NameCensus.

UK surname

Kenning

An English surname derived from the Old English word "kenning" meaning either a form of metaphorical language or a mark of recognition.

In the 1881 census there were 476 people recorded with the Kenning surname, ranking it #7,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 471, ranked #10,456, down from #7,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ryton-on-Dunsmoor, London parishes and Clapham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire and Rugby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenning is 616 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.1%.

1881 census count

476

Ranked #7,022

Modern count

471

2016, ranked #10,456

Peak year

1901

616 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kenning had 476 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 471 in 2016, ranked #10,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 616 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Kenning surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kenning surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kenning 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 282 #8,013
1861 historical 345 #7,398
1881 historical 476 #7,022
1891 historical 548 #6,901
1901 historical 616 #6,930
1911 historical 582 #6,995
1997 modern 553 #8,617
1998 modern 553 #8,892
1999 modern 552 #8,959
2000 modern 549 #8,956
2001 modern 532 #9,028
2002 modern 545 #9,038
2003 modern 508 #9,379
2004 modern 515 #9,312
2005 modern 483 #9,676
2006 modern 475 #9,848
2007 modern 465 #10,096
2008 modern 469 #10,119
2009 modern 491 #9,999
2010 modern 495 #10,127
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 471 #10,313
2013 modern 475 #10,401
2014 modern 473 #10,509
2015 modern 477 #10,369
2016 modern 471 #10,456

Geography

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Where Kennings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ryton-on-Dunsmoor, London parishes, Clapham, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire and Rugby. 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 Ryton-on-Dunsmoor Warwickshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Clapham London (South Districts)
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Rugby 004 Rugby
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 037 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kenning

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kenning

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Kenning 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

Kenning is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kenning falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kenning

The surname Kenning is believed to have originated in England, likely deriving from the Old English word "kenning," which referred to a form of descriptive metaphor or poetic circumlocution commonly used in Anglo-Saxon poetry. This linguistic connection suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname given to someone skilled in the art of poetic composition or storytelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the Kenning surname date back to the 13th century. One notable early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a William Kenning. Other early spellings of the name include Kenyng, Kenynge, and Keyninge, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and scribal practices of the time.

During the medieval period, the Kenning surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Hertfordshire, and Bedfordshire. In the 14th century, records show a John Kenning residing in the village of Walkern, Hertfordshire, indicating the surname's connection to specific localities.

Among the notable historical figures bearing the Kenning surname is John Kenning (c. 1445 - 1515), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1499 until his death. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Kenning (c. 1560 - 1628), a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1612.

In the literary realm, the name Kenning is associated with the 17th-century English poet and playwright Thomas Kenning (c. 1620 - 1667), whose works included several plays and poetic collections. Additionally, William Kenning (1721 - 1798) was a notable English clockmaker and inventor active during the 18th century.

The Kenning surname also has connections to place names, such as the village of Kenning Hall in Norfolk, which was once home to a prominent family bearing the name. This suggests that the surname may have derived from a locational source in some instances.

Throughout history, the Kenning surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, merchants, artists, and craftsmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those bearing this name across centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kenning families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenning 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. Warwickshire leads with 128 Kennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.02x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 128 11.02x
Yorkshire 51 1.12x
Middlesex 44 0.96x
Northamptonshire 44 10.16x
Lancashire 24 0.44x
Lincolnshire 19 2.58x
Surrey 19 0.85x
Northumberland 18 2.63x
Staffordshire 17 1.09x
Bedfordshire 14 5.87x
Derbyshire 14 1.94x
Stirlingshire 14 8.24x
Sussex 11 1.42x
Leicestershire 10 1.96x
Lanarkshire 8 0.54x
Kent 7 0.45x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.97x
Durham 5 0.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 7.50x
Essex 4 0.44x
Hertfordshire 4 1.26x
Somerset 2 0.27x
Worcestershire 2 0.33x
Berkshire 1 0.29x
Wiltshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 24 Kennings recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 24 6.20x
Daventry 20 326.26x
Rotherham 19 73.87x
Ryton On Dunsmore 19 2638.89x
Coventry St Michael 14 37.53x
Liverpool 13 3.92x
Clapham 12 20.85x
Brandon And Bretford 11 1594.20x
Claylane 11 109.78x
St George Martyr London 10 107.18x
Worth 10 177.31x
Aston 9 2.82x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 25.96x
Gosberton 9 275.23x
Northampton Priory St 9 34.63x
Barony 8 2.12x
Brightside Bierlow 8 8.94x
Greasbrough 8 132.67x
Kilsyth 8 73.87x
Bedlington 7 30.61x
Napton On Hill 7 500.00x
St Pancras London 7 1.89x
Denny 6 66.45x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 6.47x
Horninglow 6 81.97x
Hornsey 6 10.31x
Kenilworth 6 91.60x
Lewisham 6 7.16x
Newton In Makerfield 6 35.86x
North Seaton 6 209.06x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.74x
Rugby 6 38.19x
Bedford St Mary 5 81.43x
Kelton 5 91.24x
Leicester St Margaret 5 4.02x
Mancetter 5 149.70x
Norton 5 781.25x
Washington 5 87.11x
West Bromwich 5 5.62x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 33.81x
Bedford St Peter 4 64.62x
Cowpen 4 25.36x
Croydon 4 3.21x
Gayton 4 439.56x
Leamington Priors 4 14.00x
Scunthorpe 4 120.85x
Shoreditch London 4 2.00x
Watford 4 16.26x
Bubbenhall 3 731.71x
Burton Dassett 3 291.26x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.76x
Southill 3 155.44x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 15.05x
Tipton 3 6.30x
Toxteth Park 3 1.62x
Wolverhampton 3 2.51x
Bedford St Paul 2 12.23x
Brampton Bierlow 2 34.25x
Colchester St Peter 2 54.95x
Kings Norton 2 3.71x
Louth 2 11.86x
Manningham 2 3.56x
Northampton All Sts 2 13.61x
Pentrich 2 49.26x
Shilton 2 307.69x
South Brent 2 160.00x
Tottenham 2 2.73x
Wappenham 2 273.97x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 6.04x
Arley 1 303.03x
Fillongley 1 60.61x
Foleshill 1 8.18x
Harrowby Grantham 1 188.68x
Heston 1 6.54x
Long Bennington 1 69.93x
Penistone 1 28.09x
Rawmarsh 1 6.20x
South Benfleet 1 93.46x
Thrybergh 1 303.03x
Westminster St John 1 1.78x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Kenning surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kenning surname in 1881?

In 1881, 476 people were recorded with the Kenning surname. That placed it at #7,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kenning surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 471 in 2016. That gives Kenning a modern rank of #10,456.

What does the Kenning surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "kenning" meaning either a form of metaphorical language or a mark of recognition.

What does the Kenning map show?

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