UK surname
A surname derived from an English place name.
In the 1881 census there were 99 people recorded with the Kensey surname, ranking it #19,877 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 42, ranked #35,336, down from #19,877 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kensey is 188 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.6%.
1881 census count
99
Ranked #19,877
Modern count
42
2016, ranked #35,336
Peak year
1891
188 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Kensey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Kensey 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 | 134 | #14,033 |
| 1861 | historical | 159 | #14,553 |
| 1881 | historical | 99 | #19,877 |
| 1891 | historical | 188 | #15,609 |
| 1901 | historical | 127 | #19,893 |
| 1911 | historical | 106 | #21,948 |
| 1997 | modern | 43 | #33,361 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 47 | #33,358 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 45 | #33,712 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 44 | #34,255 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 46 | #35,062 |
| 2011 | modern | 41 | #35,340 |
| 2012 | modern | 44 | #35,164 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 41 | #35,396 |
| 2015 | modern | 43 | #35,269 |
| 2016 | modern | 42 | #35,336 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Sedgley, Wigan, Manchester and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. 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 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints | Hertfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Kensey 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 Kensey, 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 Kensey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Kensey 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, Kensey 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 Kensey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Kensey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Kensey has its origins in England, emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from a place name such as Kensey in Somerset or Kensey Valley in Cornwall.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, which mention a John de Kensy. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and may have evolved from an earlier spelling or variation.
In the 14th century, a Walter Kensy was documented in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1382, indicating the presence of the surname in different regions of England. The variations in spelling, such as Kensy and Kensey, were common during this era due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
The Kensey surname is also linked to the village of Kensey in Somerset, which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Canesige." This place name is believed to have derived from Old English words meaning "King's Island" or "King's Meadow."
Notables bearing the Kensey surname include John Kensey (c. 1450-1520), an English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. Another notable figure was William Kensey (1577-1639), a Anglican clergyman who served as the Rector of Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire.
In the 17th century, Thomas Kensey (1605-1682) was a prominent figure in the English Civil War, serving as a captain in the Parliamentarian forces. He later became a member of the Commonwealth's Council of State under Oliver Cromwell.
Moving into the 18th century, we find John Kensey (1732-1805), an English barrister and member of the Inner Temple in London. He was also a Justice of the Peace for Gloucestershire and served as the High Sheriff of that county in 1787.
Finally, in the 19th century, there was William Kensey (1819-1892), a British architect and surveyor known for his work on various churches and public buildings in Somerset and Devon.
These examples illustrate the historical presence of the Kensey surname across different regions of England, spanning various professions and social strata over several centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kensey 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. Staffordshire leads with 26 Kenseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.98x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 26 | 7.98x |
| Hertfordshire | 20 | 30.05x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.93x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 5.29x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.70x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 3.57x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.06x |
| Brecknockshire | 4 | 20.71x |
| Essex | 3 | 1.57x |
| Worcestershire | 3 | 2.38x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.31x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 0.94x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 15 Kenseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 123.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sedgley | 15 | 123.86x |
| Brimington | 8 | 695.65x |
| Widford | 7 | 4117.65x |
| Cheshunt | 6 | 257.51x |
| Darlaston | 6 | 133.33x |
| Clase | 5 | 80.00x |
| Ware | 5 | 261.78x |
| Wolverhampton | 5 | 19.95x |
| Bermondsey | 4 | 13.92x |
| Cwmdu | 4 | 1250.00x |
| Paddington London | 4 | 11.27x |
| Manchester | 3 | 5.82x |
| Sheffield | 3 | 9.85x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.46x |
| Broxbourne | 2 | 151.52x |
| Bury | 2 | 15.28x |
| Goostrey Cum Barnshaw | 2 | 1666.67x |
| Stock | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Belbroughton | 1 | 153.85x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 3.28x |
| Dudley | 1 | 6.52x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 8.19x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.07x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 5.19x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.19x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.44x |
| Newcastle Higher | 1 | 87.72x |
| Ombersley | 1 | 142.86x |
| Pinner | 1 | 117.65x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.39x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.29x |
| West Ham | 1 | 2.38x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Kensey 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 Kensey 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 Kensey households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Agri Laborer | 2 |
| Farm Lab | 2 |
| HAwker | 2 |
| Iron Stone Miner | 2 |
| Nailer | 2 |
| Nailor | 2 |
| (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Apprentice (Iron Moulder) | 1 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Book Folder | 1 |
| Bricklayers Lab | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clothier | 1 |
| Cotton Winder | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Bailiff | 1 |
| Farmer Of 127 Acres Employing 2 Men | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Fire Clay Miner | 1 |
| Fruiter | 1 |
| Furnace Man | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Genl Servt Domestic | 1 |
| Gilt Jeweller | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer At Iron Works | 1 |
| Labourer At Tin Works | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Foundry | 1 |
| Late Sawyer | 1 |
| Maltmakers Wife | 1 |
| Medical Assistant | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waggoner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 99 people were recorded with the Kensey surname. That placed it at #19,877 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 42 in 2016. That gives Kensey a modern rank of #35,336.
A surname derived from an English place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Kensey 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.