NameCensus.

UK surname

Kenward

An English place surname derived from a town where guards were posted along the borders of a forest.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Kenward surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 956, ranked #6,006, down from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Lewes St John-under-the-Castle and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Eastbourne and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Kenward is 1,136 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.3%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

956

2016, ranked #6,006

Peak year

1911

1,136 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Kenward had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016, ranked #6,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,136 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Kenward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Kenward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Kenward 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 460 #5,388
1861 historical 447 #5,786
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 801 #5,022
1901 historical 1,031 #4,634
1911 historical 1,136 #4,098
1997 modern 1,020 #5,401
1998 modern 1,043 #5,474
1999 modern 1,054 #5,468
2000 modern 1,039 #5,510
2001 modern 1,031 #5,451
2002 modern 1,028 #5,576
2003 modern 994 #5,616
2004 modern 999 #5,607
2005 modern 963 #5,720
2006 modern 945 #5,817
2007 modern 951 #5,847
2008 modern 953 #5,865
2009 modern 962 #5,952
2010 modern 981 #5,970
2011 modern 954 #6,062
2012 modern 935 #6,066
2013 modern 959 #6,024
2014 modern 952 #6,114
2015 modern 945 #6,092
2016 modern 956 #6,006

Geography

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Where Kenwards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Lewes St John-under-the-Castle, London parishes, Ashburnham, Dallington, Brightling, Ninfield and Horley, Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Eastbourne, Wealden and Tunbridge Wells. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Lewes St John-under-the-Castle Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ashburnham, Dallington, Brightling, Ninfield Sussex
5 Horley, Leigh Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 001 Mid Sussex
2 Eastbourne 003 Eastbourne
3 Wealden 019 Wealden
4 Wealden 020 Wealden
5 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Kenward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Kenward

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Kenward surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Kenward household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Kenward 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

Kenward is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Kenward falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Kenward

The surname KENWARD is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the medieval period or earlier. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "cene" and "weard," which together could translate to something along the lines of "brave guardian" or "bold watchman."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name KENWARD can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population records commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name had already established roots in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the KENWARD surname appears to have been concentrated primarily in the southern and eastern counties of England, such as Kent, Sussex, and Essex. Some historical documents from this period mention individuals with the name KENWARD, including a certain William KENWARD who was recorded as a landowner in Kent during the 13th century.

As with many surnames, variations in spelling were common in earlier centuries, and the name KENWARD may have been recorded as KENWORD, KENNARD, or other similar forms in various records and manuscripts from different regions.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bore the KENWARD surname. One example is John KENWARD, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived from around 1550 to 1625. Another is Thomas KENWARD, a clergyman and author who served as the rector of Biddenden in Kent from 1616 until his death in 1658.

In more recent history, one of the most famous individuals with the KENWARD surname was Sir Arthur KENWARD, a British businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1875 to 1952. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was knighted in 1935 for his charitable contributions.

Other noteworthy individuals with the KENWARD surname include John KENWARD, a 19th-century architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in Kent, as well as William KENWARD, a prominent figure in the English wool trade during the 18th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Kenward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Kenward 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. Sussex leads with 433 Kenwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.33x.

County Total Index
Sussex 433 34.33x
Kent 106 4.15x
Surrey 97 2.66x
Middlesex 61 0.82x
Devon 11 0.71x
Gloucestershire 10 0.68x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.79x
Essex 7 0.47x
Hampshire 5 0.33x
Lancashire 5 0.06x
Lincolnshire 5 0.42x
Worcestershire 4 0.41x
Hertfordshire 3 0.58x
Midlothian 3 0.30x
Somerset 3 0.25x
Staffordshire 3 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.12x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 29 Kenwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.47x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 29 73.47x
Brighton 25 9.82x
Balcombe 21 933.33x
Lewes St John Southover 20 236.13x
Lingfield 19 267.61x
Fletching 17 301.42x
Maresfield 17 319.55x
Lewes All Sts 16 318.73x
Chailey 15 383.63x
Hastings St Leonards 15 80.91x
Westfield 15 557.62x
Hastings St Mary 14 44.60x
Hampstead London 13 11.16x
East Grinstead 12 67.19x
Wivelsfield 12 243.41x
Burstow 11 355.99x
Buxted 11 222.67x
Ninfield 11 714.29x
Waldron 11 319.77x
Battle 10 117.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 7.24x
Guestling 10 487.80x
Horsham 10 40.82x
Tonbridge 10 10.86x
Catsfield 9 497.24x
Icklesham 9 405.41x
Peasmarsh 9 420.56x
St Marylebone London 9 2.25x
Sundridge 9 211.27x
Uckfield 9 163.64x
Brasted 8 241.69x
Dallington 8 588.24x
Marden 8 133.56x
Sedlescombe 8 481.93x
Ashburnham 7 353.54x
Cliffe 7 164.32x
Denton 7 560.00x
Farnborough 7 188.17x
Hackney London 7 1.67x
Lambeth 7 1.07x
Margate St John Baptist 7 14.98x
Ore 7 74.55x
South Malling 7 374.33x
Wrotham 7 82.74x
Brentwood 6 66.67x
Chatham 6 8.54x
Eastbourne 6 10.34x
Milton In Gravesend 6 15.67x
Woolwich 6 6.36x
Barcombe 5 165.02x
Bermondsey 5 2.24x
Bourn 5 51.76x
Bromley 5 12.85x
Dalton In Furness 5 14.59x
Lewes St John Under 5 290.70x
Lewes St Michael 5 200.00x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.92x
Orpington 5 63.94x
Oxted 5 113.90x
Penge 5 10.46x
Worth 5 54.59x
Bodiam 4 481.93x
Camberwell 4 0.84x
Clapham 4 4.28x
Hailsham 4 52.42x
Harrow 4 34.97x
Hastings All Sts 4 33.64x
Hastings St Clement 4 33.70x
Hastings St Mary In The 4 14.86x
Hollington 4 89.09x
Isfield 4 344.83x
Plymouth Charles The 4 5.83x
Poplar London 4 2.83x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.52x
Framfield 3 76.73x
Hellingly 3 71.09x
Kingston Near Lewes 3 967.74x
Lewisham 3 2.20x
Portsea 3 1.00x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 46
George 41
Thomas 27
John 23
James 21
Charles 17
Henry 15
Frederick 11
Edward 10
Frank 10
Robert 10
Alfred 9
Stephen 9
Arthur 7
Harry 6
Edwin 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Edgar 4
Herbert 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Horace 3
Joseph 3
Josiah 3
Nelson 3
Spencer 3
Walter 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Hercules 2
Jesse 2
Kendrick 2
Louis 2
Trayton 2
Weston 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Amram 1
Bertie 1
Brett 1
Charley 1
Enoch 1
F.F. 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1

FAQ

Kenward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Kenward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Kenward surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Kenward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016. That gives Kenward a modern rank of #6,006.

What does the Kenward surname mean?

An English place surname derived from a town where guards were posted along the borders of a forest.

What does the Kenward map show?

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