

The surname Kennett originated in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "cene," meaning bold or brave, and was initially a nickname for a courageous individual. The name may also be associated with the town of Kennet in Wiltshire, England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kennett can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1191, which mentions a Richard de Kenett. In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Kenet, Kenett, and Kenate, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Kennett. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Kennet in Wiltshire and Kennet in Cambridgeshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Kennett include:

1. Basil Kennett (1674-1715), an English clergyman and antiquary who wrote several historical works, including the "Parochial Antiquities" and "Antiquities of Rome."

2. White Kennett (1660-1728), an English bishop and author best known for his work "A Complete History of England," a comprehensive account of English history from the earliest times to the reign of Queen Anne.

3. Robert Hesketh Kennett (1845-1925), a British civil servant and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the British East Africa Protectorate (now Kenya) from 1901 to 1909.

4. Sir Benjamin Kennett (1674-1741), an English diplomat and politician who served as the British Resident at the court of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and later as the Governor of Deptford.

5. John Kennett (1793-1870), an English cricketer who played for the Marylebone Cricket Club and is considered one of the pioneers of the game in its early years.

The surname Kennett has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Kennett and Avon in Wiltshire, Kennett in Cambridgeshire, and Kennett Square in Pennsylvania, USA, which was named after the town of Kennet in Wiltshire by English settlers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kennett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kennett 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 731 Kennetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.18x.

County Total Index
Kent 731 13.18x
Middlesex 206 1.27x
Sussex 177 6.46x
Surrey 127 1.60x
Hampshire 114 3.42x
Wiltshire 49 3.41x
Yorkshire 45 0.28x
Worcestershire 42 1.98x
Herefordshire 33 4.95x
Essex 21 0.65x
Warwickshire 21 0.51x
Staffordshire 16 0.29x
Lancashire 14 0.07x
Norfolk 11 0.44x
Shropshire 10 0.71x
Berkshire 8 0.66x
Durham 6 0.12x
Devon 5 0.15x
Gloucestershire 4 0.13x
Bedfordshire 3 0.36x
Cumberland 3 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.29x
Cheshire 2 0.06x
Dorset 2 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.18x
Oxfordshire 2 0.20x
Royal Navy 2 1.03x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.10x
Channel Islands 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.07x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Westmorland 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Folkestone in Kent leads with 60 Kennetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 55.78x.

Place Total Index
Folkestone 60 55.78x
Portsea 45 6.89x
Margate St John Baptist 42 41.37x
Purton 36 281.47x
East Dean 34 1780.10x
Charlton 33 89.60x
Lambeth 31 2.19x
Ashford 27 50.00x
Hackney London 26 2.85x
Ramsgate 26 28.73x
Eastbourne 25 19.83x
Lympne 25 798.72x
Warblington 23 174.11x
Islington London 22 1.40x
St Peters 22 85.77x
St Marylebone London 20 2.31x
Shoreditch London 19 2.70x
Brighton 18 3.26x
Bermondsey 17 3.51x
Dover St Mary Virgin 17 31.68x
Ickham Well 16 503.14x
New Romney 15 262.70x
Seaford 15 160.94x
Canterbury St Mary 14 37.62x
Croydon 14 3.18x
Hastings St Mary 13 19.06x
Sittingbourne 13 29.69x
St Lawrence 13 34.10x
St Pancras London 13 0.99x
Westbourne 13 95.31x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.70x
Fordwich 12 944.88x
Hornsey 12 5.84x
Kingswinford 12 6.02x
Rawmarsh 12 21.09x
Woolwich 12 5.86x
Aston 11 0.97x
Southampton St Mary 11 5.25x
Camberwell 10 0.96x
Canterbury St Dunstan 10 104.49x
Chelsea London 10 2.04x
Clehonger 10 401.61x
Dunkirk 10 242.13x
Graveney 10 714.29x
Lyminge 10 210.08x
Minster In Sheppey 10 10.89x
Minster In Thanet 10 86.66x
Tonbridge 10 5.00x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.10x
Lewisham 9 3.04x
Whitby 9 16.58x
Wingham 9 140.41x
Wye 9 104.90x
Canterbury St Martin 8 677.97x
Canterbury St Mildred 8 60.79x
Chilham 8 101.39x
Farnham 8 12.99x
Harefield 8 95.58x
Mortlake 8 22.67x
Oldbury 8 7.66x
Wentworth 8 80.24x
Whitfield 8 454.55x
Boughton Under Blean 7 75.43x
Dover St James 7 28.81x
Fawley 7 66.29x
Horsham 7 13.15x
Mile End Old Town London 7 2.02x
Otterden 7 769.23x
Preston Next Wingham 7 281.12x
Upton Snodsbury 7 343.14x
Wandsworth 7 4.47x
West Hythe 7 909.09x
Wickhambreux 7 259.26x
Wolferlow 7 1272.73x
Bekesbourne 6 320.86x
Boughton Aluph 6 191.08x
Burham 6 78.43x
Deal 6 12.69x
Eltham 6 18.47x
Milton In Gravesend 6 7.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 99
Sarah 68
Elizabeth 55
Ellen 37
Jane 35
Emily 32
Emma 31
Ann 28
Alice 27
Eliza 21
Louisa 21
Caroline 18
Fanny 18
Annie 17
Florence 16
Harriett 15
Edith 14
Hannah 14
Ada 13
Charlotte 13
Agnes 10
Frances 9
Harriet 9
Maria 9
Anne 8
Kate 8
Lucy 8
Jessie 7
Margaret 7
Mercy 7
Rose 7
Amelia 6
Clara 6
Amy 5
Esther 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Ethel 4
Flora 4
Helen 4
Louise 4
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Rosa 3
Christina 2
Keziah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 106
George 76
John 73
Thomas 52
James 49
Charles 46
Henry 37
Edward 30
Richard 25
Alfred 20
Stephen 18
Joseph 17
Frederick 13
Arthur 12
Harry 12
Albert 11
Walter 11
Robert 10
Frank 8
Francis 7
Herbert 7
Geo. 6
Edwin 5
Ernest 4
Fredrick 4
Percy 4
Richd. 4
Algernon 3
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Infant 3
Abraham 2
Bishop 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Hannah 2
Hezekiah 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Laud 2
Matthew 2
Nelson 2
Peter 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Rueben 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Kennett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kennett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,661 people were recorded with the Kennett surname. That placed it at #2,587 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kennett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,280 in 2016. That gives Kennett a modern rank of #2,848.

What does the Kennett surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "royal homestead" in Old English, likely referring to a family's residence.

What does the Kennett map show?

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