NameCensus.

UK surname

Kenton

A variant spelling of the English place name Kennington, derived from Old English terms meaning "royal manor or estate".

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Kenton surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 616, ranked #8,530, up from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pitlochry, Rushmoor and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenton is 649 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.8%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

616

2016, ranked #8,530

Peak year

2010

649 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kenton had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016, ranked #8,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 379 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Kenton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kenton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Kenton 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 379 #6,739
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 357 #9,678
1901 historical 299 #11,673
1911 historical 330 #10,669
1997 modern 613 #8,027
1998 modern 630 #8,104
1999 modern 624 #8,215
2000 modern 630 #8,134
2001 modern 600 #8,299
2002 modern 618 #8,282
2003 modern 608 #8,244
2004 modern 609 #8,257
2005 modern 591 #8,363
2006 modern 582 #8,469
2007 modern 603 #8,319
2008 modern 608 #8,320
2009 modern 623 #8,353
2010 modern 649 #8,252
2011 modern 633 #8,333
2012 modern 606 #8,541
2013 modern 624 #8,477
2014 modern 627 #8,500
2015 modern 611 #8,619
2016 modern 616 #8,530

Geography

Back to top

Where Kentons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Ealing, Chiswick, Hammersmith and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pitlochry, Rushmoor, Waltham Forest, Enfield and Brent. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Hammersmith London (West Districts)
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pitlochry Perth and Kinross
2 Rushmoor 012 Rushmoor
3 Waltham Forest 020 Waltham Forest
4 Enfield 011 Enfield
5 Brent 028 Brent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Kenton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Kenton

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Kenton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Kenton 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 are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Kenton is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Kenton is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kenton falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Kenton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Kenton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Kenton

The surname Kenton originated in England and has its roots in the Old English language. The name is derived from the Old English words "cyne" meaning "royal" and "tun" meaning "settlement" or "town". The earliest known spelling of the name was "Cynetun", which likely referred to a settlement or town with royal connections or ownership.

The name Kenton is believed to have originated in the county of Middlesex, located in the south-eastern part of England. The earliest record of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The book mentions a place called "Cynetun" in Middlesex, which is believed to be the modern-day Kenton.

In the 12th century, the name Kenton appeared in various records and documents, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1194, where a person named William de Kenton was mentioned. The surname also appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls of Essex in 1210, referring to a person named Robert de Kenton.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Kenton was Sir Thomas Kenton, a prominent English knight who lived during the 14th century. He served as a member of the Privy Council under King Edward III and was involved in various military campaigns during the Hundred Years' War.

Another notable person with the surname Kenton was John Kenton, an English playwright and poet who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is best known for his work "The Scoffer Scoft", a satirical play published in 1612.

In the 18th century, Simon Kenton, an American frontiersman and explorer, was born in Virginia in 1755. He played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the Ohio River Valley and became a legendary figure in the American frontier.

The name Kenton has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Kenton in Middlesex, Kenton in Northamptonshire, and Kenton in Devon. These place names likely derived from the Old English word "Cynetun" and reflected the historical settlements or towns associated with the surname.

Throughout history, the surname Kenton has been recorded with various spellings, including Kyneton, Kineton, and Keneton, reflecting regional variations and changes in spelling conventions over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Kenton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenton 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. Middlesex leads with 64 Kentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.57x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 2.57x
Kent 32 3.77x
Surrey 28 2.31x
Lancashire 20 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 19 5.67x
Yorkshire 16 0.65x
Warwickshire 14 2.23x
Derbyshire 9 2.31x
Lincolnshire 9 2.26x
Northumberland 7 1.89x
Durham 6 0.81x
Hampshire 6 1.18x
Sussex 6 1.43x
Staffordshire 5 0.60x
Devon 4 0.77x
Leicestershire 4 1.45x
Monmouthshire 2 1.11x
Cornwall 1 0.36x
East Lothian 1 3.04x
Ross-shire 1 1.46x
Suffolk 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnham in Surrey leads with 22 Kentons recorded in 1881 and an index of 233.55x.

Place Total Index
Farnham 22 233.55x
Ealing 17 76.47x
Sandwich St Mary 10 1298.70x
Hackney London 9 6.45x
Snenton 9 68.34x
Warwick St Nicholas 9 195.65x
Derby St Werburgh 8 35.59x
Barrow In Furness 7 17.44x
Everton 7 7.44x
Camberwell 6 3.78x
Deptford St Paul 6 9.17x
Isleworth 6 54.25x
Westgate 6 26.18x
Birmingham 5 2.39x
Chelsea London 5 6.67x
Hulme 5 8.11x
Louth 5 54.88x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.77x
Preston Next Wingham 5 1315.79x
Radford 5 29.36x
Tipton 5 19.45x
Earl Shilton 4 666.67x
Houghton Le Spring 4 78.13x
Middlesbrough 4 12.46x
Shadwell London 4 57.47x
Southampton St Mary 4 12.48x
St George Hanover Square 4 9.13x
St Marylebone London 4 3.01x
Whitstable 4 96.15x
Brighton 3 3.55x
Calverley Cum Farsley 3 42.86x
Chichester St 3 1071.43x
Hammersmith London 3 4.90x
Heston 3 36.32x
North Kyme 3 508.47x
Aldershot 2 11.71x
Bedwellty 2 6.30x
Bishop Auckland 2 20.14x
Bromley London 2 3.66x
Chartham 2 94.79x
Hilderthorpe 2 161.29x
Hillingdon 2 25.22x
Limehouse London 2 7.32x
Rotherham 2 14.40x
Skircoat 2 20.58x
Acton 1 6.86x
Birstwith 1 238.10x
Combs 1 99.01x
Derby St Peter 1 8.06x
Elswick 1 3.39x
Exeter St Leonard 1 70.42x
Exeter St Thomas The 1 18.94x
Fowey 1 77.52x
Gomersal 1 8.70x
Gravesend 1 13.93x
Haddington 1 20.58x
Hougham 1 19.80x
Kenton 1 61.35x
Manchester 1 0.75x
Rosskeen 1 31.15x
Sandwich St Bartholomew 1 2000.00x
Sibertswold 1 222.22x
South Ormsby 1 400.00x
St Peters 1 25.45x
Tavistock 1 16.95x
Westminster St James 1 3.91x
Willesden 1 4.26x
Wortley In Bramley 1 5.12x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Kenton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kenton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Kenton surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kenton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 616 in 2016. That gives Kenton a modern rank of #8,530.

What does the Kenton surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English place name Kennington, derived from Old English terms meaning "royal manor or estate".

What does the Kenton map show?

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